The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-26
President Roosevelt Says the Head of
the War Department VIII Retire
in January.
w. H. TAFT WILL SUCCEED HIM
AND T.. r.. WRIGHT WILL BECOME
GOVERNOR OF THE PHILIPPINES.
MIR. Roots Letter to the President,
and the Latter's Tribute to His Es-
teemed Secretary of War.

OYSTER BAY. l.. L., Aug. S-Secretary
Root, under date of Aug. 10, presented his
resignation formally to the President. The
resignation accepted by the President
with the understanding that Mr.. Root con-
tinue as secretary of war at least until Jan.
1. Governor General William III. Taft, of
the Philippines. will succeed Secretary Root
as secretary of war. President Roosevelt
to-day authorized the following statement:
1.-The President some months ago ten
dered the secretaryship of war to Judge
Taft and at that time il was arranged that
he would succeed Secretary Root. Secre-
tary Root will go out of office some time in
January and Judge Taft will assume the
duties of the Office shortly afterward."
The President also authorized the publi-
cation of correspondence between him and
Secretary Root concerning the latter's res
ignation. In full the correspondence fol-
lows:
Dear Mr.. President-You have been good
to assent TO the sufficiency OF the reasons
for which have wished to retire to private
life soon practicable after the estab-
lishment OF the general stan of the army
and the completion of my full four years
of service as secretary of war. While it
is understood that you will probably not ar
range to fill the office you wish before
the end OF the year and that L am to re-
main lin office in the meantime, ii is prob
to the Senate in November or December
and before you do my resignation should
be in your hands. L find myself on the eve
of sailing for England TO attend the ses-
sions of the Alaska boundary tribunal,
quite Unable to judge how many months
shall be kept away from this country and
/ therefore now tender my resignation of
the office of secretary of war to take effect
upon the appointment and qualification of
my successor. L shall carry with me un-
abated loyalty to your administration, con-
fidence in the sound conservatism and the
unselfshness of your policy and enduring
gratitude for the kindness and considera-
ton with which your friendship has hon
ored me. / 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 L shall always be
happy to have been part of the admins
tration directed by your sincere and rugged
adherence to right and devotion to the
true interests of the country. L am with
great respect and esteem always faithfully
yours, ELIHU ROOT"
ITO the President.
THE PRESIDENTS REPLY.
Oyster Bay, l.. L.. Aug. %.
Hon. Elihu Root, Secretary of War. Wash
ington, d. c.:
me to accept your resignation; and i do so
not only with keen personal regret, but
with lively understanding 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
whole is even greater. You have been over
four years secretary of war. / wonder il
you yourself realize how much you have ac-
complished during that period. If you will
turn to your first reports and Will read
therein the recommendations you made in
order that the army might be put on an
effective basis, you cannot but be pleased al
the way i'm which these recommendations
have now been adopted by Congress. as well
as by the administration, and have been
enacted into law. We have never had
public servant of the government who has
worked harder than you have worked dur
these four years and half, and this not
merely i'm point of time, but above all, in
point of intensity, and your success has
been equal to your labor. The only reward
you have had can have is the knowledge
of successful achievement, of the perform
ance i'm fullest fashion of a great public
duty. the doing of which was of vital i'm
portance to the nations welfare.
Your duties have included more than
merely the administration of the depart
ment and the reorganization of the army on
an effective basis. You have also been the
head of department which dealt with the
vast and delicate problems invoked i'm our
possession of the Philippine islands and
your success in dealing with this part of
your work has been as signal as your sue
cess i'm dealing with the purely military
problems To very few statesmen. indeed.
in any country il is given at one and the
same time to achieve signal and striking
triumphs in the administration and reform
of the military branch of the government
ana In the administration Oh what was IN
effect department of insuar dependencies,
where the problems were new to our people
and were in themselves of great difficulty.
Moreover. aside from your work in these
two divisions of the government service
appreciate most keenly the invaluable adj
vice and assistance you have rendered me in
innumerabe matters of weight not coming
directly in your departmental province. but
i'm which sought your aid with the certain
ty of not being disappointed. Your position
on the Alaskan boundary commission at the
onf rfann &c n Of fhocx
services.
May all good fortune attend you wherev-
err you are; the American people wish you
well and appreciate to the full the debt
due you for all that you have done on their
behalf Faithfully yours.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"