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 The Green Bag VOL. XX.

No. 7

BOSTON

JULY, 1908

WILLIAM H. TAFT AT THE BAR AND ON THE BENCH BY HOWARD C. HOLLISTER IT is difficult to say when the education much energy, of great force of character, of William H. Taft in the law actually ambitious for the success of her family, and began. His father, Alphonso Taft, was a a power in the higher life of the community. lawyer of great learning, had been a Judge His father was born in Vermont and his of the Superior Court of Cincinnati, and was mother in Massachusetts, and both were of engaged in important active practice of the the pure stock of New England for genera law for forty years. He was, moreover, a tions, with all the traditions toward selfman of great public spirit, intensely inter improvement characteristic of that people, ested in all questions affecting government, and especially for the necessity of the highest and was called to perform distinguished education the country affords. It is not public service as Secretary of War, Attor surprising, therefore, that the five sons were ney General, Minister to Austria and Min all graduates of Yale, all with most creditable standing, while Peter stood first in his class ister to Russia. Charles P. Taft and Peter R. Taft, Wil and William took the Salutatory in his. liam's older brothers, were members of the Graduated in June, 1878, second in a class Bar in active practice for a number of years of one hundred and thirty men and not as partners of their father, and lived, during twenty-one years of age by two months, their brother's earlier years, at home. William H. Taft, in the fail of that year, The law, the Constitution and current entered the Cincinnati Law School, from public questions were important topics of which he was graduated, easily first in his conversation at that house, and their dis class, in May, 1880, and in that month was cussion could not but have contributed admitted by the Supreme Court of Ohio to much, if only by absorption, to the founda the practice in that state. tion of the thorough legal education William While in the Law School, his desire to be H. Taft acquired afterwards by his own independent was first given opportunity efforts. through employment as reporter of court Alphonso Taft's five sons became lawyers proceedings for the Cincinnati Commercial. and were all at some time in the active Murat Halstead, the distinguished editor practice. Peter died early in his career; of that paper, saw the promise of future Charles became editor of the Cincinnati achievement in that young man, who, he Times-Star; Henry W. Taft is a leading said, had the greatest combination of member of the New York Bar; while Horace brains and brawn of any young man he had D. Taft's inclinations led him to the pro ever seen. This experience brought the fession of teaching, he now having a nourish reporter in daily contact with the pro ing preparatory school for boys at Water- ceedings of all the important courts, and town, Connecticut. was a legal education in itself. Through From his mother William inherited many it he very soon became acquainted with all strong qualities. She was a woman of the judges, lawyers, court officials, county