The Washington herald., 1909-03-05


in the closing years Of Mr.. Taft's serv-
ice on the Federal bench several Ohio
railroads were in the hands Of receivers
appointed by him. One Of these receivers
was Myr0n T HerTick. his warm friend
Judge Taft heard that some OF the re-
ceivers. including Mr. Herrick. had per
mitted Relating He summoned them 10
come and see him. Mr. and Mrs. HeTrick
were entertained at his home The next
day Mr.. Herrick and the judge went
down 10 the courthouse. There, in the
judges Office. friendship was disregaroed
ard it became a business meeting
'Nyron. asked the judge. have you
been rebatlEg
Mr.. Herrick replied by presenting 2
statement showing that some $4,000 had
been raid % shippers 10y his road Judge
TAFT was greatly shocked.
IF YOU have bcen permitting Relating.
he said. sIernly. you cannot he permit
ted 10 ESCAPE.
Fortunately for Mr. HeGTick. he was
able to SHOW that The money had been
paid on accoaat Of contracts made be
fore he became receiver. and which he
had felt bound to fulfI Judge Taft
heard the explanation wita great relief
These claims aTe undoubtedly just,
be said. and I viii enter an order Tor
tbeir payment. But hereafter please let
me SETTLE judicial questions
Played No FavOrites.
Several times while on the Federal
bench judge Taft declined TO grant re-
quests made Of him by ex-President Har-
rison. the man VINO appointed him in
the case the district attorney. the AttCr-
ney. General and Mr.. Harrison were ali
asking Tor an extension Of time Judge
Taft thought they had had ample opp0r-
;urity TO prepare their case and refused
their request Neither friendship nor per
soaaI obligation ever interfered with his
action on the bench
Mr. Taft has always had a fine scorn for
mere techuicaIity. a young lawyer once
fled papers in his court In q suit against
a railroad Cn behalf OF a girl whose foot
had been cut OF in an accident The Pc
tition was not skillfully drawn up and the
Judge saw that the clever railroad Al
tor-eys would demUr 10 IT, and the de-
u.urrer wou.,- have u be sustained So he
/ called the cirTs lawyer 10 him and point
T ed out the defects in The petition IL was
+ properly amended and the young woman
/ recovered damages.
With JndSOn Harmon.
| Mir Taft did not confne his interest in
the law 10 its Interpretation and exposi-
/ ton from the bench. In the later years
OF his service as a judge the old Cincin-
natl law school at which he had grad
uated, had fallen somewhat behind the
times. AIr- Taft associated himself with
] Judson Harmon and some other eminent
I lawyers OF Cincinnati and founded new
/ law school. which followed the case syS-
J TEN OF instruction. Judge Taft was deeu
/ OF the school. which became. in ConjUnc-
ton with the old one, the law depart
ment Of the University Of Cincinnati
! II was while Judge Taft was serving or
4 the Federal bench that the Spanish val
/ broke out and was fought 10 its cOnclu-
/ sion. Greatest Of all the problems which
that war left behind was the disDosi-
ton of the Philippines and its people
/ President Mckinley realized that the
I United States had a duty laid upon il
not to abandon the Philippines, and hC
began his policy Of laying the foundation
Of a superior civilization with specif.
reference to the needs Of the people tC
/ be governed and with definite reference Il
the welfare Of the islands. both msteria
and moral"
\ year previous to 1900. President Nc
+ Kinley had made the trial of a civilian
commission. and this had not been Z
! success. He needed a man. for ever
I among people Of influence and impOr
tance. the men Of high station in public
life. there was a growing opposition K
our remaining in the islands.
7 want a man 10 head the commits
sion. he said TO Secretary Of State
William r Day one morning when they
were discussing the situation. who j.
/ strong. honest. and taCtful, man O.
education and executive ability MAJ
who Is fearless. but conservative. an(
who VIII get along with the army peo
pie
THAT sounds Ike Bill Taft" replied
Mr. Day. unconsciously declaring by hi
! remark another Of Mr.. Taft's Guaiif1ca
tions. the gocd-natured comradeshiI
which keeps him "Bilr' TO his friends.
Named by Mckinley.
| The results OF this conversation va.
that Mr. Mckinley asked Judge TAFT L
come to Washington. Mr. Taft haC
made no open declaration Of belief con
cerning the Philippines. but it was known
among his friends that he was Opposed
to their retention he had not though
It possible that in this practical, hard
headed. self-centered country there coul,
he held by any government an ideal ST
purely altruistic as that which Mr.. Mc
I Kinley was about TO propose to him
He came TO Washington and had lon;
I conference with the President and Mr.
Root. then Secretary Of War. Mr. REQ
/ is another practical man. whose grea
! reputation was not made for altruism
But he wss heart and soul IN sympathy
with the purpose Of the President, and h
was about 10 demonstrate that be va!