The Arizona daily orb., 1899-08-02
TUESDAY, AUGUsr ], 1899.
THE NEW SECRETARY OF WAR

EAha Root, of New York, having signified his acceptance of the war portfolio, the country stands ready to give him unqualified support iR administering his office. He will not be judged in advance. The president be. heves him to be the best man for the trying petition and the nation has confidence in his Judgment. There are many things in the new secretary's favor to inspire popular faith in him in his new position. He is Q man of eminent and varied abilities. While he attained his fame as a lawyer, he Is recognised as a man of excellent judgment Independence, energy and resolute in the performance of everything he uuderta kes Another thing greatly in his favor is that he Skas never fiured as a trading scheming poli- tician, and 1t Is reasonably certain that un- der Secretary Roots administration prac- ,tical politics wilrn6t hereafter figure in the War Department any more than will per- sonal favoritism and prejudices.
 1t is doubtless true that very large DOT tion of the American people adhere to the theory that in time of war an experienced soldier should be at the head of the War Ee. partment. But, after all, that may be sim ply theory based on no very substantial Foundation. Campaigns in the field are not necessarily planned in the Department. Washington. at least, that has not been the experience ih former wars Adminis- tratiye or executive ability was what made Edwin M Stanton a great war secretary. The same quality may be possessed by Secre- tary Root, who Is in TO sense a military man.
 It is intimated that under the new order of : things Gen. Miles will be accorded his proper place as the head of the United States army He may not be sent to the Philippines as ac- tive commander of the new forces there, but 1t is said he will be consulted in military af- fairs generally, directing the organization : of new commands, the movement of troops and the many other matters that const antly require direction by men of experience and sound judgment. Almost any secretary of war who fully realized his responsibility, and desires to conscientiously and success fully administer his trust, would naturally avail himself of the knowledge and experi- ! encs of man like Gen. Miles.
 Secretary Root assumes his office under circumstances peculirly difficult and trying No matter by whose fault, 1t is undeninb!e that the War Department under Mir. Algor's administration, fell under popular disre- pute. All confidence in 1t was lost. If the attacks on the department had been confined to the political enemies of the adminstra- ton the situation would have been less seri- ous, but during the past few weeks the warmest supporters of the president were among the most urgent in demanding rad ical change, There is no longer; any doubt that even the other cabinet otcers,s in so fas as they properly could, gave the president to undei stand that change in the War De- fpartment had in their opinion become an urgent necessity.
 Mir. Root comes to the office unhampered by personal or political obligations, and his record in public and private life gives every reasonable guarantee that the welfare of the army and the best interests of the nation win command all his energies in the per- formance of his trying duties us Secretary of War, The country looks forward hopefully and with confidence to tho speedy inaugura- tion Of new methods in the War Department and a more aggressive and successful prose- cution of the war in the Philippinee.