Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-07-27
The New Secretary Of War

The statement Of the Evening News that
"Elihu Root of New York is almost alb
solutely unknown. except that those who
keep some track of New York peanut poll
tics have heard of him in a mild way as a
henchman OF Senator Plat" Is ridiculous
~ wide Of the truth. Elihu Root has been
for twelve or fifteen years one Of the lead
ing and most inguished members OF the
bar of New York city. prominent also in
politics and In civil life. He was never a
henchman of Tom Plat, and at times has
been one of Platt's stoutest opponents. In
1890 Mr.. Plat put him out of the chairman
ship of the republican committee of tho
twenty-frst New York Assembly district
hecauae he could not control him. Mr..
Root is a man of too much independence
TO be any mans henchman; and he has
not been commonly classed as a member
Of the New York machine. He Is, for in
stance. at present tho president of the
Union League club of New York, which
Is anything but home of Platt-
ism, Senator Plat, as it Is known.
wanted another man. Gen. Greene,
for secretary Of war, and went to Wash
ington to secure his appointment. But :he
astute senator has way when he can
not make the procession follow him, of
jumping into the band wagon. Thus, al
though Roosevelt was about the last man
he wanted for governor, when he saw
that the nomination was inevitable, he ac-
cepted Roosevelt and wanted to have reo-
pie think he made him governor. The New
York Evening Post, which is not given to
praising Patt's henchmen, says: From
the point OF view that a lawyer rather
than military man is needed for the
position, 1t would be difficult to find any
body more thoroughly equipped than MIR.
Root. Compared with his immediate pre-
deoessor, he comes very near to being
ideal appointee. He will be a very shrewd
and very able adviser. and it is safe TO as
sumo that there will be no scandals while
he Is at the head of the war department.
This is impartial praise, for Mr.. Root
is no mugwump; but a square republican,.
The principal facts in his career are as
follows:
Elihu Root was born February 10, lsi5,
In Clinton, Oneida county, n. Y. His
father was a professor of mathematics in
Hamilton College and Il few years ago he
erected upon the college grounds a me-
mortal to his father. the Root Hall of
Science, which cost S3l 900 He was admit
ted to the bar shortly after graduating
at Hamilton, and went to New York city
TO practice. lie was man OF activity and
industry and in a short time became one OF
the prominent figures in New York city.
lie took up corporation and real estate
law as his specialties, and In these he soon
acquired success. He was appointed by
President Arthur in 1888, United States
district attorney, In place of Stewart IL,
Woodford in the southern district of New
York. remaining in office until 1885. when
Grover Cleveland becoming President. he
resigned.
In 1871 he was an active member OF the
committee of thirty, which worked to OBJ
tain reform in the city of New York, and
la 1885 was chairman OF the republican
county committee Of New York He has
always been politically associatedwith Gov.
Roosevelt, and when the latter was police
commissioner Mr.. Root was selected by
Mayor Strong to prosecute the charges
against Commissioner Parker
He was prominent in the State constitu-
tional convention. and many OF the Ideas
now In the constitution originated. with
him. He prepared the primary law which
was passed last winter, and he appeared
before the New York State convention
which named Roosevelt for governor, with
an elaborate opinion to show that the
question raised as to Roosevelts eligible
ity had no foundation. He has been ona
Of Gov. Roosevet's advisers on political
questions
The Rsssidsnt offered Mr.. Rsa0t the SPAN