The Red Cloud chief., 1899-08-04
ROOT SWORN IN.
Ayers Formal Retirement Not
Without Some Ceremony
MANY N0TABLES PRESENT.
Unisorm, We're There-rhs Retiring
Secretary showed Feeling In his Con-
g~ratuiations.

WAsuIyaToy. Aug. 2.-Elihu Root
took the oath Of Office as secretary Of
war at a quarter Il IL o'clock to day.
The ceremony occurred in the large
Office of the secretary OF war, In the
presence of Secretary Gage aud Secre-
tary Hitchcock, Assistant Secretary
Meiklejohn, a large number Of army
officers In uniform and other employees
and other officials. The oath was adj
ministered by Judge Cole of the su.
preme court Of the District OF Column
bia.
Secretary Alger arrived at the War
department at lo:4o o'clock, accom-
panied by Mr.. Root, for whom he had
called In his carriage. They went i'm
mediately to the secretary's private
office. where were Secretary Gage aud
Secretary Hitchcock, and were soon
joined by Adjutsnt General Corbin
and Major Hopkins, the military sec
rotary OF Secretary Alger. A moment
later Assistant Secretary Meiklojohn
and Judg &c Cole entered the roo and
tho Judge was formally presented to
the new secretary. The commission,
bearing date of to-day, was in pos
session of Adjutant General Corbin.
BY this time all Of the army officers
on duty ip the department had gath
cred ia the main office and Mr.. Root
and Secretary Alger and other mem
bers of the party entered the room.
II was lO:45 o'clock when Mr.. Root
stood mp and took the oath OF office.
Judge Cole then addressed him as "Mr.
Secretary" aud shook hands n con-
graduated him.
General Alger advanced and shook
his hand and said, with evident feel
ing:
with all my heart l congratulate
You and the administration. o will
ind around you here men who Will
help in the arduous duties OF your
position. May God bless you and give
you strength"
Secretary Gage then congratulated
Secretary Root. He vas followed by
Secretary Hitchcock, Assistant Secre-
tary Meiklejohn, General Corbiu and
Chief Clerk Schofcld-
General Alger picked up the com
mission, signed by the President and
attested by the secretary OF state,
appointing Mr.. Root secretary OF war.
Here is your commission" he said.
with q smile. handing it to Mr.. Root,
'in which you lose your identity and
become Mr.. Secretary. l go back to
become a sovereign citizen OF the
United States. and become Mr.. Alger."
IT sincerely wish it were the other
way" said Mr.. Root, as no accepted
the parchment.
Then the officers were presented to
Mr.. Root by Victor l. Mason, the con-
fdential secretary Of the Secretary
OF War. AS soon as they were intro
duced they passed on aud shook hands
with General Alger. Nearly all
stopped to express their regrets upon
his retirement and wish him success
in future. They also thanked him
for his consideration aud courtesy
during the time they had been asso'
ciated with him.
General Miles appeared with his
staff in the full dress uniform OF the
ma ior general commanding the army.
nc SIOpDto W wan - w y
Root for some time, longer than any
Of the others.
Following the presentations OF the
officers the civilian officials and clerk:
Of the department came in and shooi
hands with Secretary Root and sale
farewell to General Alger.
Secretary Gage, before leaving thu
room, went up to General Alger, SHOOT
him cordially by the hand. bidding
him good-by. General Alger left a
12:45 o'clock for Detroit.
The last official act of Secretary AL
ger WIS to sign a ~requisition for tn
allotment Of SEQ. ooO for transports
Secretary Alger intended that his las
act should be signing the order di
recting Major Charles Bird. assistan
, quartermaster, to accompany tn
transport Thomas to Manila when sh
was ready. He signed such An order
but the other business was prcsente
q 49, 1atar