The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-26
TAFT TO TAKE ROOTS PLACE.
GEN. WRIGHT TO SUCCEED TAFT,
THOSE HEALTH IS POOR.
A Friend Or Gov. Taft Says He Wanted
to stay I'm the Philippines to
Remain TIL January--App0intme
Officially Announced by the President.

OYSTER BAY, n. Y, Aug. 25.-The Hon.
Elihu Roots resignation as Secretary of
War has been presented formally to Presi-
dent Roosevelt and Mr. Roosevelt has ac-
cepted it with the understanding that Mr..
Root is TO continue in the Cabinet until
Jan. at least
Gov. William II Taft of the Philippines
will he the next Secretary of War, and Gen.
Luke 4. Wright will succeed Judge Taft
as head of the Philippine Commission and
Governor General of the islands. This
was announced here authoritatively to-day.
The following statement in regard to Judge
Taft's appointment was given out at the
Executive office
The President some months ago rendered
the Secretaryship of War to Judge Taft,
and at that time it was arranged that he
would succeed Secretary Root. Secretary
Root will go out Of office some time in jan
nary, and Judge Taft will assume the duties
of the Office shortly afterward.
Gen Wright, it was also said officially,
has sent in his acceptance OF the place which
Mr. Roosevelt offered to him.
Secretary Roots letter OF resignation,
a. given out here, is as follows
WAR DEPARTMENT,
"WAsHIN GToN, D. c., Aug. 10, 1908.
DEAR Mr.. PRESIDENT You have been
good enough TO assent to the suffciency
Of the reasons for which 1 have wished
to retire to private life as soon as practicable
after the establishment of the General
staff of the Army and the completion OF
my full four years Of service as Secretary
OF War While ii is understood that you
will probably not arrange to fill the office
as you wish before the end OF the year.
and that l am to remain IN Office in the
meantime, it Is probable that you will be
ready TO send name to the Senate in Novem-
Der or December, and before you do SO my
resignation should be in your hands
Il find myself on the eve OF sailing FOR
England to attend the sessionsof the Alaskan
Boundary Tribunal, quite unable to judge
how many months l shall be kept away
from this country, and I therefore now
tary OF War. to take effect upon the APP
pointment and qualification of my sue
cessor.
Il shall carry with me undated loyalty
to your Administration, confidence In the
sound conservatism and patriotic unself-
ishness Of your policy and enduring graft
tude for the kindness and consideration
with which your friendship has honored
me. shall not cease to appreciate the SYM
pathy and loyalty to President Mckinley
with which you took up and carried on his
work. and I shall always be happy to have
been a part Of the Administration directed
by your sincere and rugged adherence to
right and devotion to the trust Of our coun-
try. I am. with great respect and esteem
always, faithfully yours, EL1HU Roor.
ITO the Preside MT
The Presidents letter accepting Mr..
Roots resignation follows;
An "a
MY DEAR Mr.. Roor: 1t is hard indeed
for me to accept your resignation and do
80 not only with personal regret, but with
lively understanding Of the gap your with
drawal will create in public life. My sense
of personal loss is very great, and yet my
sense OF the loss to the nation AZ whole
is even greater.
You have been over four years Secretary
OF War. I wonder II you yourself realize
how much you have accomplished during
that period? II you will turn to your first
reports and will read therein the recon-
mendations you made in order that the army
might be put on an effective basis you can
not but be pleased at the way In which these
recommendations have now been adopted
bv Congress as well as by the Administra-
ton, and have become enacted into law or
crvstallized into custom
we have never had public servant
Of the Government who has worked harder
than you have worked during these four
years and half, and this not merely in
point of time, but above all In point of in
tensity; and your success has been equal
to your labor. The only reward you have
had or can have. is that knowledge OF
successful achievement, of the performance
in fullest fashion Of great public duty, the
doing Of which was of vital importance 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 the department which dealt
with the vast and delicate problems in
voved in our possession of the Philippine
Islands, and your SUCCESS in dealing with
this part OF your work has been as signal
az your success in 'iealing with the purely
military problems,
TO very few statesmen indeed in any
country is it given, alone and at the same !
time to achieve signal and striking ti-
umphs In the administration and reform Of
the military branch Of the Government and
In the administration of what was in effect |
department of insilar dependencies, where |
the problems were new to our reople and |
were In themselves Of great difficulty.
Moreover, aside from your work in
these two divisions OF the Government |
service. appreciate most keenly the in
valuable advice and assistance you have |
rendered me in innumerable matters OF |
weight not coming directly in your de- |
partmental province, but in which sought |
your aid with the certainty Of not being |
disappointed Your position on the Alaskan !
boundary commission at the present mo- |
nent is an illustration of these services
May all good fortune attend YOU wher- |
ever YOU are, The American people wish |
Won well and appreciate TO the full the |
debt due YOU for all that YOU have done on |
their behalf Faithfully yours.
THEODORE r oosEvELT.
Hon. Elihu Root. Secretary OF War.
Judge Taft it is said. was the only man
considered for the secretaryship by Mr.. |
Roosevelt. His wide practical experience |
In matters connected with the Philippines, |
his fne executive ability and his knowl |
edge Of law marked him without rival !
in the Presidents opinion and in the opinion |
Of those whom Mr.. Roosevelt consulted.
Gen. Wright. who is to succeed Gov. |
Taft, is also regarded most highly by the |
President, and Mr.. Roosevelt picked him, |
It is said, for the Governorship almost as
readily as he did Judge Taft for the Cabinet |
position, Gen. Wright has already had |
considerable executive experience in the
Philippines,
He has been member of tho Philippine
Commission for several years, having been
appointed by President Mckinley. and last
year conducted the government Of the
Stands for several months while Gov Taft
was absent in this country on account OF