The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-08-09
CALL FOR MORE TROOPS.
Secretary Root Decides Upon An Az.
gressive Policy in the Philippines
and Will Send Enough Men TO End
tho TrOubIe at Once.

Washington, Aug. lit 10 evident that
Secretary Root TO push the campaign
in the Philippines and close that incident be.
fore the presidential campaign opens. Presl-
dent Mckinley thinks that he has found q
man on whom he can rely. The president is
tired out with the burden and wants to shit
tary Alger was in the department the presi
dent was largely the secretary OF war. He
was consulted by Secretary Alger with every
thing, and his advice was sought 1n matters
OF the most trivial detail. he has now score.
tary as self.reliant as any man VINO mas nela
that portfolio in many years. At least such
seems his poise at present.
The presidents friends say tnat ne intehos .
to leave the management OF the Philippine
cam paign to his secretary and not 10 meaoie
with 1t unless his advice is specially asked.
He has made his expectations known 10 Mr.
can be realized The president wants the war
closed before the opening of the next RAJ n ing
season, and does not care particularly noW 10
is done as long as that result is accomplished
The means rest largely with Mr.. Root. Here
tofore the president has been troubled more
about the means Of ending the campaign
Than by the conclusion.
CALL FOR MORE TROOPS.
He seemed to think It would be bad politics
to call for more troops and when finally ne
was forced to make the call, he made 1t for
ten regiments only. Now 1t is almost certain
that there will be another call before the De.
cember session Of congress The president
has shifted the responsibility, however. and
the call will be Roots, not the presldent's.
BY degrees the president has learned that all
politics are good politics which a accomplish nasd
men to put down the Filipinos before the
next spring he will call out the number, the
full quota allowed by the act OF congress In
It must be said that Mr.. Root has no idea OF
evading the responsibility that has been
placed on him. He has entered upon bis task
In the most matter Of fact way and seems care.
less OF any criticism: Big black lines IN the
New York papers will not be able to frighten
him, II his manner and face is an index TO nls
character. He is going to fight the war 10
the Philippines as business proposition, sno
what Is more, he will not permit his policy TO
be torn to pieces In the cabinet room. ne mas
already made II distinctly understood that ne
has no desire to interfere with the finances OF
bis own department. Every member OF the
administration breathes freer since Mr..
Root took charge They all seem to feel that
there is a master man at the helm: ae may may
chiefly bv attending to his own business ana
letting other peoples alone, virtue not pos
sessed by every member OF the present caol-
net, be IL known.
MATTER-oF.FACT MAN.
There is nothing remarkable ABOUT tne
manner of Mr.. Root. He Is purely Of the con.
ventional type Of lawyer, He seems Gems TO 70 40 40
pected to do, doing the right thing at the
right time, never showing any irritation or
haste. He is cordial in his manner, but When
be thinks he has given enough OF his time TO
any one person he closes the Interview with
out awkwarkness, either to himself or 10 his
visitor.
He has taken hold of his Office with busi-
ness.like grip and there will be no cliques or
cabals formed there while he is IN power.
He and General Miles have already struck
their relative positions. AS stated would De
the case when he first came in he has relegat-
ed TO each head bis work and does not let one
branch Of the service become prominent At
the expense OF the other. His manner on the
day when he was sworn in was the sarne TO
all men save when General Miles entered.
The secretary for the first time showed any
special Interest. Stepping forward ne grasped
the commanding generals hand and greeted
him with the hearty expression, General.
am Indeed glad to meet you" The e1pres,
sion Of his face and the grasp Of the hand
showed TO Miles more than anything else
would have done that henceforth he was not
to be a cypher in that department.. Every
one instantly felt II and to the crowd stand.
Ing about the commanding general at once
took on additional dignity, being clothed, 1t
seemed to them. In new power.