El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-07-03

/ engaged in a personal encounter
Both were men OF great physical
strength and determination. They
1 fought all over the office. The tide OF
! victory favOring first one and then the
other In the end, however, Taft bested
the editor and administered to him
{ such a terrific thrashing that he
begged for mercy. This young Taft
agreed to grant if he would leave
( Cincinnati at once. Rose, beaten into
/ submission, met this requirement and
! left the town that night His paper has
never since appeared upon the street
This incident illustrates the rugged
! determination hidden beneath the Taft
/ semblance of geniality. He is primarf-
J y a fighter and though possessed by
] nature with a kind and genial dispo-
sition, likes nothing better than to be
: in the heart Of a melee This passion
of young Taft to do and conquer, cou-
| pied 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 strenuous life in
business, or perhaps the army. ana led
him TO seek livelihood and fame
through serving his country.
Enters Politics.
In 1880. soon after his fight with
Rose, he was called to public office.
Where ne mas been in one capacity or
another ever since. First he was as
slstant prosecuting attorney of HamfI-
ton county Here he rendered signal
service by helping TO drive out the old
Campbell ring, whose influence had
long dominated Cincinnati's courthouse
In 1881 he became collector of inter-
nal revenue for the first Ohio district
and demonstrated the same ability that
he had showed in the law. A year
later he resigned that office and went
PACK TO the practice Of his profession,
joining in partnership with H G.
Floyd, his fathers old partner. In 1883
ne became assistant county solicitor
Two years later, governor Foraker ap-
pointed him judge of the superior
court to succeed judge Harmon, who
mad resigned to enter president Cleve-
lands cabinet.
In 1886 judge Taft married Miss Hell
en- Heron, daughter Of John ". Heron
Of Cincinnati.
It is said by those who knew Judge
IaIt at that time that the young mans
ambition looked forward to a career in
the judiciary His home training, his
years OF preparatory education and his
personal tastes, together with his nat
ural endOwments, all eminently fitted
him for such a course in life. He was
the poSSesSOr of what is known as a
Judicial mind" that rare physical at
tribute that is adept at both ANALYSIS
and synthesis.
So great were his abilities on the
bench that when his first term grew to !
a close he was triUmphantly elected for
another period Already, however, his /
ability had attracted outside attention /
and ne had served but two years of tho
tive years term for which he was elect /
ed when president Harrison asked him 4
10 take the difficult post of solicitor 1
general Of the United States
Mr. Taft accepted this position in 4
1880. Here he was -ssociat with /
seph Choate, and other giants of tho
law, and acquitted himself with a bril- I
nancy that demonstrated clearly to his
ccntemp Oraries q faculty involving not
n md
pncation, but the power of clear and
LarceIuI presentation of argument. Dur
ing his term of office he handled the
seal Ilsherles controversy with Great |
Britain and a tariff case in which the
law was attacked on the ground that
speaker Reed had counted a quorum I
Nhen the bill passed the house. Both
Of these cases he won
Meets With Roosevelt.
It was during his solicitor general
snip that Taft first became acquainted
With Theodore Roosevelt. The ac- /
1ualntance ripened into a firm friend (
nip, only broken during the last four
years.
In 1892 Mr.. Taft was sent back to
JhlO as judge of the sixth federal cir |
suit- Ee spent seven years on the fed
7ral bench, his tenure of office being J
generally recognized as an apprentice
snip Tor later appointment to the su-
# his ambition.
Mr.. Tafts administra ton of his du-
les as federal judge was marked by a
brilliancy and fair minded
less that won him the respect and ac- !
lain not only Of those in favor Of
Fhom he decided the cases before him,
tut of those who failed in their litiga-
ion. He was hailed on every side as
! fair minded and upright Judge
one of his most noted decisions
lecision that even at that early day !
moved him to be in accord with the I
sherman antitrust law, was given out !
n the AddyStOne Pipe company itiga- |
ion. This was the first time the Sher-
nan antitrust law was made a living, (
1tal force for the curbing and punish /
1ent Of monopoly. Mr.. Taft upheld the |
aw and it was appealed to the su-
rene court, where he had the satisfac-
ION OF having his decision quoted in |
uH and handed down as part of the
plnlonS OF the high court, which SuS- !
aimed him at every point
Rules the Philippines.
Judge Tat remained on the federal |
ench until 1900, when president Nc /
linley appointed him president of the |
nited States Philippine commission
is administration of the hilippines
-aS truly a heroic task. Americans in
lvldually and collectively, were per-
ona non grata with the natives. They
-ere hated with fanatic fervOr. Besides
his, at the time president Taft took
p his administration of Philippine at
airs, there was much controversy in
ne United States as to the future poll /
y of this country in regard to the ss-
inds.
Taft won the confidence Of the Phil
)plnOs through kindness and judicial I
-irness. He lived with them, ate with
hem and drank with them. He gave
lem schools, provided for their educa-
on, fought for their rights with the
ONE government and rejuvenated :
'ade to such an extent that prosperity
niled upon the islands for the first !
me in centuries.
Is Made Governor.
His early efforts in the Philippines :
ere early recognized in the United
tates. and IN July Of the year follow {
lg his appointment he was made the ! {
rst civil governor Of the islands.
There has been some criticism OF ! /
resident Taft's administration in the i
rient, but upon the whole it is. recog- Y
zed by even the presidents enemies | 7
lat his tenure Of office was one thar | 7
lowed executive ability to a rare de- I
rec. So intent, indeed was he uDOn / +