Waterbury Democrat., 1901-03-08
PLATr AGAINST ROOT.
It Looks as Though the Old War
 Horse Must Bow to Root.

Horse Must Bow to. Root.
 Washington, March S.-Senator Platt's assumption of dictatorship in the matter of federal appointments from New York has not frightened the administration nor dissuaded the presi- dent from the purpose to appoint Col onel William Cary Sanger as assistant secretary of war. The president IS not seeking fight with Senator Platt, nor is he likely to provoke one in the senate where the senator can appeal to his associates for help on the ground of senate courtesy. But the adminfs- tration feels that it owes something to itself in the selection of good officers without first inspecting them for the stamp of ''the organization" in New York or elsewhere.
 Secretary Root is much in earnest about the appointment of Colonel San- ger. He has offered the place to MT Sanger in the expectation that Assist ant Secretary Meiklejohn will be elect ed United States senator. If MT Meiklejohn is not successful in his canvass he has the option of returning to the war department
 But from his long absence it reason ably is assumed that MT Meiklejohn. who is a lawyer of good standing in his state will not care to take up the duties which he put behind him when he started to engage in politics of the higher order.
 In the situa ton the secretary of war was compelled to look around for an assistant The secretary himself had left large practice, at the presidents request. to take the war portfolio. He 1 took it at a sacrifice and at time 1 when it called for the exercise of all | his faculties as an executive officer. | In the management of army affairs | Secretary Root. has been successful as | he graciously comedies through the | loyalty of Adiutant-General Corbin | and Assistant Secretary MeiklejOhn. | With a vacancy probable the secretary | determined that he would have expert advice instead of strictly legal assist 1 ance.
 | In the reorganization of the army | authorized by congress. there will be | multitude of details to look after. and military ability is most desirable l in the appointment which seemingly | will have to be made. Secretary Root knows Colonel Sanger personally. He understands his knowledge of military history and of the technique of home and foreign armies gained by the closest study.
 It did not occur to the secretary of war to consult Senator Platt. about Colonel Sanger's selection. That duty l devOlved upon him as the responsible head of the war department. yet il was taken for granted that when the pres idpnt was ready to make the nomina- tion Senators Platt and Depew would | be advised by the executive of his ln- tention. Through somebody's anxiety to test the manner in which the ap- | ha hn retary's purpose was made known all
 most before he president had been committed to the arrangement.
 It is remembered that Senator Platt
 has objected before to appointments
 which he afterward agreed to support
 It is thought to be wholly improbable that the senator from New York. with
 full knowledge of the situation. will
 care to enter upon warfare against
 the administration. in view of the dis.
 astrous results which followed the
 adoption of that hazardous course | when President Garfield appointed
 years ago.
 The presidents policy with respect
 to appointments has always been con
 ciliatorv, More than any other pres'
 dent Mr Mckinley has endeavored tc
 act in entire harmony with the United
 States senate. There will be no eXcep
 ton in this case. but there is no inten
 ton of backing down. because Senator | Platt feels himself slighted througl
 i'll advised reports of Colonel Sanger:
 selection.
 Tho senator from New York was a the White Honse yesterday. After hi visit the president sent for Secretar! Root. and the friends of all look fO an amcable arrangement which wil permit of Colonel Sanger's appoint l ment in the event of Assistant Secre tary Meiklejohn's election to the sen ate. As the senate is likely to adiourl within a few days, it is not at all i'm 5 probable that the vacancy. when i l | occurs, will be filled by recess ar ? 1 pointment.