The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-09-08
ROOT AxD MS TASK.

tary Ut state Richard Olney. . compare
lively unknown Boston lawyer. who de-
veloped into the largest figure and most
vigorous factor OF his second admins
tration. President Mckinley has dis
placed Gen Alger with Elihu II. Root.
q New York lawyer. whose fame was
not morn than state wide. but OF whose
energy. concentration. and clear and In
telligent perception Of q dihicult and
complex problem We have already begun
to have IN linking. The highest prom
ise 10 given that the United States now
has an efficient and COURAGEOUS secre-
tary Of war. fully equal TO the grave
responsibilities confronting him.
Clear insight into Mr.. Roots methods
and capabilities Ii given In the current
Harpsrs Weekly. In an article by Henry
LOOMS Nelson. It, editor. reviewing the
secretary Of war and his tasks. II In
obvious that the writer was given UNI
usual opportunities to obtain informa-
ton. and It 10 probable that many Of his
statements are UPON authority and mag
therefore be deemed semi-oficial. The
first significant aud striking utterance
Is the following:
He (Mr. Root agrees with Mr.. Nc
kinley that the end OF the war II not far
On. To ono whose sources Of Information
arc the newspaper reports from Manila,
the strong abiding faith OF tho admins
tratton that the war In about over II a
great mystery. The news Of the breaking
out OF the rebellion In other islands has
had no apparent effect upon Il. II re.
mains fixed quantity. II seems to come
feom Secretary Hay. but how the means
and stay Of this confidence are brought
70 him. through what strange agencies
and from what hidden Oriental sources
they now. only Mr.. Hay knows, unless he
has impaired his knowledge to his COM
mensals Of the long table In the cabinet
room A. any rate. there In the firm
conviction that the war will be over In q
few months"
Let us hope that tho administrative
confidence is not mere overcon1dence.
based upon information furnished by
the optimistic Gen. Otis or any Of his
enthusiastic contemporaries. OF this
same Gen. Otis. Mr.. LOOMS says:
There II Gen. Otis. for example. who
seems 10 have won tho entire confidence
Of both the president and tho secretary
OF war. and I arm convinced. from what
they both said 20 me. not only that Gen.
Otis will not be withdrawn or supplantcd.
but that he In entirely trusted: and more
than that. II the president were now
seeking an officcr for tho Philippine COM
mand, ne would again select that officer.
! cannot present too strongly the I'm
preston I have received of the conf
dence felt BY the administration IN Gen.
Otis.'
IL would be gratifying to have
glimpse at the basis for this extraordi-
nary faith In Otis: but no details are
given and we are left 10 surmise that
II may have the same mysterious origin
that inspires the profound administra-
ton belief that the Filipinos will soon
capitulate. just one other paragraph.
referring TO q matter always OF high
interest 10 the public. II worth quoting:
Il learned from sources quite independ-
ent OF him tRootl. and from one author
lily which has been most friendly 10 Gen.
Miles. that thu recommendations made by
the mnJor-generh In command Of tho
army Nos commissions In tho new regi-
ments, were of the most Impossible char
acter. and that they prove that the secre-
tary Of war cannot depend upon Gen.
Miles for distnterestea or sound advice.
The fundamental difficulty with this
sometime distinguished officer II that he
has no interests at heart except his own.
those OF the country or the army not
appealing 10 him unless they square with
HIS own ambitions or hts own vindictive-
ness"
Here again We might wish for par
ticulars. and we are denied them. II IL
evident. however. although the author
expressly tiisclaims that he quotes Mr.
Root. that We are thus given the ad-
minis,ratlon view Of Miles II appears
Inevitable that the new secretary ana
the major general viii not work in close
harmony. and that the latter is not 20
be either the actual head Of the army
or the confidential adviser Of the secre-
tary. Perhaps Mr.. AlSer was right
about Gen. Miles. hut his conspicuous
ylofable schism and public scandal.
Mr. Root viii M least display better
Judgment, IN handling the really serious
question 40 TO wha; TO 90 with the
truoulcn, major general
The plain conclusions frorn all this In
side Information and Impressions a, first
hand are that On the war ia soon 10 end
Ia Otis Is ,o stay: q, Miles 81 10 con-
tinue n agureheai. and 90 Root - all
right