Evening star., 1953-08-01
A Loss to Our Country

Senator Taft commanded unusual respect
from his fellow citizens 1t was respect that had
nothing to do with political Affiliations, or
with the nature of the convictions he SO freely
and forthrightly expressed on most of the
highly controversial issues. of the day. 1t was
respect inspired by the fine qualities of mind
and spirit that formed his character.
Among such qualities were independence
of thought singular self-confidence and un-
shakeable determination intellectual and moral
honesty and the courage to support it. ability
and willingness to master the details and
mechanics of government and its underlying
principles, and an unconcealable scorn for the
fripperieS and shamS OF politiciZing
They were qualities which. generally speak
ing, appealed to the mind rather than to the
heart, although there developed within a Sec
ton of his own party sentiment approaching
fanatical devotion, if not to the Senator him
self, to the things he stood for as partisan.
If hard work and ability and loyalty to a set
of principles and the Republican Party had been
the deciding factors, Senator TaftS tragic
death might have taken place in the White
House, But an ability to inspire popular respect
does not always mean an ability to inspire
popular confidence, and this was one of the
handicaps faced by Mr. Taft in his efforts to be-
come President. There were many millions of
Americans whose respect for Senator Taft's
character as man left them unconvinced as
to the wisdom of the leadership he would offer
as President of the United States.
Yet he was willingly acknowledged power
in his own party and in the affairs of his
country With continuation of the vigorous
health and energy with which he had been
blessed until his fatal Illness his stature would
have increased. Responsibility brought out the
N HlS Senate
unique. His majority leadership was not
merely titular, it was the inevitable recognition
of individual and superior merit.
His loss is great loss to the people of this
country. He exemplifed, in the unquestioned
integrity of his conduct and Studious devotion
to his concept of the public interest the quail
ties so essential to those entrusted by the people
with the supervision of popular government.
His loss is great loss to his party. To one
of its elements Mr.. Taft was the embodiment
of its beliefs, to degree that placed it within
his power to make or break the party. There
was never more far-fetched theory than that
his defeat in Chicago last summer had en-
bittered him to the point that his influence
would be used in retaliation within the party
ranks. 1t was used to heal the wounds. No
man was more determined than Mr.. Taft to
see a successful Republican administration.
ne WouIu never have SPdIeo LiiilSeI1 III pilIsIIls
it about.
His loss is a great loss to the President,
whose dependence on Mr.. Taft's experience,
his knowledge of government and his leader
ship of the Senate would have grown with the
enveloping complications of the times. There
were indications that the relationship between
these two men had been strengthened by per-
sonal friendship and there are few men who
have suffered a more intimate bereavement
than President Eisenhower.
Bob Taft practically grew up in Washing
ton. He and Martha Taft were part of the
social, as distinct from the POLITICAL life of this
community. To those who knew him as a
person. and not merely as public figure, there
is consciousness of personal loss, made more
poignant by memories of the little things and
thoughts of the greater things that might have
BEEN