The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-25
Most Urgent Work VIII He to Devise
Some Means of Establishing Free
Government I'm Cuba.
e THE PHILIPPINE QUESTION
GEN. ANDERSON SAYS STATESMAN,
NOT A GENERAL, Is NEEDED.
Work Given Gen. Otis Believed to Re
Too Much for One Man-New
Army Organization.

WASHINGTON. July 2-Hcn. Eiihu
Root, OF New York. who is to succeed Gen.
Ager as secretary OF war, arrived I'm
Washington tonight and had long con-
ference with the President he reached
the city after 10 o'clock and went TO the
Arlington Hotel, where he registered
Word was sent TO the White House that
Mr.. Root had arrived and acting secre-
tary Cortelyou went to the hotel and es-
corted the new secretary to the White
House. General Corbin was with the Pres
idert at the time. but left after a short con-
versation with Mr.. Root. to whom he Was
introduced by the President. AIR. Root re-
manned at the White House until l2:I5
o'clock. when he returned to the hotel Be-
fore ne went TO the executive mansion Mr..
Root had no time to receive callers. and
when he returned to the Arlington it was
announced that no cards would be sent TO
him. Tomorrow Mr.. Root will again see
the President and probably Will return TO
New York late in the afternoon.'
One story is to the effect that 1t is not
improbable that the near future viii see
Mr.. Root in the position of colonial secre-
tary and a new man at the head OF the
War Department The entire colonial poll
icy will doubtless be gone over. but Cuba.
ceive more attention than the war in the
Philippines. OF course, Mr.. Root viii have
voice in all matters relating to the con-
duct of the war. but the President desires
him to give particular attention 10 the
many complicated legal questions involved
in the change from the military to the civil
control Of the dependencies. The Presi-
dent will continue to give close personal
attention, with the assistance Of Adjutant
General Corbin, to the purely military work
connected with the campaign in the Phil
ippines.
The question of the future OF Cuba Will
receive the immediate attention OF Mr..
Root. The President considers that the time
has come for doing something In the direc-
ton Of establishing a civil and independent
government In Cuba. He wants to have q
p3i,cy well defined so that he will be able
to tell Congress in his forthcoming annual
report what the future attitude or this
county toward Cuba shall be. He had an
interview yesterday with Gen. Charles Gar
cia, son Of the old general. in regard to the
question of holding conventions for the
elections In Cuba preliminary to the estab-
lishment of an independent form OF govern
ment. General Garcia came here to secure
authority from the President for taking
proper steps through the medium Of suf-
frage for the establishment OF an independ-
net form of government, and thus prepare
the way for complete political control OF the
island.
The President believes the time has come
to give the Cubans trial at self-govern-
ment. and he wants Mr.. Root to take hold
of this matter and formulate plans whereby
the Cubans will have an opportunity TO es-
country can recognize. 1t Is this class or
work. involving a knowledge OF constitu-
tional and international laws which infiu-
enced the President In the determination to
have a lawyer instead of a soldier at the
head of the department.
Eventually 1t is the Presidents expecta-
ton that this will be new department OF
the government to have direct control OF all
the affairs pertaining to the colonies. Mr..
Root Will be expected to do the work OF a
colonial secretary. rather than a war Sec
rotary pending the establishment by Con-
gress Of the proposed new department.
Probably in the future he may be trans
ferred to the control OF the new depart-
ment. II 1t Is authorized Mr.. Root, OF
course. will have much TO do with the Phil
ippine war, but the President viii naturally
depend more on his advice for substituting
civil for a military government in the
Philippines when the time comes for such
action than he will upon his assistance I'm
connection with the military campaign.