The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1901-10-05
ROOTS POWER WILL GROW.
Secretary of War Will Have Full
Sway Under New Regime.
New York WORLDLY


washington.-The star of Elihu Root,
secretary of war, bright as it was while
he sat in the Mckinley cabinet. is still
further in the ascendant.
No one can possibly be closer to the
new president, and it is predicted that
no new honor he may desire, which is
within the gift of the chief executive,
will be denied him The secretary of
war is believed to have his eye, too, on
the presidential chair, but unlike Sena-
tor Hanna and Governor Odell, the I'M
expected elevation of Mr.. Roosevelt
means no bar to his aspirations.
AS the warm personal friend, as
counselor and guide to Mr.. Roosevelt.
he stood as one on the waiting list;
one who must hope for the greatest
gift of all only after the ambition of
his friend has found its fulfilment.
In truth, those who should know say
that the elevation of Roosevelt means
for him a still less starry path TO the
White House, for who should the pres
ident more surely put forward into
places where public records are made
than the man who, next to himself, he
would rather see president.
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So. it is figured out here by those who
forecast political futures, that Mr..
Root will become has already become,
q tremendous power in the present ad-
ministration. and that matters viii be
made to shape themselves to the end
that the secretary of war shall be found
q potential figure in some future ma
tional convention.
Mr. Root and Mr. Roosevelt were ever
the same type of Republican. both
moving in an atmosphere more highly
rarified than that of the Platts and the
Odells OF the party gentlemen born
and bred. highly cultured, members Of
the Union League club; men between
whom there was much in common aside
from all political considerations.
Their most marked utilization began
in IS. when Colonel Roosevelt was
talked of for the governorship. The
vital question of Colonel Roosevelts
actual legal place of residence having
arisen, it became necessary that he
should have the CleYereSt legal adVice
and help obtainable-
Mr. Platt wanted Colonel Roosevelt
to win with at the polls, and it was
with his desire and suggestion that Mr..
Root made it his business to establish
the fact that Oyster Bay was Colonel
Roosevelt's home.
Mr.. Root put aside his big law prac-
tice, which meant an immense sacrifice
of income from the big corporations
whose affairs he looked after, and gave
TO his rough rider client practically all
of his time.
He was successful, and by reason of
his carefully drawn agreement Colonel
Roosevelt's sponsors went to the Sara
toga convention assured that no at
tempt at the disqualification of their
candidate could prevail.
O o 9
The devotion Of Mr.. Root to the in
terests of Colonel Roosevelt cemented
more solidly the friendship of the two
men, and while he was governor. Mr..
Root was ever certain of a listening ear
from the executive head Of the state.
1t is notable, too, that ever since the
death of President Mckinley the sec
rotary of war and the new president
have been constantly together, and it
is evident that Mr.. Root has once more
been a staff to the man whose home he
had proved was in Oyster Bay.
Mr. Root, as member Of the bar of
New York, stood in the front rank of
the big lawyers. He is regarded as
clean, clever, strong and conservative.
The wise ones say that Elihu Root is
TO be taken into account for the next
four years in Washington.