Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-07-27
Accepted at Once the Presi-
dents Offer of the War
Portfolio.
ALGER EXTENDS SYMPATHY
And Congratuiatss Him on the Appoint
msnt-The President Will Relieve Him
of the Management Of Military op.
srAtions-win ACT Moro A.
Colonial Secretary.

appointment of Elihu Root of New York
to be secretary of war and all the men,
bers of the cabinet, including Secretary
Alger praised the appointment although
Secretary ARer added that Mr. Root
would have his sympathy as well az his
congratulations
Secretary Algcr. curiously enough, was
talking to the President about army APP
poiEtmeOts when the President received
a telegram from MIR. Root formally ac-
cepting the offer which had been formal
ly sent to him late last night, after Sena-
tor Plat had assured the President of Mr. |
Roots willingness to accept, and of the
approval of himself, Senator Depew, Gov |
Roosevelt and the republican organization
of New York, and as the President handel +
the telegram to him Secretary Aleer was
the first member Of the cabinet to learn
the news.
The President informed the other rnern- |
bers of the cabinet and then authorized
the formal announcement of the appoint !
ment of Mr. Root.
Secretary Alger had written Mr.. Root
the following letter Friday:
MY Dear Mr.. Root-All | know Is what
the newspapers say, that you are TO sue
coed me as secretary of war. Should It
come to you, | most earnestly urge YOU
to make the sacrifice and accept the posi-
ton. With your knowledge Of law and
your excellent health you can serve the
country in way given TO few men.
Sincerely yours
R. A. ALGER."
After he left the President to-day he
sent the following telegram:
The Hon. Elihu Root, New York:
Accept my best congratulations ard
thanks. r. A. ALGEU."
Secretary Alger knows and likes Mr.
Root, and says he will be glad to welcome
him at the war department next week and
give him all the help he can. At the same
L.
conditions in the war department which
hampered and annoyed him.
1t seems as though Mr.. Root, who Is a
stranger to Washington life, although he
knows most of the prominent men, must
be ignorant of these conditions, and of the
| declared policy of the President to re-
| leve the new secretary of the manage
| ment of the army in it's military opera
tons, leaving him only the administrative
| functions of colonial secretary over the
| the islands taken from Spain, or else he
is confident that he can make the place
what he wants it to be by courage and per-
| sistence for he has accepted the off1ce
more quickly and apparently more readily
than anybody expected.
The President was as surprised he
was delighted, and considers MIR. Roots
| acceptance under the circumstances al
most as gratifying as Secretary Ayers
resignation. He expected that he would
i
to persuade him to accept. and was agree
| ably astonished to find that Mr.. Root
needed little or no persuation.
| Whatever he needed in this way was ad-
ministered to him by Senator Plat in New
| York upon authority given him in a tele-
phone message from the White House.
and when the senator arrived at the White
House he brought Mr.. Roots acceptance
and the Endorsement of the organization,
including hims and Senator Depew, and
| that OF Gov. Theodore Roosevelt.
| At the same time, he came with char
acteristic diplomacy to make a formal rec
omm endation of Ma. Gen. Francis V.
Greene. who evidently also wanted the
place, and to whom Platt Depew and
Roosevelt had been first committed. Their
position seemed to be that they wanted a
New Yorker in the cabinet, and that If the
new secretary of war was to be a military
man they wanted Greene, whereas II he
was to be a lawyer they wanted Root,
and as the President and the cabinet had
determined upon Root they cordially ac-
quesced.
Thus assured of Mr.. Roots acceptance
and the approval of the republican leaders
the President sent formal oner TO Mr..
Root, which that gentleman promptly aC-
lcepted, without waiting or asking con-
ference with the President. as the latter
supposed he might want to do. He will
see the President, however early this
week, here or at Lake Chanplain. where
the President is to take Mrs. Mckinley
Wednesday or Thursday for the two
weeks outing she needs. and which the
prompt action Of Secretary AlgeC and Mr..
Root enabled the President 10 give her
soc ner than he expected.
Having ractically finished the appoint
ment Of the officers for the new volunteer
regiments, and having nothing else press
ing demanding his presence in Washing
"a middle q
fortnight the President feels that he can
properly go away. He will, OF course,
keep in telegraphc ard telephone commu-
Gication with the White House, and can
transact business with members of the
cabinet who may be here. Most of them
are preparing to take outings thcmselve $
during the coming month. Secretary Lons
is going early.
Secretary Alser will take his leave at
Tuesdays cabinet meeting, which will be
the last that will be held for several weeks
; aud 1t may be that Mr.. Root will be pres
eut to met his future colleagues and say
goodbye 10 his predecessor.
Secretary Algar went to spend Sunday
with his daughter at rhorndale, near Phil
adelphia. He will return Monday and re-
main until his resignation takes effect on
the LIST of August, when Mr. Root Will
take charge.
The secretary has been very much touch
, ell 10y the expressions of sympathy which
! have come 10 him in so many letters and
kilograms that he could not answer them
| except through the press lie was in q
much more amiable mood yesterday, and
the friends Of the administration were Gu
couIaged by this to believe that he would
reconsider his determination to lay his
story before the public after his retire
; ment but he shows no disposition TO aban-
: don that purpose.
1t transpires that Elihu Root, like Seth