The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1909-03-11

Raleigh News and Observer.
Mr.. Taft comes to the Presidency
without the SEARS of political warfare.
He has never been "A candidate before
the people or conducted a campaign
or taken and given blows in the hurly-
burly game of politics. He cannot
be said to have been a candidate for
the Presidency on his own initiative
because all the world knows that Mr..
Roosevelt compelled his nomination
and bore the brunt OF all the cam
paign fight except the speaking.
Mr.. Taft's public life has been one
of ''fiowery beds of ease" as to secur-
ing places of honor His father had
been a cabinet officer and distin-
guished iurist, having wealth and
everything that money and position
could bring. The son. who yesterday
took the oath of office, was born
with silver spoon in his mouth,
educated at Yale, and when first
licensed to practice law was immedi-
ately given without any effort on his
part a position in Cincinnati as as
sistant prosecuting attorney that
was of great value to him. THAT
position" said Judge Taft, in re-
cent conversation with a friend, "was
a splendid thing for me. 1t gave me
n rough-and-tumble experience in the
law at the time OF life when | was
ready for it. was taught the neces-
sity of facts and how to get them. /
learned to search for truth and tn
value evidence. The training / then
received has been of the highest inn
portance to me ever since. Truth
that is what the world needs all the
time"
Later his friends handed him on a
silver waiter the position of Collector
of Internal Revenue for the Southern
District of Ohio. When Mr.. Foraker
was Governor he appointed Mr.. Tai,
Judge OF the Supreme court OF Ohio
Mr.. Harrison made him Solicitor Gen
eral. He was then given the posi-
ton OF Federal District and after
wards Circuit Court Judge which b,
held undtil Mr.. Mckinley made hin
Governor OF the Philippines. He re
turned to America to become Secre
tary OF War after declining to be as
sociate Justice of the Supreme Cour1
because, as he said, he felt it his duty
to remain in the Philippines whil'
there. From Secretary of War. b,
comes to the Presidency. Hehas helt
office all his life and until choseI
President all his positions were ap
pointive. On the bench he showed
marked ability and prodigious indus
try. He made reputation in tn
Philippines as a strong and success
full administrators. When trouble wa
threatened growing out of the con
fiicting claims over the ''friar lands
| Mr.. Taft was sent to Rome for al inter
view with the Pope which resulted il
the payment by Congress OF million
for the claim of the Roman Catholi
church to the friar lands. He wen
to Cuba at critical time and his firm
hand is credited with bringing abou
better conditions on the gem OF tn
Antilles. He has Travelled more thar
any living public man. having beel
the Presidents special ambassado
in several important matters. IL
enjoyed the full confidence OF Mr.
Roosevelt who leaned upon him il
many difficult matters Of administra
ton. Their friendship began wheI
Taft was Solicitor General durin,
Harrison's administration and Mr
Roosevelt was Civil Service Commis
siOner. and since that time it has bee
"Will" and Theodore" between tn
incoming and outgoing Presidents
As Secretary of War Mr. Taft ha
come to he regarded as an able es
CONTINUED on fourth pagel