Note 7 — Chapter XVII · Governor Taft, 1903 (Continued)

It is only fair to say that Winthrop made a very good judge. There used to be current in the Philippines a story that Governor Taft had said, in more or less humorous vein: “Gentlemen, I’m somewhat of an expert on judges. What you need in a judge is”—counting with the index finger of one hand on the fingers of the other—“firstly, integrity; secondly, courage; thirdly, common sense; and fourthly, he must know a little law.” Winthrop’s integrity, courage, and common sense were beyond all question. It could hardly have been otherwise. He came of a long line of sturdy and distinguished men, the first of whom had come over in the Mayflower days to the Massachusetts coast. And, he did know a little law. But the manner of his appointment is none the less illustrative of how much quicker, Governor Taft could make and publish a law than any of his fellow despots7 over on the mainland of Asia, considering how slow-moving all their various grand viziers were, compared with Fergy, and his corps of stenographers.