The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-08-15
The Bnslness World,s opInIon.


The Business Worlds Opinion.
Some of the alleged "antl-lmperiallst"
organs have not ceased to reflect upon
the appointment of Secretary of War
Root, because he isn't military exc
pert. and there is no end of reflections
upon him. Our own local Democratic
organ, regardless of the Associated
Press dispatch on it's first page yester-
day. detailing how the new secretary Is
grasping the situation, and is prepared
TO bring matters to a close in the
Philippines, must needs sneeringiy re-
mark that with AIger retired and Otis
played out as a scape-goat, and with
Root not yet ripe. the good man In the
white house Is In bad Quandary as to
whom to blame things on
This is, of course, Intended as re.
lection on the President. The admins
tration of the war matters are shared
alike by the secretary of war and the
President, and the wisdom of the Presl-
dent in choosing Mr.. Root is becoming
daily more manifest. No one is look
ing for scapegoat. The situation is
now down to business. and no good
American is making politics out Of 1t.
In a very short time Secretary Of
War Root has brought himself in close
touch with everything Not only poll
tlclans are discussing the satisfactory
outlook, but the business inter-
ests of the country have ex-
pressed confidence in speedy
settlement OF the state OF AFFAIRS, so
that government of some sort may
be arranged for. So good a business
authority as Bradstreet's. speaking for
its great constituency, says that, while
the war has not progressed so rapidly
as might have been expected, the
change In the headshlp of the war de-
partment has come to be regarded as
atTordlng a fresh starting point in the
conduct OF affairs. and there is every
indication that determined effort will
be made to put an end to the conflict.
Referring to the interview, in which
Secretary Root outlined the policy Of
the administration, 1t indicates the new
secretary's measurement Of the needs
at Manila. In that interview he de-
clared that the war would be prose-
cuted from now on with every energy;
that ''all men, all arms and ali neces-
sary supplies to end the troubles Will
be furnished at once" He promises
that 10000 men will be there ready for
service at the end of the rainy season,
and more, II necessary. Those who
know Mr. Root" says Bradstreet's,
"feei that these words mean a great
deal"
II is significant that the change in
the war department was followed by
Aguinaldo's desperate move in appeal
ing to the powers to recognize Filipino
Independence. This appeal makes a
point that our friend. the Register, has
often made. The above named con-
temporary says of 1t:
The argument is advanced In this APP
neal that the Fillpinos had conquered the
sovereignty OF the islands from the Span
iards before the treaty Of Paris, ana there
fore that Spain was In no position 10 ceds
them TO the United States. Regarding tho
request by the Spanish commission for the
> release OF the Spanish prisoners because
snaln had no longer any political Inter
eSts IN the Islands, the address says that
the refusal OF the commission 20 agree to
n trenty OF peace and friendship with the
FIlplnos on the ground that that would
amount TO O recognition OF their lndepend-
ence was equivalent to saying that the
prisoners must stay IN thelt hAhus tuueu-
The claim Is further made that the FIJI
ipinos conquered all the country except
Manila. and that they co-operaied In Sc
curing the capituiation Of that place by
surrounding Il at the cost Of thousands OF
lives. The document finally appeals TO
the poWers to influence Washington 70 put
an end to the war which Is Devastating
the country. There Is no appreciation ielt
az Washington that any OF the powers
VIII pay heed TO the address,, since Inter,
national usage " regarded as settled
against the attitude Of me lnsnrHgnts.
There can he no doubt. however, about
the eSpedlency Of a military policy, which.
al whatever cost Of eXertiOn, Will bring
the war TO q speedy termination.
our friend on Market street may re-
gard this MS the utternnce Of a wall
street organ" which Is It's favorite ex-
preston. but such is not the case. 1t
expresses the conservative sentiment
OF the country, and confirms the esti-
mate made OF the better outlook for
AFFAIRS which has followed the change
in the war department, in the Associ-
ated Press dispatch which the Register
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