New-York tribune., 1905-07-07
ROOT TO SUCCEED HAY.
Continued from first page.

the work which he performed in reorganlzlng
the army and placing the militia on a practlca1
basis, his guidance of Philippine affairs his
services to Cuba and his Judgment and judiclous
counsel TO the President accepted as an
earnest of the success which will crown his
work as Secretary Of State. Members of the
Cabinet. although pledged to secrecy do not
conceal the pleasure they will feel IL Mr.. Root
has decided to accept the Secretaryship Of State.
and they are emphatic in their praise of the
who achieved such success and rendered
such service to the nation when he was Sec
retary OF War
Although information from Oyster Bay is that
no official announcement of the Presidents Sc
lection will be made until tomorrow, no one
here doubts the authenticity of the report from
New York that Mr.. Root has accepted the
portfolio OF State In fact. it generally be-
Iieved that this important post would be offered
to him when it became known that the Presi-
dent had invited him TO represent the State De-
partnent at the funeral OF Mr.. Hay.
To those who recall the dependence which the
President placed on the judgment and counsel
Of Secretary Root in the early days OF his ad-
ministration. nothing could be more natural
than that he should once more attempt to
cure his services member Of the Cabinet,
and this is particularly true at time when the
President has been robbed by death of the in
valuable assistance of his close friend and ad
wiser, Secretary Hay.
Definite knowledge that the President has urged
Mr. Root to accept the post of Secretary OF
State recalls the letter Mr.. Roosevelt wrote to
the retiring Secretary Of War on August "a
1903, in reply TO Mr.. Roots letter rendering his
resignation from the Cabinet Rarely if ever
has more eulogistic communication been ad
dressed by q President to retiring member Of
his Cabinet. Referring to the important
vices Of the Secretary IN connection with the
military and insular affairs of the War Depart
ment, the President said:
| The only reward you have had or can have is
the knowledge Of successful achievement, of the
performance in the fullest fashion OF a great
public duty. the doing OF which was OF vital i'm
portance to the nations welfare.
Then alludiug to the services OF Secretary
Root as friend and adviser the President con-
tnued:
| Moreover. aside from your work in the two
divisions Of the government service, appreciats
most keenly the invaluable advice and assist
ance you have rendered me in innumeraole mat
ters Of weight not coming directly in your de-
partmental province, but in which sought your
aid with the certainty OF not being disap-
pointed.
WHY MR. ROOT RETIRED.
That Mr.. Root should have accepted even the
highly honorable and responsible position TO
OF some surprise TO those who believed they best
knew his reasons for retiring from the Cabinet
Despite numerous reports that he felt he could
no longer sustain the pecuniary sacrifice in
volved by remaining IN the Cabinet. this was
not the motive which led him to retire from
public office His real reason for doing so. il
may be said with authority, was his hearty
distaste for public life. his sensitiveness TO that
partisan criticism which Impugns the motives
and censures the Judgment of a public official
regardless of his sincerity Of purpose or the
accuracy Of his conclusions Moreover, Mr.. Root
chafed under the constant restraint and confine-
ment OF Office ard arduous public duties while
the prospect of returning to New-York TO renew
the congenial associations Of his work at the
bar grew ever more attractive. Washington life
| presented few attractions for Mrs Root, who
found little pleasure in official society, and
missed the quiet congeniaI circle Of friends with
/ which she was surrounded in her New-York
home That Mr.. Root has decided to re-enter the
Cabinet Of President Roosevelt is regarded here
| as a remarkable demonstration Of his loyalty
and friendship for the President, as well a
striking illustration of his patriotic regard for
/ that public duty which the President has doubt
! less impressed on him as now confronting him.
Those who look at all public events from a
political point of view think that Mr.. Roots ac-
/
make him prominent as a Presidential candidate
! three wears hence Those who know the Presi-
1 dent best however attach little Importance 70
the suggestion that il with view to the
next national campaign that he urged his former
Secretary Of War to assume the portfolio OF
State. on the contrary. they are convinced that
! the President has urged Mr. Root 10 become
| Secretary If State with the single purpose OF
securing for that great Office the man he believes
pre-eminentIy fitted TO perform its duties: nor
| is it believed that Mr. Root moved to ac-
cept by any political consideration.
THE PRESIDENTS COUNSELLOR
Although out of the Cabinet NIr. Root has
never been wholly without the counsels of the
President and in more than one important affair
| Of state since his retirement he has been called
unon To give advice. and in notable instances
his advice has been followed. That he has in
| the eighteen months which have passed since
his actual REIMBURSEMENT Of the duties of Sec
retary of War kept in closest touch with all Of
the more important concerns of the administra-
| tion is undoubted-
Even as Secretary OF War Mr.. Root found
a peculiar charm in the diplomatic relations of
the nation When he resigned his great con-
structive work in the War Department was
| practically finished. and he had witnessed the
| last American soldier leave Cuban soil 80 that
! the department OF which he was then the head
| Afforded he believed. comparatively few op-
| portunities for mis- energies. but the taste OF
/ diplomacy which he had enjoyed when, In
/ close association with Secretary Hay. he had
/ had 70 do with the Boxer uprising in China
/ left him with keen relish for affairs OF that
| character. and. doubtless. the experience OF
/ diplomatic Affairs which he enjoyed then and
/ Later when, as American arbitrator, he took
0aTx N fAs adtanuant q the Alaskan boun-