The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-02-18
HEtAUGHSAT
TALK Of HIS
RETURNINGTO
WHITE HOUSE
ny BILL PRICE.

,
the United States, first governor OF
the Philippine Islands, several years
Secretary Of War, former Federal
Judge, now working for his country
for 81 a year in adjudicating disputes
between employers and employees as
one Of the two chairmen Of the War
Labor Board, was strOlling alone on
Pennsylvania avenue-getting fresh
air instead Of luncheon.
II seldom eat luncheon" he said,
a. I stopped TO talk with him. Some
times ] take an apple, but more often
I make the fresh air do instead Of
something to eat. I've been trying
hard to keep my flesh down I now
weigh 255 pounds"
Put on Diet.
When Mr.. Taft began his term as
President he weighed about 325. He
played golf, walked, rode horseback,
+. took exercise all kinds, but the fat
stuck Two years ago the doctors put
him on practically a starvation diet
sweets and fats eliminated; pork cut
of the list because 1t makes blood;
everything good denied him.
Neither food, deprivations nor any
thing else have impaired his hearty
laugh and his genuine enjoyment of
association with his fellOw-man. He
1sswerlOing harder, for 81 a year than
he ever worked for $4,000 as presi-
dent, and he seems ten times happier
As babe him good-by and walked
away, an acquaintance who had seen
Us talking, Joined me and remarked:
ct am going to vote for that old
chap for President in 1920. He never
did get a square deal in the White
House. The people are beginning to
understand that, and I've heard hun
dreds Of men say that they are for
him"
Won't Get Chance.
Il don't think you will get the
ehance,R I remarked. because he
hates politics and all the petty things
that 90 along with IL, and which a
President must listen to and somes
take part in"
"Pm pretty sure myself that he does
not have ambitions for the White
House again, but IL his party insists
upon him he could not wei refuse"
the man said Ties about the biggest
man Of his part1s greatly leved by the
people, who think he was mot fairly
treated when president. and that will
go far toward popular insistence that
MS aQllALAeG fELldAA again DC Gull
manded by the country"
Thousands Of people feel as this
man did about Ehe former President
The opinion Is often expressed inside
and outside Of political circles.
Win Net he Candidate.
But I'm sure that William II. Taft
will never again be q candidate for
the Presidency or any other political
- INF n -
body. knows what might happen IL
his party, backed by strong sentiment
from the people. nominated him again
against his wishes. This, though,
seems now improbable.
Not a great while ago I had toll
lEr. Taft OF some Of the hopes ex-
pressed by his admirers as to his
future.
A big, hearty laugh rang out
please do not awaken all the
ghosts in the political graveyards OF
the past" he declared. 81 can see.
some Of them parading by now"
Then he frankly declared that he
was out Of politics forever. He said
he despised the game and some OF
the trickeries Of men connected with
It He was happy in his private life
and IN his hard work for nothing
for the Government His friends
would never 90 anything 70 inject
him into the Presidential fight Of the
Republican party next year.
There Is absolutely no question OF
his sincerity He hates the treach-
cries and petty 5ealousies Of big
politics. he wants to think kindly
of his feIlowman. and to do this will
avoid politics.
Victim OF TreaeheFy.
That Mr.. Taft was a victim OF much
treachery the country knows. I re-
call one United States Senator, at
that time high in his party, who re-
ceived an awful call down from Presi-
dent Taft The man had ambitions
himself for the 1912 nomination. He
frequently called at the White House
20 get his patronage and TO poke
his fngers' in the eyes Of the kindly
Taft. Back in the Senate he secretly
trained with the element that was
openly and underhtandlngly working
against Taft. The President obtained
much cumulative evidence of the
treachery Of this man.
One day the Senator called at the
White House to tell what he was