The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1921-07-07
Taft, Mounting Supreme Bench,
Finally Attains Life's Goal

BY n. ~. Husr.
WASHINGTON. July when
william Howard TAFT Ions the silkeu
robca Of chief justice ON The conven-
sng of the supreme court next october
he again viii havc picked np the ju-
4 dicial care. which vas his HES Dm-
biton. hut which he abandoned In
1873 at the importantly OF President
Mckinley and Secretary OF Wal Elihu
Root.
Tat. cduratcd In the law. Viewed
as the pinnacle OF his hopes u seat IN
the federal supreme bench. He had
siaen rapidly, following his graduation
fran Yale. and was presiding Judge
af the UNITED states court Tor the
southern ohio district when prcsi-
dent Mckinley. following the report
Of the Schruman commission on She
Philippines wired him 20 cal at the
white house.
That visit was 80 change Taft's en-
tire career: TO lift him from the tu-
diclnl pursuits he loved; throw him
into the arena OF national politics;
make and unmakc him as president.
and finally return him. under another
| Ohio president. 10 the career from
which he had been drafted.
Mckinley told TAFT that he want
ed him to go TO the Philippines as
governor general and set mp n civil
/ XIV " NANNtnA AnflNa hNNA NNNMfM ~
president In his plea. and although
loath To- abandon his work on the
bench. Tart consented.
As he tod q friend In later years.
he "chose the road to Damascus ana
wound up far aneld. nut the APP
pointment by President Hnrding
places him. hnally. at the goal for
which he started.
AMER a year and q hall I'm the Phil
ippines. TAFT returned TO be- secretary
OF war under Roosevelt. R~uusnvclts
control of his party organization nut
Taft across for the republican nomin-
alton ms president in 1905. =
TAFT. the iurist has been praised
FOR his powers OF reasoning and his
u~naSsailable logic. Hut In practical
politics II appeared that he WIS de-
void Of political judgment
Tan's weakness as president. his
close friends viii tell YOU. however,
was not that he couldn't use tho poo
litical moves that would keen him out
Of trouble. but that h. wouldn't stoop
10 make them.
They rite tho case Of the treaty Of
J reciprocity with Canada. which he
sponnored vigorously against the adj
vice Of many party leaders on tho
dav he signed tho hill ne greeted a
cal'cr with the announcement
We'll. we've now got "a treaty ui
reciprocity with Canada"
THAT su: shat do YOU think Ct IT,
The caller injured
I think I've signrd mv political
death warrant" TAFT replied. but
IT'S worth h."
Again in 1873. whcn the Fight was
hottest for delegate to % Chicago
convention. O. senator. through an In
tormsdiury, approached Taft on tho
subject 81 n pardon for r. m "a Cun-
yicfrd uf murder. with the intimHtlon
that a pardon might mean the switch
Ing Of q block OF delegates
Tell him" Taft sent back word.
that I'm not trading murdor'rs for
dcicgatca"
Poor politics" Certainly. but typ
ical OF tho absolute Integrity ana iu-
corruptibillty OF tho man who now
tsccnds tho supreme bench
Men who have boon closest 20 Tai
IN "a ncrsonal way swear hy him re-
the clcanest minded most mentnll
Wholesome individual they ever know
In public life.
Ills break with Roosevelt cam,
most nearly developing an acid trIC,
In his character. but that was not ri,
much because ot its effects uu hin
personally a. because he saw if
EooseNslts campaign ~ 1919 uU ut'
tempt TO wreck the republican party
on % evening NJ Election day. l'I.
when word was carried Co hlW thHf h'
had been defeated. h. laughed
We'll" he said - had mv tri.
umph ~ Caicago; boclus" nt chicago
wc preserved the republican party
His inslstence on folluWiuE his con.
science regardless OF political effect
ID Is said in inside republican circles
probably prevented his receiving th'
republican nomination for pr'sidru
last year
Had he been wilkins To- deal with th'
republican senators opposed 90 fh'
league of nations hr could ave hl,
the nomination au 30 platter. ~ d
stated. But he would not when Do.
appeared un % same platform VIII
President Wilson lu New York, %
support 81 the league. hlH name wi
stricken from the roster OF prusidnu
uhl slrElblcs.
Tntt's work us re- member &C th'
war labor bonrt during the v.Hr di'
much to ally opposition Co his so
premu bench appointment ON th
theory that be- was ultrH-Con4HrNttIv'
Il / a. o. go. HHL H-.AN HH..U. ID