The sun., 1901-06-08
TIE sECRETARY OF wan.
A Character Sketch BY . Lsadins Opponent
Of the Administr trationb Policy.

From the Springfield Republican.
Mr.. Root has now been Secretary Of War
about two years. and 1t IL not invidous to
say that. aside from tho President himself
he 10 the most conspicuous man connected
with the Government OF the United States.
The position Of Secretary Of War has been
greatly msgnified since the conflict with
Spain, on account OF the conditions 10 the
Philippines. the military occupation OF Cuba
and the invasion Of China by the intern 81
forces. and not only have these circumstances
called for an unusual man ut the head OF
the Department. but they have Afforded an
exceptional opportunity for the occupant
OF the offlce TO impress himself upon the
country and the times. Mr.. Root has had
the advantage OF the unusual conditions,
hut It II generally reco gnised that the oppor-
tunity has disclosed him as. perhaps. the
| strongest personality In the present Cabinet.
This Is not saying that he Is the acutest and
the wisest and the most tactful. 1t 10 saying.
however, that he looms up as does no other
member Of the Presidents official family,
Mr. Root 10 what Ia commonly known az
"a strong man lie has done moro to re-
orsanize the army than any other war Sscre-
t.ry for thirty years. and he did II not without
the active opposition Of the bureaucracy OF
hl, Department. He did not get oil that he
wanted, vet II was substantial and percept!ble
10 tho ordinary eye so far as 1t went. II 10
outside OF the merely administration func-
tlons OF his own Department. however. that
he has been most active and conspicuous.
Some men are negligible quantities In tie
greater affairs OF State while making re-
spectable figures at the head Of 4 portfolio.
Other men, and they are rarer. seem 10 i'm
press the whole conduct Of a government
with which they may bs connected.
Cabinet calls for statesmen as well as for
narrow-gauged buresucrats, and II is easily
20 be dscemed that Mr.. Root has exercised
a large influence upon the statesmanship OF
the Administration since he entered iofr,ce,
Note for moment, the Secretary OF Wars
Influence in departments other than his own
At the present time he seems to he looked
upon by the President as his legal sdviser
quite Us much as the AttOruey-General Il,
for Mr.. Roots views Of the recent opinions Of
the Supreme Court In the insular Gases were
asked for together with those Of Mr.. Knox.
But Il Is In the conduct Of the Chinese affair
that Mr. Root has had large activity outside
OF the merely ministerial duties OF minister
OF war There was very critical point in
the relations OF the United States to the con-
cert Of Powers and to China last year. after
the raising OF the siege OF the legations.
when tho une xpected proposal Of Russia to
withdraw the foreign troops was received.
Secretary Hay had formulated Chinese
policy In his circular note OF July s. which
permitted operations OF the very widest
scope. and he had retired from Washington
20 his summer homo In New Hampshire,
Mr.. Root virtually became Secretary OF
State In that important period The mid
night Cabinet meeting was held to consider
the Cars proposal to withdraw. and out OF
the circumstances then existing came the
decision to agree to the Russian proposal
Whether or not II Ia true that Mr.. Root and
MIR. Hay represented conflicting policies In
that crisis, there u no doubt that Mr.. Roots
influence at that time was predominant,
The dlsappointment with which the American
decision to follow Russia was greeted In
England Is easily recalled. and II Is certain
that all OF Mr. Hays prepossessions as be-
tween the Saxon and the Slav were with the
former That decision TO accept the Russian
proposal was the basis Of tho later with
drawal policy OF this Administration.
Mr.. Roots power seems to have grown into
almost absolute proportions with relation TO
Cuba. for the President has evidently left
Cuban affairs very largely with his Secretary.
The policy given expression In the Platt
amendment was first worked out by Mr.
Root. and lie beginning, can be traced back
to the peculiar wording OF his order calling
for the Cuban Constitutional Convention
last September. Since the adjournment OF
Congress Cuba has been entirely In the hands
Of the Secretary OF War. The Cuban Com
mlssloners. WHOM in Washington. were vir-
tually under hi, direction. and II Is widely
known that the explanations Of the Platt
amendment which have been added TO that
instrument by the lubaa Cnnvsnton are
merely reports OF what Mr.. Root told tho
Cuban Commissioners The Cubsn policy
| Ia MI, Roots policy. tho present cuban s.tpa.
tion Ia peculiarly Root situation. That
this policy Is open to tho grayeSt criticism
ON moral grounds and that the present situa-
tion Ia full Of dlshonor n not of peril TO peace,
Is only too apparent The cuban phase OF
| his activity, thus far developed. reveals Mr.
| Root at his worst % statesman and diplomat
| IL Is apparent from review OF nls Two years
| IN once that the present Seoretary of War
| IA tho most remarkable frire oi tne Adminis-
| tration. aside from the Prosident himself
Whatever may po thought OF ms position
| on various questions. or his WISDOM or hls
| tact, he scans to have risen W tnat rapid
| overmastering way which characterized
| (hs development 81 Mr. 0lnsy IN the seoond
Cabinet Of rrosidsnt CleveAnd.