Excerpt from Inauguration Ceremonies, March 4, 1909 As was natural from his ancestry and sur roundings Mr. Taft became actively interested in political affairs as soon as he was admitted to the bar; but his leaning toward, and taste for, the law were very strong, and he had no idea of following any other than a legal and judicial career. He served on the State bench of Ohio, and was appointed Solicitor General of the United States by President Harrison. In both positions he attracted the attention of all who were brought in contact with him, by his power of thought and of statement. As Solicitorview he established permits the prevention oi that cruel practice which puts upon the most helpless the whole burden of injury received because of the risks inevitable in certain employ ments. These two decisions meant much from the standpoint of the wise use of the National power, for they meant that the National power could be used on the one hand to securejust treatment for labor, and on the other hand to secure adequate control over the vast aggregates of corporate capital through which modern business is done. But Judge Taft was exactly as fearless in dealing with labor when it went wrong as in controlling capital when it needed control. When the country was convulsed from one end to the other with riot and violence, when every time-serving politician was bending like a reed before the blast of agitation, Judge Taft, as fearless physically as morally, upheld order and repressed the violence of mobs, by the wise and proper use he made of the great power of injunction. After the Spanish War President mckinley appointed Mr. Taft Governor of the Philippines. The annals of colonial administration of all nations can be searched in vain to find any man who did better a more difficult and important work than that which it became Mr. Taft's duty to do during the next four years. His indefatigable industry, his broad sympathy, his energy, his fearlessness, his generosity, and his ability to see and do justice, combined to render him able to perform a service such as no other man could have performed. He showed not one particle of sentimental sympathy with wrong doers; he did not hesitate to sanction the use of force whenever it was needed; and yet he made it evident that his purpose was to do credit to the United States by administering the Philippine Islands in the interest of the Filipinos themselves. They have since repeatedly shown their intense devotion to him; and it has been well warranted, for no people in their condition have ever had a stauncher, wiser or more effi cient friend. He looked out for the material well - being of the Islanders, and he also started them on the difficult path of self-government, arranging the conditions so that the young generation had the chance to go to school, and the older men the chance actually to try to govern themselves, first in their local bodies and finally in a legislative assembly. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.