The Washington herald., 1909-08-01

Taft. as every one knows. found the
trusts feverlsh and irritable: also badly
frightened Isolated instances OF Mysteries
gave the epidemic curious phase.
The febrifuge Of Mr.. Taft's artless
smile and the sedative Of his reassuring
presence have halted the disease. and all
the patients are now cheerful, II not talk
ative. in their rapid convalescence. How
ever. the fact that Wade II. Ellis has
been called to sit among the doctors
gives ground for the suspicion that the
President fears the services OF skilled
and vigorous surgeon Will yet be neces-
s6ry. Still. Ellis may be no moro than a
reasonable precaution-a loaded gun be-
hind the kitchen door. to change the illus
tration.
Surgeon or gun. Mr.. Ellis comes from
Ohio with formidable and famous repu-
tation. Other men have done less injury
10 the trusts and become governors. Ellis,
however. lived among dramatic and mas
terful persOnalities-John Sherman, No
Kinley. Hanna, and Foraker-and the
newspapers were much occupied with
them. Then death and so on changed the
traditions and the lineal descent of Ohio
politics. All the glories OF the State are
now centered. therefore. in Taft With
his regime. yet 10 DO tested. appears
Ellis. released from old obligations and
hindrances, having a history OF achieve
ments that include a peculiar chapter
on J. Pierpont Morgan and another on
Deacon John d. Rockefeller.
As Writer of Platform.
When Taft. humanity sure Of the nomi-
nation. wanted a platform. he sent for
Ellis. who is a writer. as well as a ready
reurlbutor among wealthy malefactors
There were several prolonged and private
conferences at the White House. Col.
Roosevelt marched the room in the physi-
cal energy and the audible vigor or his
various opinions. Plenty OF planks and
beams-he was 10 stand on them and to
run on them-were suggested by Taft
himself. Ellis took notes on scraps OF
paper At hotel down the Potomac ne
made the scraps into a coherent docu-
ment There were verbal changes. but
the 1908 platform OF the Republican party,
in a literary sense and IN
many Of It's most important declarations.
was the finished work OF Taft's young
friend and lieutenant from Cincinnati.
1t Is true that Wickersham IS Attor-
ney General but Ellis Is the next high
est authority in the law department OF
the government. Furthermore. all mat
ters bearing on trusts have been put into
his management Nationally. he Is a
potential character-certain monopolists
even may say that he Is a dire and Dor
tentous character. Personally, he Is a
stirring story Of diligence. disaster and
victory. OF medium stature, he has an
q lat IN
gray eyes and the short. blunt nose OF
a fluent talker or willing fighter. He
was born in COvington. across the river
from Cincinnati
How He Started Hut.
My father" he said to me. was
lawyer. an oflceholder and. until 1895.
IN active and persistent Democrat. He
owned more real estate than was profit
able. and had a large family Of sons and
daughters During one vacation. feeling
that ought 10 work. I was a sample
boy on the tobacco brakes in Cincinnati
at IS a week
While attending the high school I
started The Students Lamp which was
sold FOR 50 cents a year 10 subscribers.
md for which we obtained a good many
advertisements. About that time I be-
gan 10 operate IN poetry At the age OF
iIteen / saw n Breton or Dutch painting
lr Henry Mosler's at an exposition. I
wrote some verses about the picture. and
IN editor printed them Ny father pre-
rented me from Immediately stopping
school to be a reporter
/ went 10 Butler, No. while prepar-
ng for college. on a visit 10 my sister.
Her husband, lawyer was a candidate
or Congress against William Joel Stone
now United States Senator. 7 wrote
some able arguments IN opposition to
Stone. and had them printed IN one OF
he local papers. Moreover. when the
'roprietors OF the Republican and Dem
'crat organs were in St. Louis attending
IN editorial convention. I ran both es-
until the owners returned.
Begins Life ns n Reporter.
I spent six happy and very busy
months In Butler and went back 10 Ohio
completely infatuated with the fdea OF
'eing a journalist. The city editor OF the |
newspaper owned by President Tafts
'rother sent me to the river for an ar
icle about those peculiar specimens OF
marine architecture known as shanty /
'oats. Steady employment at S a week 4
ollowed. Car fare and luncheons took
very cent l earned. I worked like a /
orse and wrote bushels Of stuff. When
othlng was LEFT OF mo but skin and
zones. l asked for an increase in salary.
ne city editor put me on space. I /
leaned M $50 the first week. After that
was paid at the rate OF 50 day. I aid
verything-murders, fires. prayer meet /
lgs and society events.
by and hy-I was twenty years old
started a morning paper the
'incinnati Sun, and 7 was EMPLOYED as
lty editor. Later resigned to study
lw In 1889 I was graduated from the
aw department OF Washington and lee
University. A man in the class ahead of
ne had gone TO Wheeler. Territory OF
Dakota, to practice. He wrote and asked
ne 10 he his partner, saying that he had
cen elected prosecuting attorney and
omting an altogether pleasing picture !
iy rather thought II was fools errand
ut be gave me 500. stopped at Butler
Visit my sister and to renew early ac- /
ualntances. 1 thus reduced my cash /
apital.
Wheeler, where arrived with s.. was
Omposed OF frame courthouse. a gen.
raj store, a bank, and few dwellings
was on the edge Of an Indian reserva-
on and contained, / suppose. about fftv
zen, women. and children. Court was
eld each year in June arrived on the L
Gene in September. Nine months IN the
esert Of inaction was rather a drearv
respect to contemplate. Ny partner and II
slept in the jail. whicn was otherwise
noccupied.
Our Office was in the courthouse and
ost US nothing in the way OF rent. Men
irne 10 play poker on our table and 10
'au our daily newspaper. but they Of
'red US no business. MY associate traded
'ne with the Indians, but our partner
iip dlo not include his outside operations. \
the end Of six weeks hadn't earned
penny and was feeling pretty gloomy {
was hlred 10 make few speeches in
le interest OF Huron As against pIarrs