Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-26
is A HARD WORKER
Secretary Root Studying the Details
in His Department.
OFTEN KEPT At HIS DESK UNTIL LATE
Energy Shown in His Steps for the
Relief of Porto Rico.
A DAY IN HIS Off G E

Few cabinet officers work as hard as Sec
rotary Root. He begins quite early In the
morning, his secretary going to the hotel,
where he dictates a great deal of his per
sonal correspondence, as we'll as large
number of letters which relate to War
Department matters, and which do not need
reference to the military men of the depart
ment. After he reaches his office in the
War Department he is again very busy, not
only with visitors whom he must see, but
in consulting with the chiefs of bureaus
and other men who have the details of the
great military organization of the United
States in hand. Naturally, great deal of
his time is spent with the adJutant general
who has more knowledge of affairs of the
army than any other man, because he has
had control of army affairs during the Nc
kinley administration.
Rapidly Absorbs Information.
Secretary Root, it is said by the army
officers with whom he consults, is not a
man who needs second explanation. When
anything is told him he remembers it, al
though, being a new man in the War De-
partment, he finds it necessary to go over
much which a Secretary would naturally
know after long experience. His grasp of
has already become apparent.
1t was said when Secretary Root was
first selected that he was chosen because
he was a lawyer, and the President desired
lawyer to handle the great problems re-
lating to Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philip
pines, which would come under the War
Department in governmental affairs. While
it is true that Secretary Root has obtained
all possible information upon the subjects
of the islands and is looking at them from
a lawyers standpoint and also from the
standpoint of Secretary of War; he has
surprised the entire War Department by
taking active charge of all military affairs.
Mastering the Details.
How long he will continue in this is not
known, and how much he will be guided
by those who are subordinates in the de-
partment cannot be ascertained, but if
any one supposed that he was going to
authorize anything in the army without
first knowing all about it he has been mis-
taken. Secretary Root takes hold of the
military matters with determination to
master every detail and to understand the
situation thoroughly. Having a broad
grasp OF all affairs which come before d
lawyer of large practice, he has not found
1t so very difficult to ascertain military
situations. While he must at present be
bothered by small details and is devoting
a great deal of time to them, he will soon
brush them aside and handle only the larg-
ques lions.
1t is this military part of his office that
Is occupying so much of his time and which
makes him work so hard He remains
very late. sometimes until & or O'Clock
before going to his dinner. and even then
often resumes his work later in the even
ing. This industry is quite trying to some
OF the people of the department, as they
nave TO stay also to answer any questions
the Secretary may put 10 them or to take
any orders he may desire to give.
Relief for Porto Rico.
The Secretary seems to be the kind of
man that is not going to be hurried into
any action, and yet he is ready to take
active steps upon any subject when it
seems necessary. There was no delay on
his part in the matter of Porto Rican re-
lief. He gave speedy attention to every de-
tail and his orders were quickly carried
out. 1t was quite a compliment to the new
Secretary to see the comment of some CO.
lonial papers in the English possessions
comparing favorably the speedy action
taken by the War Department to afford
relief to our new possession, Porto Rico
ana the Slow movement of England when
relief was needed in some of her possess
sions 1t may be said that the Secretary
acted without authority in directing army
relief stores to be furnished those people
but 1t is a course that will be approved by
the American people, and no objection will
be made by Congress because a little of
matter Of speedy action.
Secretary Root has shut himself in some
what closer than the former Secretary. H g
has put in swinging doors at the entrance
of his Office, which close automatically, and
even the room of his confidential clerk and
private secretary is not now overrun by
everybody who desires to enter. The Sec
rotary finds it necessary to keep himself
somewhat more guarded until he can get
a grasp of the affairs of the department.
He Is not a all sncbbsh or priggish in any
way, and an evidence Of this is seen in the
way he treats his visitors and the way he
attends to many of the little things about
his office.
Waits on Himself.
messenger when he wants a window rails
ed or lowered, or a curtain or awning put
up or down. He doesn't seem to have time
to call in a messenger and tell him what he
wants done, but does it quickly himself
and is back again at his work. He doesn't
require very much waiting upon by the
messengers of the department. When he
gets ready to work, the officers or clerks
who are working with him know that he
goes like i steam engine. He rapidly die
tates orders and letters. and disposes of
business very fast, showing that he has
given attention to those matters and re-
members what he wants when he gets
ready for disposing of business. The gen
eral impression is that the Secretary Is
going to make great success.