The Washington times., 1905-06-19
ROOT MAY RETURN
TO THE CABINET
Has a Chance to Get Treas
ury Portfolio.
PRESIDENT WANTS HIM BACK
Although Out of Favor With "Trust
Busters" He Stands Well After His
Philadelphia Work.
WANTS HIM BACK

That former Secretary Of War Root,
after an interval OF retirement from
the Cabinet which he has devoted to
strenuous pursuit of his great law bust
ness, may shortly return to the official
family of President Roosevelt, Is the
latest phase of Cabinet gossip, and 1t
is attracting much Interested discussion
That the former Secretary would be
welcomed back to the Cabinet at any
time he might be willing to return, is
accepted by all who know his close re-
lations with the President Down to
the time of his retirement. he was con-
aidered the chief OF the Presidents ad-
visers about the larger policies OF the
Administration
In that position of actual, If not nomi-
nal, premiership he has been succeeded
in a general way by Secretary OF War
Taft.
Not Wanted by Some.
Mr.. Root. though he has been con-
ceded the distinction Of intellectual
leadership and distinguished abilities.
has not been accepted by the more lib
erai elements OF the party as exactly
the type OF man whose advice should
be paramount in the councils OF the
welt He has not strengthened himself
with this branch of public opinion since
he has been out of office. for he has
been too many times named az the at
torney Of immense corporate interests
related to the trust and big mopeyed
powers.
1t Is said that Mr.. Root is the leader
of the New York bar today. He is re-
10 he or,,jy,
any American lawyer has ever earned
IN a general practice. A friend of his
is credited with declaring shat the
former Secretary's legal business has
been worth s.. coo per diem since he went
out &c the Cabinet.
While the sort OF practice in which
he has engaged has not been calculated
to endear him to the trust busters .
hira IN position, financially, to resume
the burden Of officeholding.
Has Enough Money.
Mr.. Root Is not a man of wealth. and
when he left the Cabinet, 1t was frank
ly understood that he did it largely
because he needed the money which he
has been so successfully accommodating IN
the last few months. It is not a 1er
cry to the assumption that he has MADE
enough money to enable him, II he
chooses. to return to the Cabinet. And
it Is Just as confidently assumed that
II he IS ready to resume official life the
President will be glad to give him any
place in the Cabinet that may be left
open.
Moreover. while Mr.. Roots practice
as a trust lawyer has not popularized
him with some people. he has recently
been engaged in a highly popular work
In Philadelphia, as special adviser to
Mayor John Weaver in the anti-graft
crusade there. This has labeled him as
ne of the vigorous advocates OF decent
government and given him a record on
which he could readily be forgiven a
season OF money-making enterprise as
a trust LAWYER.
Job Not Settled.
Whether MIR. Root. If it be true that
he Is liable to return to the Cabinet,
would return as Secretary of War. of
State. or Of Treasury, is a question
Secretary Hays health IS well known
not to be by any means fully salts
factory to him or his family and friends.
With the strenuous era OF peace
making ahead 1t is assumed by many
that the Secretary might prefer TO re-
tire. and this would open the way Cor
Mr.. Root to the premiership
On the other hand, should Secretary
Taft be named as Chief Justicc-a con-
tingency not now regarded as nearly so
likely as 1t vas week ago-the port
folio or war would DC open for Mr..
Roots resumption.
And, finally, the understanding that
Secretary Shaw desires to retire at
the end of his four years service. next
February, suggests the possibility OF a
place in the Treasury for Mr. Root