Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-06-29
CAREER OF PRESIDENT TAFT
CONTINUED from Page u

Sherman antitrust law, was gwen out
in the Addystone Pipe Go, litigation
This was the first time the sherman
antitrust law was made living, vital
force for the curbing and punishment
Of monopoly. Mr. Taft upheld the law
and 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-
lions of the high court which sustain
ed him at every point
Judge Taft remained on the Federal
bench until 1900 when President Nc
ikinley appointed him president of the
United States Philippine Commission.
His administration of the Philippines
was truly heroic task Americans,
individually and collectively were
persona non grata with the natives.
They were hated with fanatic fervor.
Besides this, at the time President
Taft took up his 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.
ippinos through kindness and judicial
fairness. He lived with them, ate
with them and drank with them. He
gave them schools, provided for their
education, fought for their rights with
the home government and rejuyen-
ated to such an extent that prosperity
smiled upon the islands for the first
time In centuries.
His early efforts in the Philippines
were recognized in the United States
and In July of the year following his
appointment he was made the first
civil governor of the islands.
There has been some criticism of
President Taft's administration in the
Orient, but upon the whole 1t is rec
ognized by even the Presidents en-
emies that the tenure of Office was one
that showed executive ability to rare
degree. So intent, indeed, was he up
on the regeneration of the Philippine
Islands - upon three different oc-
casions refused an opportunity to
re-enter he judiciary In refusing
one of thes5 opportunities he turned
down an appointment to the Supreme
bench of the United States. This was
the goal toward which his ambition
had turned since boyhood
In 49, he accepted the portfolio
of war in the cabinet of President
Roosevelt and continued in that office
until he resigned to engage in his
presidential campaign in 1908.
~ During his ineumbaney of the cabi
net office Mr.. Taft displayed to even
greater advantage that efficiency anC
tact he had shown in HIS admihistra
ton of the Philippines. Perhaps his
greatest achievement as Secretary Of
y War was the mastery manner in
which he wrought order out of chaos
WINGED that the United States had moi
acquired that section of the Isthmus
of Panama solely to build a canal
They were of the opinion that there
were diplomatic reasons behind the
move. They thought that the United
States sought to strike at the indie
tendency of the Central American Re
publics through the establishment OF
rival state and the gradual absorb
ton of the surrounding territory.
This antagonism had to be over
come and Taft was the man that over
came. He visited Panama and exer
cised there whose personal and mental
powers that had won the confidence
OF the natives of the Philippines, The
result was that army engineers
under his direction, were enabled to
,. proceed with their work of making
this pest hold habitable without ser
ious opposition from the natives.
~ Another instance of his ability as
an executive and diplomat came with
the second insurrection in Cuba. He
jnurneyed to that Island in 1906 and
=. hardly had he reached it's shores
when internal affairs took a change
for the better. In a comparatively
short time peace had been restored
among the warning factions. He re
manned as provisional governor OF
Cuba for several months.
... In June 1908. he was nominated for
President by the Republican Nation
al convention at Chicago, and in the
following November he was elected to
the Presidency by considerable ma
jority.
Up to this time there had been moth
ing in Mr. Taft's career that had elicit
g. ed anything but boundless praise. He
had been faithful and efficient serv-
ant OF his country at home and abroad
Throughout the world he had made
many friends for the United States by
his frankness and liberalty and his
( country was only too willing to see
him honored with the highest office
within its gift. II is no exaggeration
TO say that no President ever moved
into the White House with so nearly
the universal goodwill of the popu-
lace as did Mr.. Taft
He fell heir, however. to a political
situation calculated by It's complex
sides and fractional friction IN creatp