The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-06-13
Many of His Appointments
Since Taking Office Have
Been Men Who Were Fam
Gus Once as Athletes.
--LATEST APPOINTEE
A FOOTBALL COACH
George Woodruff Made an
Alaskan Judge Hitchcock
Was Once Famous as COL
Ieqe Diamond Star.

WASHINGTON. June 12.-President
Taft is showing by his appointments
to office prediction for men OF ath-
letic tendencies and has appointed
many men, who In their day, were
stars on the gridiron and on the athle-
tic field With one or two exceptions.
a latent love for outdoor sports OF ev-
cry kind. Then, too, the president Is
himself a sport enthusiast. On sever
al occasions since becoming president
he has delighted the hearts OF the
baseball fans in Washington and 9th
.er cities by being on hand to root
for the home team.
Woodruff Was . Coach.
The two football stars whom the
president has recently honored with
important judicial nominations are
George W. Woodruff, who first as a
jplayer and then as coach, put the
University of Pennsylvania far in the
lead OF the big Four" on the grid
iron and Peter d. Overfield. who but
yesterday was nominated to be U. S.
Judge for the fourth judicial district
1sof Alaska.
!; Overfield made his reputation as a
4 player alone. For three years, as the
astellar fullback of the country, he led
university of Pennsylvania football
teams to victory He is native of
Pennsylvania, but three. years ago
+, went to Nome, Alaska, to practice
law.
The present cabinet is a represen-
tative one from an athletic point OF
view. Secretary Knox is a golf player
and baseball enthusiast, Secretary Bal
linger won fame in his youth as a
cowboy and plainsman, and is probab-
" the best horseman Of the official
family today.
TAFT a Horseman.
For that matter. the president de-
spite his weight, is considered some
what of horseman hirjself. although
he never practiced tf>~ rough riding"
OF his predecessor.
OF course everyone knows that the
presidents favorite of all the outdoor
sports is golf, and according to Will
liam ]. Travis, an authority, he Is an
excellent player.
President Taft is also able to han
die the gloves" should occasion re-
quire. When he was at Yale he was
the champion boxer of his class, and
n II be necessary the president would
be able to hold his own In the squar-
ed circle. During his career as re-
porter in Cincinnati he once whipped
an editor in rough and tumble en-
counter. In later years Mr.. Taft is
satisfied with golf and horseback rid
ing, and Is understood not to look
with favor on the boxing and wrestl-
ing stunts that President Roosevelt
cared for while in the white house.
Hitchcock Ball Player.
Postmaster General Hitchcock was
. crack baseball and football player
at Harvard. and also led in other ath-
letics. Secretary of the Navy Meyer.
was one Of the star players of the
tennis cabinet, but lately has gone in
for horseback riding and golf. Among
the athletes who occupy prominent
political positions in Washington.
Capt. Archibald w. Butt. the presi-
dents aide, Is probably the most con-
spicuous. Butts. former newspaper
man, is an all around athlete. equally
ut horse riding. walking or playing
golf. Anything in the athletic line
appeals to him.
Gen. Clarence Edwards, chief of the
bureau Of insular affairs, and one Of
the presidents frequent companions