Milford chronicle., 1908-06-26

GLOBE THoFTER' es tall. Mentally
also he is big man. The salient facts
, in his career prove this.
y Unlike most men Of presidential as
pirations, Mr.. Taft never knew what
It was to be poor. He was not born
rich, but he was born well to do. There
is no log cabin period in his life nor in
the lives Of his ancestors for genera
lions back. His paternal grandfather
was a Vermont lawyer Of distinction.
His father was Judge Alphonso Taft
of Cincinnati, who served for brief
periods as secretary of war and attor-
ney general in the cabinet of President
Grant and afterward was minister to
Austria and to Russia
William H. Taft was born in Cincin-
natl Sept Is, 1857. He grew up in his
native city and was prepared for col
lege In the local schools. His mother |
was a highly educated woman. If is
said that the Taft family always made |
a specially Of education. The Judge
and his wife determined that all their
children should receive the best scho-
lastic training that was to be had. Will
liam was a diligent student who mas
tered his studies by dint of hard dig
ging He entered Yale in 1874 and was
graduated four years later with second
hOnors In a class of l21 members. In
college he was known as a clean.
manly youth, always ready to take (
part in athletics. but never neglecting
his studies for sport. Classmates de-
clare that Bill Taft was the most I
popular fellow in the class of 1873.
The young man returned to Cincin-
lat with his diploma and passed g
through law school. In 1880 he was :
admitted to the bar. While waiting for
lients he worked as a court reporter :,
N the Cincinnati Times and later on :
he Cincinnati Commercial. The prose- !.
uting attorney met the young lawyer 9,
eporter and took such a fancy to him =,
nat he appointed Taft his assistant ~
hat was in 1881. Not long afterward -,
he young man was appointed collector o.
internal revenue for his district. -
uring the administration of President 81,
arrison the Cincinnati lawyer made 81
S first official appearance in Wash do
gton as solicitor general for the Unit O.,
States. President Harrison appoint ~,
him In 1892 judge of the United nio
ates circuit court Prior to this Mr.. T
1T had sat on the bench OF the supe- +,,,
IT court in Ohio, first through ap- - -
to go, - NoYeIilo' rOi"AeI' no" ach
ction.
'hough in public Office for about If ~
n years, up to the year 1900 VII 80
N II. Taft had won only a local -
utation. To be sure. he was wide onS
and favorably known among law ~
s as a judge possessing in an IN mn,
al measure the judicial mind. but 80
| - = ~ 'ense national ngure' pine
do with the PBilippinesr Wpeu III
lily 1t was determined to create a Of a
mission to organize civil govern of1c,
1t In the Islands, then in revolt and in O
er military rule, the president look cent
iDout Tor man big and broad and fact
enough to hold the chairmapsbin STAR
"ot oouy' big Bill" Taft Of his posts
STATE was recommended as the man.
man Tor the place. Judge Taft of al
caAed TO Washington. He frank him
DID the president that he had NOT the {
Al la'or OF acquiring the islands positi
ne first place. Notwithstanding woul,
Judge Taft was deemed the hest signe
able man to undertake the admin TO mr.,
,ion u Inc Islands. He accepted Son
- ~ TO the craftsmanship of eepti1
philippine commission as a mat ippinc
I public duty and proceeded to bench
la with his family. as a 1
Is In 1900 William H. Taft he the P
an international figure. Sneak ascenC
Imost literally, the eyes of the been
were upon him. 1t devolved nm island
~ 70 administer the affairs Of a highly
ent archipelago but lately re- ing a
from centuries Of despotic mis- people
ana still struggling violently United
IL the manifest destiny Of Amer Vantae
guardianship. No other American In Il
nan ever was called upon to serious
axe like task. How well cabled
TAFT fulfilled his mission is In war "
Dy the present situation in the on arm
J. AFTER bringing about a SEM bled b
N4'1S VisdnlAauOn TART was HOW 4
TED civil governor of the Phil was an
he remained four years in lupoIs.
inds. When finally he returned
United States to become secre- K
war in the Roosevelt cabinet Wilk'
nodded form out of chaos and 70 desI
zen the Filipinos a running start drunken
ultimate self government Of a Slavii
st approved American brand. county,
e departing FOR the Philippines woman
Tart had said at a dinner that aren.