The times., 1899-08-05
THE NEW SECRETARY OF WAR
Fron Success)

\ has attained the position OF leader Of
/ the American bar. and has amassed large
/ fortune during his Law practice Of over
\ thirty years in New York City. One OF
his Oldest friends. Justice Edward r.
bartlett. OF the Cour; OF Appeals OF New
/ York State, outlined to representative
OF Success the causes of Mr.. Roots re-
markabie success as a lawyer.
He wins his cases, said the judge.
for the reason that, when he goes into
court. he knows more about his oppo-
nent's side of the controversy than the
1 latter himself knows That is to say.
: when he is through with his preparation
I of case. there Is absolutely no point.
/ no matter how minute, which has not re-
eeived the most careful kind OF considera-
( ton
His thoroughness Of preparation Is his
pre-eminently strong point as lawyer.
/ Few attorneys in America equal him In
it, when he goes into court. he is ready
to repel every attack. Nobody can take
, him BY surprise. He has the reputation
OF great brilliancy in the courtroom, and
he is certainly brilliant man; but much
of his seemingly wonderful cleverness and
quiekness is due simply TO the fact that
he has the law and the facts OF the entire
/ case completely at his command Nor has
he acquired them through the exercise Of
any quality of genius.
Just plain, everyday application AMI
concentration and hard work give his mas
! terry OF cases, and have enabled hin TO
make as clear as day. and TO win, some
/ of the most complicated and important
/ legal controversies ever settled in New
! York court rooms. The chief difference be-
! tween Mr. Root and most other men is that
/ he possesses the power in much the greater
degree TO concentrate his mind intensely
| and for a long period upon a single que5-
| ton. He can think OF one thing az a time.
i xSh Ia mental OualtIV than IL
would appear to be. and one which has
| much to DO with a mans success in hfs-
To be able TO shut out from the mind all
ideas irrelevant to the problem before It Is
an indication OF a fine brain. Mr.. Root has
this ability. He has kept three stenogra-
pliers constantly busy at the same time.
turning out a great mass Of matter, and
every line having a direct bearing Upon
the case in hand. The suppositiOn that
on these occasions his mind could be en-
gagged for an instant with any foreign ideas
is precluded by the speed with which he
works.
Despite an apparent lack OF much physI-
cal strength, hts powers of endurance are
also unusual After a hard day in his oiiice
he has kept steDographer writing at top
speed all night long. and has gone into
court the next morning looking as fresh
as If ne had spent the day before on the
golf links.
Il made the acquaintance Of Mr.. Root
when, in the sixties, he had recently come
to New York to practice law or his life,
! previous to that. only know what he has
| told me, and that Is not much l know
that he was born in Clinton, Oneida coun-
ty. New York. in 1915; that his father was
professor of mathematics in Hamilton Col
lege. and that he was graduated there with
honor. A brother, believe. is now pro-
/ fessor at Hamilton, ana his eldest boy is
freshman there few years ago he
erected on the college grounds the Root
Hall Of Science. as memorial TO his
father
Young ElIhu Root began his career in
New York City by most happy marriage
His bride was the daughter of we'll
known New York business man. They
have three children-two boys and girl.
He lost no time in getting into the current
of affairs in the metropolis. He soon be-
gan to attract attention on account OF his
ability and activity. and when still very
young man was retained in some import
ant cases.
Even then he showed. in a conspicuous
degree. the thoroughness which. as | have
said has been the main factor in his sue
cess. and. speaking generally. is the quail
ity which distinguishes the good from the
poor lawyer. 4 lack of careful prepara-
tion on the part of lawyers, and particu-
larly of the younger generation OF law
yers. is the defect notice most frequently
from the bench. The clever young lawyer
of today is apt to depend too tnuch upon
his natural ability and alertness in the
courtroom. II the lawyer on the other
side is equally clever and is better pre-
pared he wins, of course, in a close case.
I've heard it said that While Talent Is
poring over the law and facts Of his case,
Genius is around the corner taking dIink.
II is needless to say that, for ordinary pur-
poses Talents client has the safer and bet
ter lawyer.
Mr.. Root is very strong both rs a coun-
selor in the Office and as an advocate In
the courtroom, although in the latter work.
where he is in public view. his ability is
the more conspicuous. In his presentation
of a case to jury. he relies upon a lucid
and convincing exposition of the facts,
rather than upon flights of oratory. But
he is at home in the latter when occasion
calls for it, as has been repeatedly shown
by his speeches at many important func-
tions in New York.
MIR. Root has figured in many notable
cases, in some of which very large sums
were involved. There was the Hooking
Valley case for instance, in which the
amount in question was Ss.e0O. 600. He has
also as is well known, been very promi-
nent in politics and in reform movements
in New York City. In fact. he is one CT
the most active. accomplished. and most
successful lawyers OF his time. and all of
/ his remarkable success mas lot us IOuuld-
ton nothing more than unusual energy
and capacity for hard work.
1T is true that he began his career when
1t was not so difficult for young man to
obtain foothold at the bar in New York
as it is at present, when much Of the i'm
portant law business is gradually being
drawn into the hands OF the few. In
law. as in the commercial world. there IS
a constant. process of Capitalization. which
Is particularly manifest in New York City.
Unless a young man Is specially favored.
ne has better opportunities in the law in
Western cities than in the metropolis.
, although there are endless possibilities
here.
, such possibilities, wherever they may
) be and however difficult OF access. always
become realizations before the determined
! and persistent onslaughts OF man like
, Elihu Root, who retains his strength and
, alertness as legal warrior by periods OF
, ! complete relaxation. during which he
ceases to be the lawyer, and becomes the
expert golf player. the good story-teller.
the witty and delightful companion
woman's Rights,
(From the Cleveland Plain Dealcr.)
III