El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-22
A PROMINENT LAWYER
Selected Because Of His Fit
ness to Dispose of Ques-
tions OfCiviI Admin
iStratiOn.


of New York, through Senator Platt,
this morning accepted the portfolio OF
war This is on Senator Platt's authori-
ty.
The uator came here prepared to
urge General Fra 1cis Y. Greene, If a
military man should be desired, or
Root, if an attorney should be wanted
aud he was authorized to accept on be
half of either.
Pre- sident Mckinley chose Root, be-
cause he wanted q man qualified to de-
eide the questions of civil governme ent
in the colonies, which will arise.
No claims except from the state of
New York were at any time con-
sidered.
NEW YORK, July 22.-Elihu Root,
who has been appointed secretary OF
war in place of Alger, is not in the
city. He has gone to Southampton, L.
l.. for rest.
Elihu Root was born February 15,
was educated at Hamilton college and
admitted to the bar shortly after
: graduation.
He came to New York TO practice,
and devoted some attention to politics
as we'll as to law. in short time be-
coming one of the prominent figures of
the city.
He is counsel for many corporations.
Ia politics he has always been q re-
publican, but not always machine
man, having had several rows with
Senator Platt
=, Root and Governor Roosevelt are
close friends and have always been
politically associated.
Root is president of the Union
League club, has a charming wife, two
boys and young daughter. Root is
: tall and slender, of quiet manner and
sffable address.
He is logical and convincing
speaker aud in the preparation of a
brief it is said he cannot be eXcelled.
He is fond Of sport and plays golf al
most as well as .Attorney General
Gri ggs.
WASHINGTON, July 22.-The presi-
dent has appointed Elihu Root, of New
York, secretary Of war to succeed Al
Fer, resigned. Word was received
from Root at noon that he would &C
cept.
WASHINGTON, July 2l.-President
Mckinley is planning to remove the
necessity for creating department of
the colonies.
Cabinet members and other high Of
fcials have said that in no other way |
could the new possessions BE- governed,
but to toss the question of establishing |
such department into the halls of
congress, which has final authority, in |
the minds of many politicians would |
be like throwing a chunk of raw meat |
into cage OF lions.
The president today believes he has
disposed of the matter by the appoint
ment of Mr.. Root. His idea was to |
place at the head of the department a |
man of fine legal training and admin
istrative ability.
It is contended that Root possesses
all of these qualifications and that he
is able to deal wisely with the big
questions that will arise in the govern
ment of the newly acquired islands.
Root will give the greater part of bis
stten tion to those questions.
SOUTHAMPTON. N. Y, July o.
Elihu Root, who today was named as
secretary OF war. was at his cottage on
Agawan Lake up to IL o'clock this
morning. Many neigh bors and friends
called to congratulate him on his ap-
pointment. Root, however, denied
himself to all interviewers, and took
drive finally to avoid reporters. At 1
p. m. he had not returned. 1t is be-
lieved he took train to Long Island
City, en- route to Washington.