The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-02
TAFT SUCCEEDS ROOT
AS SECRETARY OF WAR
Brilliant Ceremonies at the War
Department Mark the Induction
of the New Official.
ARMY OFFICERS IN LINE

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1-Governor Will
liam H. Taft took the oath of office as sec
rotary of war to-day and at once entered on
his new duties. The ceremony took place
in the large reception room attached to
the secretary's Office IN the War Depart
ment and the transfer of authority from
Elihu Root, the retiring secretary, to Gov
ernor Taft. while simply made. was more
impressive than any similar event in many
years.
Before noon, the appointed hour, Gov
ernor Taft went to the department from his
hotel, with little party of personal friends
and of some of his immediate family. They
were ushered into Secretary Roots office,
where the retiring secretary, in few we'll
chosen words and with a good deal of feel
ing, surrendered his portfolio to Governor
Taft. The party then proceeded to the re-
ception room, where General Chaffee, chief
of staff, in uniform, took charge of the
ceremonies. The room was cleared of all
except the participants in the induction
save the party of friends and members of
the general staff. Governor Taft and Secre-
rotary Root took their places at the long
table, where stood John Randolph n notary,
who administered the oath of office TO the
incoming secretary. Congratulations were
showered upon Secretary Taft and good
byes were said to Secretary Root.
Every army officer duty in Washing
ton was aligned at the doorway and the
brilliantly uniformed column passing be-
fore the retiring and incoming secretaries
formed a pretty spectacle. Secretary Taft
was in the best of spirits and he had a
smile and good word for every one, while
Secretary Root showed in his colntenance
the relief he felt in laying down the cares
of the great office.
After the military men had passed
through the room the heads of bureaus and
finally most Of the employees of the War De-
partment were admitted and each of these
received a pleasant greeting. AT the con-
clusion of the reception Secretary Taft,
with his personal friends and family, went
TO luncheon. EX-Secretary Root left Wash
ington at O'Clock this afternoon for New
York.
The President walked from the White
House to the residence of former Secretary
Root, in Jackson Square, shortly before
train time this afternoon. personally to say
goodbye to the retiring secretary and Mrs.
Root. AS the President came up Executive
avenue. Troop f of the Fifteenth Cavalry
was lined up in front of the secretary S
house. ready TO escort him to the station.
The exchange of farewells was with mani
fest feeling. The President closed the car
riage door in person. and as the escort
wheeled into line he bowed to the assembled
crowd and walked rapidly back to the
Hanging I'm his office as the new secretary
was indicted into the arduous duties of his
post, was the picture of his distinguished
rather, AlpnOnSO TART, VINO was PRESIDENT
Grants. secretary of war i'm 1876. Thus
father and son have held the same port
folio, this being the second instance in the
history of the War Department. the first
being presented in the incumbency of Simon
Cameron under, Lincoln and James d. Cam
eron, his son, under Grant. There is a
single other case of the kind in government
history where Gideon Granger was post
master general under Jefferson and Madi-
son and Francis Granger. his son, under
Harrison and Tyler.