WILLIAM HOWAED TAFT 455 Attorneys for labor unions have since quoted them in con- ducting cases for their clients. A third important case to be tried before Judge Taft was one brought by the government to dissolve a cast-iron pipe monopoly. Efforts to define more clearly the Sherman anti- trust law had been made frequently but without effective re- sults. The decision was against the pipe company, and thus for the first time was the Sherman law made a vital force. The case was taken to the Supreme Court of the United States and confirmed by that body. The unusual honor was given Judge Taft of having his opinion quoted in full by the highest court in our land. A position on the federal district bench is usually a step- ping-stone to membership in the Supreme Court. It was well understood that this was a place coveted by Mr. Taft, and there is no question as to the appointment having been made had not other avenues for his abilities presented themselves. With characteristic devotion to duty he put aside his worthy ambition for a place on the bench of our highest court and ac- cepted the other responsibilities, all of which he discharged with fidelity and rare tact. Our war with Spain, which ended in 1898, resulted in the acquisition by the United States of the Philippine Islands. These islands literally were forced upon us. We did not want them. President McKinley and William Howard Taft shared the feeling of many leading Americans that we ought not to retain them. Certainly, we should not permit them to be ex- ploited for American benefit. But by force of circumstances seemingly beyond our control they were ours. Grave respon- sibilities had come to us suddenly, and civilization and hu- manity demanded that we meet these responsibilities in an en- lightened spirit. The dream of the Filipino had long been for independence, and with the realization of this dream Taft sympathized. He saw clearly, however, that a people who for centuries had been under the yoke were not ready for sudden liberty and self-government. They must first be taught self- restraint, and reverence for orderly procedure. Witii broad
