Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-10
William Howard Taft.

31ON1Ad ! d4b place
hearts of Americans was established
long ago, when he began his service
for the country. His qualities as
man and his ability as an official, ju-
dicisl and executive, won for him the
highest esteem of the people. His
genuineness, his sincerity, his capacity
for friendship. his greatness. of spirit,
all were recognized in his earlier as
signments to duty. When he first
came to Washington. in 1889, to be
solicitor general, an Office then Of less
conspicuous Importance than in after
years. he was known as a man of prom
Use, because of those qualities and his
ardent love of service. His promotion
to the bench came in logical sequence.
Had it not been for the War with
Spain, with its consequence of assump-
ton Of authority over the Philippines by
this country, Judge Taft would probably
have remained upon the bench to the
end of his life, without interruption,
though with perhaps promotion to the
highest court, from the head of which
nc 50 TCCSuJly IcSlBnSQ.
In all the history of the United
States there has never been quite such
q case as that of the transfer of Judge
Taft from strictly judicial to admins
trative service and back to the judiciary
He went to the Philippines to ascertain
the needs of the people of those islands
and to organize the American admins
tration there. He performed that duty
ably, with the strictest regard for the
welfare of the new charges of this Gov
eminent. It was in somewhat logical
sequence that he should be called from
that assignment to become Secretary of
War. It was in still logical sequence
that he should be named for the presi-
dency and elected to that Office. And
when, after his retirement from the
White House, and after a period OF
private service in educational lines, it
was still in logical sequence, in recog-
milton of his abilities and his eminent
qualifications, that he should be named
Chief Justice of the United States.
Yet with all this logical progression,
carrying the young man from Ohio
through a succession of public services
to the highest judicial post, there has
never been a parallel in our history.
Perhaps there has never been quite
such a man, quite such combination
of qualities and aptitudes for public
duty, with such a personality. 1t will
remain for historical analysts to de-
termine.
Now he has passed, at an age which
did not necessarily exact its final toll.
He passed out Of activity in the Chief
Justiceship because of his failing health.
He all but died in duty. When he re-
signed, though evidently in desperately
Ill health, there was a universal public
hope that he would regain his strength
sufficiently to enable him to survive for
. decade or more in the role Of re-
tired senior ofieer, to give the country
the benefit Of hts Judgment upon ques-
tons Of great moment, effective though
unofficial, and to inspire his country
men with his sound philosophy and his
hale and wholesome personal character.
But it was not to be. He had drawn
too heavily upon his physical nature
In his devotion to his duty. He had
accomplished a great work as Chief
Justice In bringing the calendar Of the
court virtually up to currency To this
he practically dedicated his life.
1t may perhaps be the Judgment of
posterity that William Howard Taft
was not one Of the great" Presidents,
IN terms of achievements, and that he
was possibly not one of the great"
Chief Justices in terms Of profundity
Of judicial reasoning. But there will
never be dissent from the present
judgment that he was one Of the most
valuable public servants America has
ever known and one Of the most be-
loved Of Americans throughout his
career.