The San Francisco call., 1899-07-23
ACCEPTS
THE WAR
PORTFOLIO
Root Notifies His Willing
ness to Succeed
Alger.
WILL ENTER CABINET
The Retiring Secretary Preparing
a Statement in Defense Of
His Administration.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

CALL HEADQUARTERS, WELL
LINGTON HOTEL, WASHINGTON,
July 22.-Formal announcement Of
Elihu Roots appointment as Secretary
of War was made to-day. He notified
the President of his acceptance early
this morning, and it is expected that he
will come on to Washington to confer
with him about the middle of next
week before he starts on his vacation.
It is also understood that he will be
here to formally relieve Secretary Alger
on August l, though II is probable
that Assistant Secretary MeikleJohn
will be left in charge of the War De-
partment for short time to enable
Mr.. Root to close up his private affairs
before permanently taking hold here
Mr. Root is personally known to most
of the members of the Cabinet, and his
appointment is heartily 1ndorsed by all
of them The Presidents personal ac-
quaintance with him. however, is lin
tied He has always had high regard
for his legal ability, however, and con-
siders that he will be an acquisition TO
the Cabinet from social and polltlcal,
as we'll as a legal standpoint.
Secretary Alger was one of the first
to congratulate Mr. Root upon his ap-
pointment He wrote him yesterday,
urging him to accept the appointment
and wired him this afternoon congratu-
lating him and thanking him for doing
so. Alger had expected to make thls
his last day at the War Department, as
Mr.. Meiklejohn is expected tonight.
but it is understood that he has decided
TO remain during the coming week IN
order to close up a number OF lmpor-
tant matters to which he desires to at
tach his signature before retiring TO
private life. He is also at work upon
statement in defense of his administra-
ton of the War Department, which ne
purposes giving to the public on the
day he becomes a private citizen.
Alger is uncertain as to his official
plans I was told by one of his close
personal friends to-day that it was by
no means certain that ne would go INTO
the coming Senatorial contest, and that
everything depended upon the state OF
his health and the political situation
in Michigan during the coming fall.
Senator Burroughs of Michigan said
to-day: Il regret exceedingly the re-
tirement of General Alger from the
Cabinet I know of nothing in con-
nectton with his administration of the
War Department which would reflect
upon General Alger's integrity or pa
triottsm. l think he has given to its
administration his best thoughts and
has cOnscientiously discharged his
duties 1t must be, therefore, that he
retired for some personal reason of
which the public has no right to in
quire."
Senator Burroughs spoke quite as en-
Enthusiastically of Mr.. Roots appoint
ment as he did regretfully Of Mr.. AL
gers retirement. Mr.. Root is a splen-
did constitutional lawyer" he said,
"and that is just the kind of a man
that the War Department needs at the
present time. We are nearing a point
when it will be necessary TO establish
civil governments In the colonies to
take the place of the military The
change will involve many intricate
legal questions of a constitutional and
international character, and no one
who has not a well-trained legal mind
can expect to successfully manage the
War Department during this period. 1
know Mr.. Root personally, and consider
him in every way thoroughly equipped
for the important task which will now
devolve upon him"