The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-19
stars-who simply cannot neglect their
business for their pleasure.
Docs Not Neglect Play.

stars-who simply cannot neglect their
business for their pleasure.
Does Not Neglect Play.
But Mr.. Taft does not neglect play.
There is play that has to be done by
the big secretary: otherwise he will
grow too big. His physical propor-
tions must be kept within bounds. Ac-
cordingly, he makes something of a
regular business of taking the kinds
of exercise which, to use the ordinary
phrasing, reduce fat. Mr.. Taft is quite
big enough already for all practical
purposes. The tendency of man OF
his makeup is to grow bigger, SO as
a deterrent to this tendency the big
man plays golf, EIe plays also be-,
cause he likes the game, and ne gets
much genuine pleasure as we'll as ben-
eft out of 1t. While at his Canadian
summer retreat. Mr.. Taft frequently
plays golf on the Murray Bay links
with his neighbour, Justice harlan, Of
the Supreme Court. The venerable
Justice is seventy-four years old and
of standard avoirdupois.
Mr.. Taft is always ready for any
kind of sport when he is not too busy.
with work. He plays tennis. swims i'm
the river or swimming tank, goes fish
ing. walks through the fields or drives
around the country. His hearty laugh
is heard far and near, for the secre-3
| tary's well known smile is not an af-,
fectation. The smile is a part of the
man, and there is laugh lying behind
it ready for use an ony proper occa-
| sion.
The refrigerator routine and the red
| tape formality of Washington during
the sessions of Congress have no effect
| on Mr.. Taft. He is one of the most
| accessible of men to the newspaper
correspondents whose calling leads
them to Uncle Sans capital. He will
1 tell them what they want to know, IL
/ he can do so without divulging secrets.s
4 IT answering questions means telling
things that should not be disclosed.
| he knows how to word refusal in so
| genial manner that more than half
I of the sting OF disappointment disap-
pears. $50.
Fillpincs Like Him.
Mr.. Taft is beloved by the Filipinos.
He has now with him young Filipino
/ named Montico. who adopted the big
War Secretary as his father a. year or
so ago. This young fellow was a jin-.
ril,sha boy when Mr.. Taft was gov
ernor of the Philippines He used TO
haul the big man around. and he fell In
love with Taft The governor was so
!, kind and genial that the Filipino con
cluded he would make an ideal father.
so he came over to the United States
/ and formally adopted Mr.. Taft In that
relationship. The young man calls him
i ..Father.' according to the FILIPINO
4 custom, and is the willing and eager
! servant OF the secretary.
1 Quite Democratic.
l There is no one-not even Mr.. Bryan
4 who is more Democratic than this
4 nan The last time the writer saw him
4 in the Middle West. Mr.. Taft was oblig-
ngly lending his bulk to the purpose
of ramming q trunk lid down. His
! secretary had a whole trunk full OF
souvenirs which had been presentsd
to Taft on his Western trip OF ia-
|, spection.
4 can't set the lid shut" remarked
the man.
Couldn't you If sat on It," beamed
, the Secretary OF War.
!. "oh. certainly, sir" And the human
ballast was applied.
Meeting Taft again after eight
months in his summer home at Muir
ray Bay, Canada, he displayed the
!, same good natured democratic spirit.
!, a Photographer was present to talks
: CONTINUED on Ninth PageD