The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-04
ROOT FOR SECRETARYOFSTATE
GROU ING BELIEF THAT HE WILL
RE INDUCED TO ACCEPT.
an. President ysas invited Mr.. Rost 10
Accompany Him 70 Cleveland 10 Attend
the Hay Funeral. and WIN Ask Him
To Represent the state Department.

the Hay Funeral. and WIN Ask Him
TO Represent the state Department.
W,sulNGToN, July 3.--In a Washingt on
dosing, eli printed in THE Sun yesterday il
w,. said that President Roosevelt would
,s,ner have Elihu Root as his Secretary OF
STATE than any other man, but that it was
followed here hat Mr. Root would not con-
.er, TO enter public life at this time, Since
,ben the suspicion has been growing in
,uarters close to the President that Mr..
pooseyel, intends to make an effort to in
du,e Mr.. Root to become meInber Of his
official family again, and despite Mr.. Roots
understood unwilingness to resume official
duties, there is more hopeful feeling in
Washington that he will be induced to
accept
telegram sent by the President to the
Acting Secretary Of State in which Mr..
Root. name was mentioned is regarded
Of great significance in connection with the
selection of Mr. Hays successor. Mr..
Roosevelt told Acting Secretary PIERCE,
seemingly in explanation Of his expression
of ne wish that Mr. Peirce remain in Wash
,ngton to run the State Department, that
he had asked Mr.. Root to accompany him
10 cleveland to attend the Hay funeral,
and if Mr. Root was able to go Mr.. Roose-
Welt would ask him to represent the State
Department
To ask man having no connection with
the State Department and who Is not even
now in public Office to occupy the premier
place Of official honor next the President
a. the funeral Of member OF the Cabinet
L,uk nal linn aY,t
that the President could pay to any Ameri-
can citizen. but Mr.. Roosevelt's action
derives additional significance from the
TACT of Mr. Roots prominence in connection
with filing the vacant Cabinet position.
Mr. Roosevelt, it is argued would hardly
have singled out Mr.. Root without having
some purpose in view
Immediately after the death of Mr.. Hay
il became an open secret here that the
President had expressed on more than one
occasion his belief that Mr.. Root would
make an ideal Secretary Of State. Not
that Mr.. Roosevelt had ever even indicated
that he was preparing for the emergency
that has arisen on account Of Mr.. Hays
death. On the contrary, he had consist
entity held to the opinion that Mr.. Hay
official duties and, as is well known to
everybody close to the President, he re-
garded Mr.. Hays abilities too highly to
think Of letting him retire while he was
able to conduct the affairs OF the State De-
partment.
But the President according to some
Of those who are close to him and whose
reliability is unquestionable. has said that
if vacancy should occur in the State
Department he would rather have Elihu
Root fill it than any other man in the coun-
try. 1t is evident, therefore. that the
Presidents action in asking Mr.. Root to
20 with him to Mr.. Hays funeral as the
representative Of the State Department
has very deep Significance, and the belief
is growing here that IL Mr.. Root consents
to go, the tender Of the Cabinet vacancy
will be made to him by Mr.. Roosevelt on
the journey homeward from Cleveland
after the funeral.
Mr.. Roots withdraw from the Cabinet
Of Mr. Roosevelt, in which. as under Mr..
Mckinley. he made an enviable record
rs Secretary Of War. was based on sound
business exigencies personal to Mr. Root.
and not upon differences with the President
which could not be reconciled. In enter
ing Mr.. McKinley's Cabinet Mr.. Root made
great sacrifices, and he emphasized these
wnen he consented to retain the war port
folio under Mr.. Roosevelt.
In view of the circumstances OF his with
drawal it was believed by his former official
associates that he would not resume public
Office in any subordinate capacity But
there is good reason to believe that Mr..
Root was particularly attracted to the duties
Of Secretary of State in his brief expert
ence as the diplomatic adviser Of President
Mckinley in the summer of 1900. The
Boxer war was then In progress, the foreign
legations at Pekin were being besieged by
'nohs composed OF Chinese troops and re-
ligions fanatics and an international mill
tary expedition was fighting its way to
the Chinese capital
Mr.. Hay was not very we'll at that time
and was obliged to go to his summer home
in New Hampshire. Mr. Mckinley then
placed the control Of the diplomatic affairs
OF that critical period in the hands Of Mr..
Root who in addition conduct from
Washington the American end OF the cam
Talgn against Pekin. Mr.. Root liked his
diplomatic duties exceedingly, and the
knowledge of this leads to a hopeful feel
ing that he may he induced to accept the
leadership OF the Cabinet, the only public
place, by the way, that he would for a mo-
ment consider.
From present appearances in Washing
ton, not forgetting that the affairs Of the
Government are being directed from Oyster
Bay, Mr.. Root ia the Presidents first choice
'or Secretary Of State, with Mr.. Taft
rlose second. But the Hon. Joseph H.
Choate should not be forgotten. 1t is
worthy Of note that had the existing va
cancy in the State Department occurred
some months ago and Mr.. Root had de-
t!ned to fill it Senator Orville H. Platt OF
Connecticut would probably have received
an offer Of the place. Senator Platt died