The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-06-24

.2o had libeled Taft's father. Even
then Taft took his own time about get
ting good and mad.
The little Filipinos were awed by the
immense size Of the American who
had been sent to guide them into the
paths OF progress. At first they held
aloof. Presently they began to come
closer. There was something in the
Taft smile irresistibly attractive. This
big American was by no means so
fierce as his size suggested. He was In
fact docile and affable. friendly sort
Of fellow, who seemed to want to help
folks along. Moreover, he had no ex-
aggerated sense of his own importance.
He wore no uniform, no gold lace, no
badges of distinction. White fannels
or duck sufficed for Governor Taft's
garb, with cap or straw hat to COW
err his expansive head. He went around
among the natives just like an old
friend, studying their needs, informing
himself as to their history, so that he
might the better appreciate their point
VI view, anu pu6SAhS9 upOA AAoS-
tiers of administration in the spirit Of
the jurist on the bench who weighs
carefully both sides of case before
delivering his opinion.
The result of the Taft methods and.
the Taft manners was that the Filipi-
nos came to love the large and liberal
American who was sent to rule over
them. They called him saint" Taft,
and when he departed for the United
States they were not to be comforted.
Governor Taft had remained long
enough to prove to the islanders that
the United States has no intention to
exploit them or their resources for the
benefit of anybody other than them
selves. He had made good his express
ed desire to do something to help the
Filipino people. He had shown that
the archipelago's new government was
for the benefit Of the native people and
not in the interest Of the American set
tiers. This attitude Of guardian ma
ton to ward was something new IN
der the sun, and it required some time
for the fact to percolate into the Fill
pino understanding and into the appre
citation of the skeptic world.
When William H. Taft In 1904 re-
turned to enter the cabinet he already
was man with career. He had
achieved enough to place his name
securely in American history. But his
career was still in the making. The
United States found it necessary under
treaty provisions to Interfere in the
affairs Of Cuba in the interest Of peace
and a stable government Secretary
Taft proceeded to the island and
nursed it through the throes of civic
revolution. In Cuba, as In the Philip
pines, Taft spelled "tact."
Though in public life for q quarter
Of a century, Mr.. Taft's only elective
office was that Of superior court judge
in Ohio. That Office he resigned to &C
cept presidential appointment The
fact that four presidents Of the United
States have selected him for important
posts indicates the capabilities of the
man.. Taft was but twentyfour years
Of age when President Arthur made
him collector Of internal revenue for
the district in which he lived. This
position, which the average politician
would be delighted to get, Taft re-
signed after less than year In order
to practice law.
Some of his friends felt that in ac-
cepting the craftsmanship Of the Phil
ippine commission and quitting the
bench he was FORGETTING fine career
as jurist. Twice during his stay In
the Philippine Islands he could have
assembled the supreme bench had he
been willing to quit his work in the
islands. But he was in the midst of
highly important duties there In mold
ing a civil government for the native
peoples and refused to return to the
United States merely for his own adj
vantage.
In the Philippines Mr.. Taft had a
serious illness. When convalescent he
cabled Elihu Root, then secretary of
war, "Feel fine; rode eighteen miles
on army mule today" Mr.. Root ca.
bled back: "Glad you are all right.
How is the mule?" This, of course,
was an official joke on the Taft avoir-
dupois.