The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-06-19

young Taft to do ana conquer, Coupled
with the judicial training OF his father.
and his mothers desire that he should
follow in the footsteps of his ancestors.
won him away from what might have
been a strenuous life in business, or
perhaps the army, and led him to seek
Il livelihood and fame through serving
his country.
In 1880, soon after mis- fight with
Rose, he was called to public office
where he has been in one capacity
or another ever since. First he was as
sistant prosecuting attorney of Hamil-
ton County. Here he rendered signal
service by helping to drive out the old
Campbell ring, whose influence had
long dominated Cincinnati's court
house.
In 1881 he became Collector of Inter
nal revenue for the First Ohio District
ana demonstrated the same ability
that he had showed in the law. A year
later he resigned that Office and went
back to the practice of his profession,
joining in partnership with II. G. Floyd
lis fathers old partner. In 1888 he be-
came assistant county solicitor. Two
years later, Governor Foraker appoint
ed him Judge of the superior court TO
succeed Judson Harmon, who had re-
signed to enter President Cleveland's
cabinet.
In 1886 Judge Taft married Miss
Helen Heron, daughter of the Honor
able John w. Heron of Cincinnati
1t is said by those who knew Judge
Taft at that time that the young mans
ambition looked forward to a career
II the judiciary. His home training,
his years of preparatory education and
his personal tastes together with his
natural endowments, all eminently Att
ed him for such a course in life. He
vas the possessor of what is known
as judicial mind" that rare physical
attribute that is adept at both analysis
and synthesis.
So great were his abilities on the
bench that when his first term grew
II a close he was triumphantly elect
ed for another period. Already, howev-
er, his ability had attracted outside at
tention and he had served but two
years of the five year term for which
he was elected when President Harri-
son asked him to take the difficult
POST of Solicitor General of the United
States.
Mr.. Taft accepted this position in
1890. Here he was associated with Jo-
seph Choate, and other giants of the
law, and acquitted himself with a
brilliancy that demonstrated clearly to
his contemporaries a faculty involving
not only wide learning and tremen-
dous application, but the power of
clear and forceful presentation or argu-
ment. During his term of Office he ham
died the seal fisheries controversy
with Great Britain and tariff case in
which the law was attacked on the
ground that Speaker Reed had counted
& quorum when the bill passed the
| house. Both of these cases he won.
1t was during his Solicitor, General
ship that Taft became acquainted with
Theodore Roosevelt. The acquaintance
ripened into firm friendship only bro
ken during the last four years.
In 1892 Mr.. Taft was sent back to
Ohio as Judge of the Sixth Federal
Circuit. He spent seven years on the
! Federal bench, his tenure of Office be-
ing generally recognized as an appren-
ticeship for a later appointment to the
Supreme Court. This was then the
cme of his ambition.
Mr.. Taft's administration of his du.
ties as Federal Judge was marked by
universal brilliancy and fair minded
ness that won him the respect and &C
claim not only of those in favor OF
whom he decided the cases before him,
but Of those who failed in their litiga.
ton. He was hailed on every side as a
fair minded and upright judge.
One of his most noted decisions
decision that even at that early day
showed him to be in accord with the
Sherman antitrust law, was given out
IN the Addystone Pipe Co. litigation
This was the first time the Sherman
antitrust law was made a living, vital
force for the curbing and punishment
of monopoly. Mr.. Taft upheld the Law
end it was appealed to the Supreme
Court. where he had the satisfaction
of having his decision quoted in full
and handed down as part of the opin
ions of the high court, which sustain
ed him at every point.
Judge Taft remained on the Fedora
bench until 1900 when President Nc
kinley appointed him President of the
United States Philippine Commission
His administration of Philippines wa.
truly heroic task. Americans, indiyid
ually and collectively. were persona
non grata with the natives. They were
hated with fanatic fervor Besides this
at the time President Taft took I'D hi.
administration Of Philippine affairs
there was much controversy in the
United States as to the future policy
of this country in regard to the islands
Taft won the confidence of the Phil
itpinos through kindness and judicia
fairness. He lived with them, ate with
them and drank with them. He gave
them schools, provided for their edu
cation, fought for their rights with The
home government and rejuvenatec
trade TO such an extent that prosperity
smiled upon the islands for the frs
time in centuries.
His early efforts in the Philippine.
were early recognized in the United
States and in July of the year follow
ing his appointment he was made th|
first civil governor of the islands.
There has been some criticism O