The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1903-08-20


country, a homiiy which has called
forth editorial commentator from
newspapers Of all parties and IN all
parts Of the country. The President
calls on an enlightened public en-
iiment to oppose with all It's intluen.
&c the tendency to mob violence.
lie declares that lynch law is law
lessness,lhat ~lawlessness grows with
what Il feeds on, and that when
mobs with IMMUNITY lynch criminals
for other crimes, a statement which
has been borne out within the recent
past, when the telegraphie has
brought word Of lynehings for as
sault and battery, murder and IN n
instance for simple ''insult'' The
President points out hat when the
minds of men are habituated to the
use of torture to avenge crimes of a
revolving description, other lawless
bodies will avail themselves of tor
ture to avenge crimes Of an ordsnary
type. The President also calls up
on the negro race to recognize that
the member of that race who perpe-
trates that crime which most oft en-
results in lynehing commits a great
er crime against his race than is pos
sible for a white man and urges,
therefore, that the negroes them
selves be prompt to aid IN the appre-
hension of this class of criminals.
Secretary Root has placed his res
ignation IN the hands Of the Presi-
dent to take effect as soon as the
President may see fit but not later
than Jan. I, and it is generally be-
lieved that Governor Taft will sue-
coed hlm. The occasion Of Seere-
tary Roots REIMBURSEMENT of the
portfolio of war, which is a matter
Of grave regret to the President,
is Mrs. Roots objection to living
in Washington, her dislike to Wash
ington society where her social du-
ties necessitate her entertainment of
officials rather than of a select CO.
terie of friends most congenial to
herself and her husband, and Mr..
Roots desire to resume kis law
practice IN New York. While
neither Secretary nor Mrs. Root
have referred to the financial end
of the situation, it is known that the
most economical member of the
Cabinet cannot live within his salary
unless he be a bachelor, and that
in most instances acabinet members
expenses amount to from two to
three times his salary. Secretary
Root feels that he has completed
the important work for which he
was called to the cabinet. He has
~inaugarated the general staff plan
for the army. a plan which will re-
lieve the Secretary of War in the
future, from the grave responsible
tiles which have heretofore rested
on him, having transferred them to
the general staff. He has accom-
plished peace in the Philippines and
closed, with honor, the stewardship
of Cuba, and he has paved the way
TO the civil government under which
Porto Rico is now prospecting. Mr..
Root will leave for England on the
asnd. TO participate in the delibera-
tons of the Alaskan boundary com.
mission. On his return he viii pre-
pare his annual rep ort and his retire
menl will doubtle IS follow very
soon thereafter.
The appointment OF Governor
Taft IS regarded as the logical Sc
lection Tor the vacancy which will
be made by Mr.. Roots retirement.
Governor Taft has adminis,ed the
affairs Of the Philippines under the
mos, trying circumstances with
great credit to his country and TO
himself and il is probable that the
most difficult problems which will
confront the secretary Of war in the
next few years will relate TO the is
land possessions Of this country, 20
that Governor Taft's intimate know.
ledge OF Philippine affairs renders
him especially competent. While
theie have been many prominent
republicans who favored Goyernor
Tah's candidacy for the vIee-pres-
identisl nomination, II is doubtful
If the Governor himself ever looked
with favor on the project, and II he
IS appointed Secretary Of War the
Presiden, will probably urge his pc
liueal friends to abandon their cam