Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-16

Chief Justice Taft's frankly ex-
pressed preference for the bench as
compared with the White House has
| led to general comment on Mr.. Taft's
unique place in American history.
| Before his appointment as Chief
| Justice, Mr.. Taft had been United
| States circuit judge, civil governor of
| the Philippines, Secretary Of War and
| President of the United States, be-
sides serving the public as president
| of the American Red Cross and in
various other capacities.
mo other man now living" records
| the Detroit News, has the secure
grip upon a place in the history of
| the United States that Chief Justice
| Taft possesses. Only he in the
Nations whole story may from ex-
perience compare life in the Presi-
dency with life in the chief justiceship.
| Is there gall, bitter taste, in the
| reflection that he Is (and was during
the years of his Presidency, for that
| Interpretation cannot be escaped) not
fitted for the hustling and the contro-
versy? If so, he has the enviable
grace to drown bitterness in laugh
and thereby enhance the esteem Of
| his countrymen."
His record of prominence Gin the
public life of the Nation for more
than a quarter of a century" is
| lauded by the Pasadena Star-News
with the statement that "he will rank
among great Americans who have
given unselfish public service" The
Pittsburgh Gazette Times, noting that
"he will be 20 years of age in Septem-
Der and in 1881 will be eligible to re-
tirement with full pay" observes:
| but, his health and mental powers
being unimpaired, why should he
think of retiring? Long judi
cial experience and the accumulation
of essential knowledge that is to be
gained only by such service constitute
assets which the public should be
loath to give up.
X X X
"a member Of the court which has
included many illustrious men," says
the South Bend Tribune, Chief Justice
Taft may be classed with the best of
them in integrity and judgment. He
has the judicial mind, always sought
in judges, not always attained. His
personality is extremely likable; he
probably has no enemies today" Re-
viewing Mr.. Taft's political experience,
the Bangor Commercial states of the
campaign OF 1J12 that mis- defeaC was
foreordained from the beginning of his
second candidacy, a fact that did not
make the defeat any less bitter, and
which after the lapse of years may
be ascribed as the main reason why
the Chief Justice admits that politics
are distasteful to him. But Mr.. Taft
has found his niche" the Commercial
adds. "As a Chief Justice he takes
high rank and it is not strange that
he prefers his present position to the
White House."
"He never could understand politics,
but he does understand how to fill the
highest judicial office in the land with
brilliance and grace" declares the
San Francisco Bulletin. This tribute
is paid by the Utica ObserverDispatch:
Clean. honorable, high-minded, al
ways fair so far as he could see, an
ardent American and firmly believing
in all that the American Constitution
has provided for us, Taft was not a
politician. At the same time, |
there is no reason for the Chief Justice |
to feel ashamed Of his presidential |
term"
"The country never knew Mr.. Taft"
according to the Youngstown Vindi- |
Gator, until he left the White House. |