New-York tribune., 1900-09-23
AN OFFICIAL FRIENDSHIP.
SECRETARY ROOT AND ADJUTANT- GEN
ERAL CORBN SPEND MUCH OF
THEIR TINE IN THE SAD
DIE TOGETHER.

| Washington, Sept. 22,-Since EIfhu Root came
to Washington as Secretary of War. fourteen
months ago, he has acquired the habit of an
lhVeterate equestrian although he had prob
/ aoIy not ridden on horseback more than hun
dred miles altogether in the other fifty-four
years OF his life. 1t is seldom that a man Of
his age develops such enthusiasm for an exact,
ing form Of exercise when seductive golf links
are on every hand. and its only satisfying ex-
PLANTATION involves the great fancy he has evi-
oentIy taken to Adjutant-GeneraI Corbin who
has been his preceptor in military as we'll as in
other mysteries of Washington life No more
notable exhibition of intimacy between public
men at the National capital is recalled in recent
years than that popularity referred to as the
conspicuous hobnobbishness of Root and Cor
bin upon whom about equally the President IS
supposed to depend for the conduct Of that De-
partment which has practically become the most
important and powerful of the Governments
great establishments.
The offices of the two men. constituting part
of a suite, are separated by a single door that
swings almost constantly. while the headquar-
ters Of all other Army officers are scattered along
other floors OF the big building devoted exclusive
ly to fighting and foreign affairs, those Of the
general commanding being situated at the ex-
treTne distant limit Of the structure. This neigh
| borliness is undoubtedly as the Secretary would
now wish to have it, although it was none of his
making, for he found the arrangement when he
came just as it had been under half a dozen
Of his predecessors. The duties Of the civilian
director of the War Office, as it is still officially
designated upon its great seal and of its real
military head are closely complementary and
interdependent; and their business hours being
sharply synchronOus, nothing is more natural
| than that the periods and pursuits of leisure
of these two men should be strictly coincident
That they are so is unquestiOned by all who
have seen how the New-York member of the
| Cabinet has heroicalIy and at much pains
achieved distinction as a devotee Of the rough
riding fad.
Every evening between 6 o'clock and S. and
frequently in the early morning hours before
oficaldom is awake, the clattering canter Of
two fine horses which bear him and his chief OF
staff is heard in part of the District and
nearby States another and on half-holdays
or dull days, and sometimes Sundays. very
distant points are reached. Virginia battlefeIds
are visited and the surrounding country beyond
| the sight Of the tall marble shaft Of the Wash
ington Monument is thoroughly explored.
! During these long journeys often exceeding
forty miles from start to finish, perplexing prob
lens Of policy and administration are solved
under cOngenial influences. with utter disregard
| of the exasperating red tape tangles fastened
upon the Army through long inaction and Con-
gressionaI apathy With clear heads from the
exhiIaratiOn Of purer atmosphere than ever
penetrates the War Department building, the
two men are often credited with reaching con
cIusions Of inestimabIe value to the President
conclusions deeply affecting the domestic and
International relations Of the Republic and the
welfare Of the people.
The photograph reproduced on this page Of
The Tribune was taken at Mount Vernon, the
home of Washington, where Secretary Root and
/ General COrbin spent hour two to rest
last month.