El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-07-03
LEADER Of REPUBLICANS
JUDGE, SCHOLAR, REPORTER
William Howard Taft Has Been in the Public Affairs Of
the Country Since Young Manhood-His Accom-
plishments as a President, as Secretary of
War, as Judge and as Citizen.


Howard Taft, the 27th president Of tn
United States, was born In Cincinnati
on September Is, 1857. He comes Of
family distinguished in the law an
the public service.
The first American Tafts came of tn
England yeomanry, transplanted acros
the Atlantic by the great upneava
that peopIed New England with it
sturdy stock. In this country the,
turned to the study and practice Of law
Peter Taft, the presidents grand
father was both a maker and an in
terpreter Of laws, having served as
ueD-ber OF the Vermont legislature, ant
afterwards as u judge.
AlphonsO Taft son Of Peter, wa
graduated from Yale college and theT
went out TO the western reserve tC
practice law. He settled in Cincinnati
where William Howard Taft was born
AlphonsO Taft, himself a judge Of the
superior BENCH earned distinction
through the service of city, state and
nation. During his later years he
served under president Grant as attor-
ney general to the department of JUS
tice, and finally entered the diplomatic
service as minister first to Austria and
then to Russia.
The presidents mother. Mrs. Louise
NJ TOrrey Taft, was also Of old Eng
land stock, holding strictly to those
her Puritan ancestors. She was a Wom-
an of great strength OF character and
brilliancy of mind, one ably qualified
through natures gifts to shape the des-
TIMES Of her three sons Charles p, Pc
ter and William Howard.
Through AlphonsO Taft the scholar,
diplomat and judge. and Mrs Louise
Torrey Taft. the loving mother and
guardian OF the ethical and physlcal
welfare of the three Taft boys, an at
mosphere Of culture, refinement and
inspiration was maintained well calcu-
lated to produce fine specimens Of
American manhood The career OF
each of the bows gives ample evidence
Of the influence Of this environment
AlphOnsO Taft was the first alumnus
Of Yale college elected to the corpora
ton, and retained throughout his life
time an affection for his alma mater
thai amounted almost to a passion.
Therefore. each OF his boys was des-
tined to pursue his studies in that col
lege. Charles 1. Taft, the eldest son,
graduated with highest hOnOrs, the
second son, Peter, graduated two years
later than Charles. His standing was
higher, all points considered, than that
Of any other graduate Of the college,
taking into account all the classes
iron the beginning. A brilliant career
seemed 10 opeI. before him, but his
health vas impaired and he died after
a few years in inTalidism.
Becomes = Reporter.
In the case of William Howard Taft
the same routine Of preparatory edUca-
lion was mapped out He attended
first the public schools of Cincinnati,
graduating from the Woodward High
school in 1874 and later entering Yale
fror. which university he graduated in
1873, being the salutorian Of his class.
Following the graduating exercises
Young Taft returned to Cincinnati
where he began the study of law in his
fathers office, at the same time doing
owned by his brother, Charles P. Taft
His salary st first was Sc a week. So
well did young Taft perform his duties,
however, that Murat Halstead, editor
Of the Cincinnati Commercial Gazette,
employed the young man to work for
that paper at an increased salary of SIS /
week.
Taft, always independent greeted the
raise as a Reorganization Of his talent,
and. though he was in no way in need |
Of financial aid he was highly elated. !
His new job brought TO him duties that J
held him to a rigid regime. Despite |
-hese duties, however, he still pursued I
he law, taking a course at the Cincin- /
lati law school where Champ Clark ]
and many other prominent men re- 1
seived their sheepskins. He graduated /
n 1880, dividing first honors with an 1
1ther student, and was admitted to the I
1ar soon afterwards.
That Big Bill" Taft's physical pow /
IFS were in no way impaired by his /
itudious pursuits is evidenced by an in !
;ident that took place at about this |
tage Of his career. His father, judge I
AlphOnso Taft, was the defeated candi-
late for the governor of Ohio and had /
,een most scandalously slandered by a 1
Cincinnati newspaper, owned by man 4
FAMED Rose.
Rose had the reputation of running
Matchmaking sheet, deriving his CHIEF
income from blood money extracted
rom his victims. According to the !
chronicles Of the time he was an ex- I
,rize fighter, bully and the associate |
f roWdies, who was in the habit Of
lacing Cincinnati thOrOughfares &C (
empanied by a band of roughs on
whom he could depend for both prOtec-
ion and assault
Big Bill Taft, stirred to the verge
T frenzy by the attacks upon his faith
RS character. decided to put an end to
he cabals. But instead Of having re-
curse to the processes Of the law, he
asst aside his judicial training and
marched into the sanctum Of editor
lose with fire in his eye.
Taft Whips An Editor.
Taft demanded ? retraction Of the /
landerous statements printed in Roses
aper- Rose refused. Hot words