Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-16


just across the street from the
i home of Chief Justice Taft. On
the recent morning when the
Chief Justice returned to his home from
his vain journey for recuperation 70
Asheville, N c., the writer was return
ing from an early expedition to another
part of the city and saw at the Taft
door the group of newspaper photogra-
pliers who we're shortly to give the
public those photographs of TAFT, trae-
ically feeble. in the wheeled chair that
was the mark of his saddening in
validiSm.
The troup of memories and refiec-
tons that rushed into the writer's mind
included, OF course, recent memories of
the Taft of only a few months or
year or so ago-When the Strolls he took
on our street caused every child at play
to stop and run to him for the friendly
word and laugh that was the unfailing
expression of his sweetness of nature.
Almost, one felt, even the dogs hurried
to stand upon their hind legs that thei,
| headS might receive the pat of Taft'S
big and friendly hand.
| In that period during the last half
dozen years or so, while Taft's frame
and hgure were still big and majestic.
his cheeks had dropped little, through
ms years and the regimen that doctors
MS stroll was sloW-the slowness being
to such a man as Taft merely added
opportunity for the more leisurely ema-
| nation OF even greater benignity.
There came, however, to the writer on
tnat recent morning another headlong
rush OF another group of memories.
memories OF the period, anywhere from
10 10 70 years ago, when Taft was in
ms prime. And such a prime! No
man ever walked upon the earth, and
certainly none within this writer's ac-
quaintance, who so greatly radiated the
sense of physical well being; radiated
IT SO strongly and wildly that it became
a stimulus toward well being and the
good nature that goes with we'll beirg
TO those who came within his aura.
Bigness Well Carried.
At that time. anywhere from about
1903 onward for several years, when he
was in President Roosevelt's cabinet.
! Tatts bigness was we'll rounded. but he
nao me frame that carries weight vii n
an erect OF majesty, of the sort that
primitive men and even modern men
on the average like to see in their kings
ana leaders. People thought of Taft,s
tonnage as they think of the Leviathan
| something that makes for Substance
and dependability and does not inter
| Iere with efficiency.
commence and affection attended
MIN everywhere. AS he liked to travel
ana as his tasks took him to every
corner OF the country, he was seen in
the flesh by probably as MANY neonIe
as even Roosevelt himself. He had a
natural liking for people and a human
understanding of democracy-in a sense
olnerent from political understanding
whlch TAFT did not have at all. Nv
preference he did his travelling in an
ordinary lower berth, reading his news
paper In the smoking compartment and
Joining In conversations with his fell
low paSSengerS-in all respects he liked
10 snare the common lot Entering the
ulning car OF morning his face had
the roSlneSS OF the dawn itself and his
bearing the heartiness of a giant re-
1reshed. The cheerineSS of his greeting
70 the conductor and the waiter and to
| the friend or acquaintance that anv
average dining car gathering was sure tn
contain, all had the effect of injecting
the whole car with good cheer and q
sense OF well-being, a feeling that all
was well with the world. The people
associated him with his chief, President
Roosevelt. and felt that with two such
at the helm the country was we'll cared
for. -
Told Jokes on Self.
The country loved Taft. They made
infinite jestS about his fatness-and NO
one heard or repeated the Jokes with
greater SAVIOR than Taft himself. Max
ing speech he would pause with an
erect OF suspense just long enough to
intensity the audiences attention, then
throughout the immense torso and up
INTO the broad features would run little
tremors and heavings, rising to climax
IN rumbl1ng chuckle so infections as
only fat man could achieve, and Taft
would tell story in which the point
was, as he would say in an engaging
1alSetto, ION me-" While he was in the
philippines, disturbing reports about his
health caused Secretary of War Root
TO send a cabled inquiry. Taft cabled
PACK that he was perfectly all right
ne mad just finished a 20-mile horse
back ride and was feeling fine. Root
read that. smiled, and sent off another
cable of solicitude: How is the horse9"
All the jokes that have been made
about fat men since Shakespeare in
vented Falstaff were brought from their
ancient closets and stretched to fit Taft's
ample form. New ones emanated from
Taft himself. A lady calling on him in
the interest of her sons career in the
army had received the assurance she
wished and departing said as the high
est feminine conception of showing APP
probation: Mr.. Taft, you're really not
near so rat as they say you are"
Was PrOdigiOus Worker.
Roosevelt had introduced Taft 10 the
direct acquaintance of the people bv
bringing him back from the Philip
pines to make him Secretary of War.
But Taft was more than Secretary of
war. Wherever a tension needed the
solvent OF goodwill or friction the oil
OF penevolence; wherever suspicion
needed the antidote of frankness. or
wounded pride the diSinfectant of a
hearty laugh--there Taft was sent. He
was prodlgious worker and the greater
the pressure that Roosevelt put upon
him the more effectively he worked.
1t is difficult to phrase with exact
ness just what Taft was to the Roose-
Welt administration and to the country.
IL occurs to one to borrow a term from
business and say Taft was Americas
trouble Shooter"-hut that implies
high-preSSure exploSiveness and also
ruthlessneSs sometimes, and TAFT was
neither explosive nor ruthless. It was
Roosevelt who was under high pressure
always and explosive often; Taft was
MS lovlal, never excited, considerate,
smiling associate, partly subordinate,
partly partner.
When Cuba's cropping first steps in
Self-government faltered, Taft was sent
TO repeat what he had done in the
Philippines, his success causing Roose-
welt to write in a private letter: Taft
has handled the situation mar
velously" When construction of the
Panama Canal was almost halted
through the ineptitude of an engineer
IN charge who forehandedly took a cof-
I'm TO the tsthmus with him-with OBJ
vious results to the morale of the work
ers-Taft, explosive for once. inst