New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-02
ROOT LEAVES CABINET.
TAFT TAKES HIS PLACE.
Unusual HOnOrs Sho1cn to the Retir-
ing Secretary by Presidents Order.

Washington, Feb. William II. Taft took
the oath OF ofzcs as Secretary OF War to-day
and at once assumed his new duties. The
ceremony took place in the large reception
room attached TO the Secretarys Office IN the
War Department. and the transfer Of author
ity from Elihu Root. the retiring Secretary. 20
Mr.. TAFT while simple. was more impressive
than any similar affair in many years. Before
noon, the appointed hour. Mr.. TAFT went to the
department from his hotel with q little party Of
personal friends and some members Of his fam
ily. These included Charles p. Taft and Miss
wlIby. OF Cincinnati and H. W. Taft. Of New
York; i r. Wiley, Attorney General for the
Philippines. and }. y. Schmidlapp. OF Cincin-
matt. a personal friend. They went TO Secre-
tary Roots Office. where the retiring Secretary.
IN a feT well chosen words and with a good
deal Of feeling, surrendered his portfolio to Mr..
Taft The party then proceeded 20 the recep-
ton room. where General Chanee. Chief Of Staff.
IN fan uniform. took charge. The room was
cleared Of all except those who took part in the
ceremony the party Of Mr. Tafts friends
and the members OF the General stafE Mr..
Tart and Secretary Root took their places at the
long table. where John Randolph, a notary, ad-
rniuistcred the oath Of Office to the incoming
Secreta~v. Then congratulations were show
cred on Secretary Taft and farewels were said
"a ex-Scc-etary Root. Every army officer on
duty IN Washington was aligned at the door
vvav. ard the brilliantly uniformed column
passed before the retiring and incoming secre-
-a-ses Secretary TAFT was in the best Of spirits.
and he had q smile ana good word FOR every
ono. while NJ Root showed the relief he felt
i- r,,-ir- down the cares or his great Office.
After the military men had passed through the
room she heads oc bureaus and most o. the en-
rIovss of the department were admitted. and
each Of them received pleasant greeting. After
the -eception Secretary Taft with his personal
friends and family, went 10 luncheon.
Presi5en. Roosevelt walked from the White
House 10 the home of Mr. Root in Jackson
Square. shortly before train time this after
room 10 say EooIby personally to the retiring
Secretary and Mrs Root. As the President
came I'D Executive-ave. Troop T. Of the 10TH
CavaIr- was lined up in front OF Mr. Roots
house. ready 10 escort him 10 the station The
President went AZ once 20 the eN-Secretary's
s+r,sz- where he was soon followed by General
Chanee and his assistants, Major Generals Gil
lespie and Bliss Secretary Taft came Few
/ minutes later After ten minutes spent IN con-
,-ersation the party left the house. President
Roosevelt walked With Mrs. Root and assisted
/ her into the carriage. lie then. with a firm grip
/ of the hand. bade Secretary Root farewell
After closing the carriage door himself the
/ President turned and. bowing 10 the crowd
! o.
White House Ex-Secretarv and Mrs. Root
/ drove 10 the station. preceded by the troop Of
cavalry and followed by the new Secretary of
War and the Chief of STAFF and his assistants
GTr aad Mrs. Root eft Washington ever the
Pennsylvania Railroad the Congressional
Limited for New York. where Mr.. Root VIII
| resume the practice OF law.
The Extraordinary military honors shown the
retiring Secretary were done at the direction
Of the President
Hanging in his Office as the new Secretary
was inducted into the duties OF his post was
the picture of his father Alphonso TAFT who
was President Grants Secretary Of War in
1876 Thus father and son have held the same
portfolio. this being the second instance in the
history Of the War Department, the first being
presented in The ipcuubencv Cf simon Cameron
under Lincoln and James y. Cameron. his son,
under Grant There IS single other case of
the kind "a gOvernment history, where Gideon
Granger was Postmaster General under JEFF
ferson and Madison. and Francis Granger. his
son. under Harrison and Tyler.