The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-09-09
TAFT WILL SUCCEED ROOT
Philippines Governor to Be Secretary
of War.
OFFICIAL LETTERS MADE PUBLIC
Secretary Root Will Retire in January
Under All Arrangement With the Presi-
dent, Who Sends Him Letter of APP
probation - General Luke Wright Ser
lected For Governor Of Philippines.


Oyster Bay. L. I.-Secretary Root.
under date August 10. has presented
his resignation formally to the Presi-
dent. The resignation was accepted
by the President with the understand
ing that Mr.. Root continue as Secre-
tary of War at least until January /.
Governor William H. Taft, of the
Philippines, will succeed Mr.. Root as
Secretary Of War, and General Luke
E. Wright will succeed Judge Taft as
Governor Of the Philippines.
President Roosevelt authorized the
following statement:
"The President some months ago
rendered the Secretaryship Of War to
Judge Taft. and at that time it was
arranged that he would succeed Sec
retary Root. Secretary Root will go
out of Office some time in January. and
Judge Taft will assume the duties or
the Office shortly afterward.'
The President also authorized the
publication Of the correspondence be-
tween him and Secretary Root con-
cerning the latter's resignation.
In his letter to the President Mr.
Root referred to his wish to retire to
private life after the establishment OF
the General Staff of the Army and the
completion of his four years of ser
vice as Secretary of War. Now, on the
eve of sailing to England to sit on
the Alaska Boundary Tribunal. he ten
dered' his resignation, to take effect
upon the appointment and qualitica'
ton Of his successor. Mr.. Root con.
tinued:
II shall carry with me unabated
loyalty to your Administration. conf
lence in the sound conservatism and
patriotic unselfishness Of your policy,
and enduring gratitude for the kind
ness and consideration with which
gour friendship has honored me. l
shall not cease to appreciate the sym
pathy and loyalty to President Nc
Kinley with which you took and car
ried on his work, and 1 shall always
be happy to have been part of the
Administration directed by yonr sin
cere and rugged adherence to right and
devotion to the true interests of our
country"
President Roosevelt. in his accept
ance Of Mr.. Roots resignation said
that his personal loss in the with
drawal of the Secretary of War from
public life was very great. hut that
his sense of loss to the nation was
even greater. The President. after
highly praising Mr.. Roots work in
the War Department. said:
your duties have included more
than merely the administration OF the
Department. and the reorganization OF
the army on an effective basis. You
have also been the head of the depart
ment which dealt with the vast anu
delicate problems involved in OIL: pos
session of the Philippine Islands. ana
YOUR success in dealing with this part
of your work has been as signal as
your success in dealing with the purely
military problems. To very few states
men. indeed, in any country is it given
Mt one and the same time to achieve
signal and striking triumphs in the
administration and reform OF the mill
tary branch of the Government. and IN
the administration OF what was IN eI-
feet a department Of insular depend
encies, where the problems wera new
to our people and were in themselves
of great difficulty.
Moreover, aside from yonr work Ill
these two divisions Of the Government
service. I appreciate most keenly the
invaluable advice and assistance you
have rendered me in innumerable mat
ters of weight not coming directly in
your departmental province. but in
which I sought your aid with the GER
tainty of not being disappointed. Your
position on the Alaskan Boundary
Commission at the present moment IS
an illustration of these services.
"May all good fortune attend you
wherever you are: the American peo'
pie wish you well. and appreciate 10
the full the debt due you for all thar
YOU have done on their behalf