WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT By Lutheb Albebtus Bbeweb IN times when reforms are vigorously agitated and insist- ently demanded, feyerish dreams are apt to assume the lineaments of true ideals. How fortunate, therefore, is the nation, in that in days of stress and storm it has in its public life a man who has a settled reputation as one of the greatest constitutional lawyers, a man widely conversant with its territory, its varied populations, and its domestic and in- temational situations. When economic conditions are un- settled and the people restless, statesmanship does not always readjust itself to the changing situation. Too often it lags in the rear, giving opportunity to the wilderness prophets to air their vag^aries and to suggest experiments, all to the bewilder- ment of the public mind. The nation even now is bearing tribute to William Howard Taft that at a time when ideals were in eclipse and action was demanded he valiantly exalted the ideals of statesmanship and of conservative progress and made his administration a reign of law. The basis of statesmanship is the interpretation of law in the light of the country 's growth and the people 's as- pirations. President Taft so administered the affairs of his oflSce as to inspire confidence in the legality of all his acts. He is not a politician in any interpretation of the term. On this all are agreed. History will confirm the statement here made, that no occupant of the presidential chair has a clearer claim to the title statesman than has he. With the pseudo-reformer, who is but the wolf in sheep's clothing, seeking personal aggrandizement, Mr. Taft has no patience. His distinction between the statesman and the rad- ical reformer, as expressed in an address at Baltimore in March, 1914, will long remain in the memory of thoughtful people :
- * I am far from saying that a statesman may not strongly
sympathize with the general purpose of the enthusiasts, may
