Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-11-04
OUR NEW YORK LETTB.
Points About Elihu Root, Pros.
porous Lawyer and Politician.
He Has His own Theories About Boys,
and These Suit His Sons to Perfec-
ton - His Success In Public and
Professional Life.


Professional Life,
NEW YORK, Nov. 3.-fSpecial Were
1t not that he is making such brilliant
success of the law that he is loath to give
up enough of his time to accept public
office there is little doubt that Elihu Root,
prominent in the political action of the
Bar association here this year would long
ago have been elevated to place of dis
tinction in the state.
Even rs it is he likes politics better
than he likes his dinner, and his activities
in campaigns for the past 90 years and his
eminencc at the bar have given him rep
utation that is certainly national in ex-
tent. Maybe he will some time consent
to accept place in one of the higher
courts, and then, say lawyers who know
and admire him. the name of great
Jurist will he added to the lists.
'Noung Mr.. Root"
Though Elihu Root is now year or
two over 81, it seems only yesterday that
he was spoken Of as "the promising young
Mr.. Root and indeed his appearance is
moro youthful today than that of many
man who is six or eight years younger ut
least. Possibly he owes something of his
apparent juVcnility to his companionship
with his boys, Elihu junior and Edward.
Elihu Junior is now quito youth, but
when he was only lad his father used to
delight in frolic with him above all
things else, and doubtless now frolics with
young Edward exactly as he once did with
his brother
This frolickinR with his boys is more
than fancy with Elihu Root. He may
realize that it has helped to keep him fresh
and young, but its basic reason at the be-
ginning was development of body on the
part of the junior Roots, for, while the IA
Their desires his sons to develop intellec-
tual strength he also believes physical de-
velopment and mental force go hand in
hand. 1t is likewise his belief that it $
good for a boy to be chummy with his IA
ther, and that the desired chumminess can
In no other way be so thoroughly fostered
as by regular companionship in rough and
tumble exercise; hence the frolics which.
in the case Of Elihu junior generally came
before breakfast, and sometimes consisted
of such bosterous play that both father
and son were winded in the fraction of
half hour. After breakfast they were
often seen walking down town together,
the father on route to his Office and the
lad on the way to school Probably this
practice is now kept up between the father
and the younger son, though this is only
onjecturc. Tho older boy must by this
time he in college.
MIR. Roots PrOfesaionnI Work.
Though Elihu Root and Joseph H.
Choatc are the best of friends in private
life, they are frequently pittcd against each
other in important cases, as they were
few years ago when the famous Hooking
Valley case. involving $4,000. 600 or
thercabout, was before the courts. | have
forgotten how many times that case was
tried-twice certainly, and perhaps three
times. At all events Choatc got a verdict
on the first trial, while Root won out on
the second.
Root was a leading man in the legal
dramas played when the stewart Huyt,
Hamersley and Faycrweathcr wills were
contested, and he defended the estate Of
the late Robert Ray Hamilton against the
assaults Of Eva Mann, whose attempt on
his life at some place on the Jersey coast
few years ago was followed Immediately
by great scandal and little later by his
death in the far west.
In that case El!hu Root covered himself
with glory, and he accomplished this by
studying both sides in all their bearings So
thoroughly that he knew the claims Of the
opposing counsel better than they them
selves knew them. The mastery of de-
tails is, in fact, Mr.. Roots strongest point.
1t has made him one of the most dreaded
cross examiners among New York lawyers
today. 1t was as a cross examiner that he
was able to snare the late James ID. Fish,
president of the Marine bank. in the never
to be forgotten Grant and Ward litigation.
In that instance Mr.. Root displayed de-
gree of knowledge of the facts on both
sides that called out unboundcd admira-
ton alike from his opponents, the judge,
the public and the newspapers. He is not
brilliant forensic orator; but, knowing
what he wishes to say, he says it simply
and convincingly.
MIR. Root In Politics.
Like Joseph II. Choate, also prominent
In the Bar association political fight, and
unlike Bourke Cochran, Elihu Root is
Republican, and all his political work has
been done for and in behalf of that party.
In 1894 he was seriously talked of for
governor, but the talk all stopped when it
got to his ears. Years before that he had
consented to run for judgeship in New
York, but that was before he had won his
present big practice, and, to his present
satisfaction, he was defeated When Ar
thur was president, he made Root United
place of General Stewart L. Woodford,
since minister to Spain, but that is the
only office Root has ever held excepting
that of delegate in 1894 to the state consti-
tutional convention, a place 10 which he
says he didn't dream of being elected or
he wouldn't have thought of running.
He was prominent in the movement for
municipal reform in 1871, and he served
one term in the place now held by Repre-
sentative Quigg as chairman of the Re-
publican county committee. He has never
been noted as political friend Of Senator
Platt.
At the same time he has generally stood
by the nominees of his party, even in mu-
nicipal campaigns, and never has been
known to be lukewarm in a state or ma
tional fight. His work this year has been
far more strenuous than usual, since he
believes his own profession will be spe-
cially affected by the result.
Personal Points.
Elihu Roots father was professor of
mathematics in Hamilton college, but the
boy had to work his own way through col
lege, which he did mainly by teaching
school, He is now rich through his prac-
tice, and the fee must be a big one that
tempts him to accept a case.
In person he is feet 10 inches in height
His face is ruddy His hair is still thick
on the top of his head and chiefly brown,
though here and there a silver thread may
be found His movements are quick, but