The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-08-25


War Elihu Root is to leave his Office in
January and Judge Taft. Governor Cen
eral Of the Philippines. is TO be his sue
! cessor. This announcement was official
ly made at Sycamore Hill today. The
Following letters were made public by
order of the President this morning:
War Department,
Washington. August 10. 1903
Dear Mr.. President: You have been
good enough to assent to the suficiency
of the reasons for which / have wished
to retire TO private-life as soon as prac-
ticable after the establishment of the
general stan of the army and the com
pletion of my full four years of service
as Secretary Of War. While IL is under
stood that you will probably not arrange
TO NIL the office as you wish before the
end of the year. and that 1 am to re-
main in Office in the meantime, 1t is
probable that you will be ready to send
name 10 the Senate In November or
resignation should be IN your hands.
Unabated Loyalty.
II find myself. on the eve of sailing
for England to attend the sessions OF
the Alaska Boundary Tribunal. quite un-
able to judge how many months I shall
be kept away from this country, and l
therefore now tender my resignation OF
the Office of Secretary OF War to take
effect upon the appointment and quail
fication of my successor.
Il shall carry with me unabated 10y
atty TO your administration, confidence
IN the sound, conservatism and patriotic
unselfshness of your policy, and endur-
ing gratitude for the kindness and con-
sideration with which your friendship
has honored me-
81 shall not cease TO appreciate the
sympathy and loyalty TO President Nc
Kinley with which you took up and car
ried on his work; and shall always be
happy 10 have been part of the Ad-
ministration directed by your sincere
and rugged adherence 10 right and de-
votion to the true interests of our
country.
Il am with great respect and esteem, |
always, Faithfully yours,
"ELIHU ROOT.
TO the President"
The Presidents Reply.
"Oyster Bay, y. Y. Aug. "a. 1903.
Hon. Elihu Root. Secretary OF War, |
Washington. ID. c.
My Dear Mr.. Root: II is hards in /
deed. for me to accept your resigna- |
tion. and I do SO not only with keen /
personal regret. but with a lively un- |
derstanding of the gap your withdrawal |
will create in public life. My sense OF |
personal loss is very great, and yet my |
sense of the loss TO the nation as a !
whole is even greater. You have been 1
over four years Secretary of War. 1 !
wonder IL you yourself realize how much /
you have accomplished during that
period. If you will turn TO your first
reports and will read therein the recon-
you made in order that the
army might be put on an effective basis.
you cannot but be pleased at the way
I'm which these recommendations have
now been adopted by Congress, as well
as by the Administration and have be-
come enacted into law or crystaIlized to
custom.
I'VE have never had public servant
VI me hONEIHutHL WHO mas WORKED
harder than you have worked during
these four years and a half, and this is
not merely in point OF time. but, above
all. in point of intensity; and your sue
cess has been equal 10 your labor. The ;
only reward you have had, or can have,
Is the knowledge OF successful achieve
nent. OF the performance in fullest fash
ION Of a great public duty. the doing of
which was of vital Importance to the ma
tion's welfare.
Signal and Striking Triumphs.
Your duties have included more than
merely the administration of the depart
nent and the reorganization of the army
on an effective basis. You have also
been the head of the department which
iealt with the vast and delicate prob
ems involved in our possession of the
Philippine Islands. and your success in
Continued on Second Page) II