The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-12

When Mr.. Roosevelt became president
Secretary Root indicated his wish to
leave the cabinet within year. but his
friendship for the president and interest
in pending questions before the war
department caused him to remain for
a longer period than he had intended.
Even now he has not Indicated to the
president just when he may leave the
,gabinet, but he and the president have
discussed the situation many times and
have a mutual understanding regarding
1t.
It is not expected the secretary will
present his resignation to the president
before ne leaves for England to take up
the work of the Alaskan boundary COM
mission. He has not presented his resig-
nation yet. and has not informed the
president when he will. 1t can be said
the president expected the country will
have the benefit of Secretary Roots ser
Vice yet for several months. certainly
until the beginning Of the next year.
That Governor Taft will be Mr..
Roots successor as secretary of war
there can be little or no doubt. He is
familiar with many of the problems
which the secretary of war will have to
meet and solve he is q warm personal
friend of the president who has an abid-
ing confidence in his ability and
patriotism. and it is understood he
would welcome the change involved.
of course. his appointment as secre-
tary of war would necessitate the ap-
pointment of new president of the
Philippine commission. In all probable
ity General Luke Wright would succeed
to the presidency of the commission, his
work as { member of the body having
been eminently satisfactory to the ad-
ministration. Some other changes also
would be involved in the appointment
of Governor Taft as secretary Of war,
but nothing definite concerning them
can be said at this time.
Mr.. Root at fifty-five years of ags
sacrificed a law practice estimated by
those who know him intimately to have
been worth $500 a year to become sec
Ietary of war at $4,000 a year when the
affairs of the office were believed to
have been chaotic and the Weaknesses
laid bare by two campaigns in Cuba
and the Philippines demanded vigorous
remedial measures, because he believed
1t to be his duty.
Mr.. Roots success is based upon an
unusual combination of qualities He is
a student and a good business man, a
scholar and eminently practical, digni-
fed, and yet gifted with a rare sense of
humor.
In the practice of law Mr.. Root made
"A remarkable record. In the Stewart
will case he was counsel for Judge Hill
ton. He was leading counsel in the
Hoyt will contest, and in the Fayer-
weather case.
When Charles A. Dana of the New
York Sun was indicted for libel. Mr.
Root defended him successfully. and he
also defended Robert Ray Hamilton
when the Eva Mann suit was started.
Today he is a keen-eyed, alert. square
shouldered man. looking scarcely So His
hair is showing his age, and the lines
around the eyes and athwart his strong
nose have deepened noticeably in the
year that is just closing.
TAFT DENIES IT.
Manila, Aug. 12.-7 p. m.-When the
news arrived here by cable that Secre-
tary Root of the war department, would
be forced to resign the portfolio by his
duties as "A member of the Alaskan
boundary commission about to meet il
London, his resignation to take effect
under certain conditions in December
next, if not sooner. a reception was TAX
ing place at the palace in honor of
Major General George w Davis, until
recently in command of the division of
the Philippines. and now on the retired
list.
Governor Taft, who was present, when
shown the statement contained in this
dispatch that he would succeed Ser
retary Root upon his retirement, laugh
ingly replied that the report was untrue.
Later on, when a second message was
received confirming an alleged offer Of
the appointment the governor denied the
statement in similar terms