The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-07
ROOT SECRETARY OF STATE.
TAKEN TO BE ROOSEVELT'S CAN
DID4TE FOR PRESIDENT.
announcement OF His Selection for Score.
,ary Hays Place Expected From
oyster hay To-day-President Said to
Have Overcome MIR. Roots Objections.

oyster hay TO.Siay-President Said 10
Rave overcome MIR. Roots objections.
Tho President il expected to announce
to-day that Elihu Root will succeed John
uay a. Secretary Of State. Although the
PRESIDENT would make no statement yes
tarday morning on his return from Cleve-
land other than that an announcement
would he made some time to-day at Oyster
Raw regarding Mr.. Roots reply to the invi-
,ation to accept the portfolio OF State. and
Mr. Root himself declined to discuss the
matter at all, the belief had grown to a
nractical certainty on the return OF the
Presidents special train that Mr.. Root
would be the next Secretary Of State.
When President Roosevelt, accompanied
hv Mr.. Root as special representative of the
State Department, the members Of the Cab
met and former advisers, left Tuesday af-
ternoon to attend Mr.. Hays funeral, there
were many Of the party on board the train
presumably in position to understand Mr..
Root : attitude who did not believe.he would
accent the offer. They were aware that
the President ardently desired Mr.. Root to
return to the Cabinet, but they thought that
the same business reasons that persuaded
him to retire year ago still held good and
that he would refuse. When the returning
special arrived at Philadelphia early yes
teriay morning and the majority OF those
who had accompanied the President left the
train there was not one who did not believe
that Mr., Root had accepted and that the
announcement would he made at once.
Their confidence was so significant that a
general impression was given that the Pres
ident and Mr.. Root had talked the matter
over thoroughly and that Mr.. Root had
consented to accept the premiership.
1t was understood that the tender OF the
portfolio was made by the President within
few hours Of the start for Cleveland that
the President requested Mr.. Root to con-
slider the possibility Of returning to the
Cabinet and expressed to Mr.. Root his own
earnest wish that Mr. Root would not find
the sacrifice too heavy. Further than that
on the trip to Cleveland the matter was
not discussed, it is understood, being put
aside with other business until after the
Ha: funeral.
Mr.. Root was constantly in the company
OF the President. He had a stateroom on
board the Magnet, the Presidents private
car, and he took his meals with the Pres-
dent. Other members Of the Cabinet and
those VINO HaQ served formerly III luut Ca
paciy lunched or breakfasted or dined
with the President as invited, in groups Of
four or Ave. Mr.. Root was a member Of
every group. At the funeral OF the late
Secretary Of State he accompanied the
President at every step, and Mr.. Roosevelt
omitted no opportunity to show him every
possible honor.
The President and Mr.. Root had several
long, private conversations on the journey
from Cleveland to this city. 1t is under
stood that in these talks the President re-
newed the invitation directly and that
Mr.. Root finally accepted. While there
was not member Of the Cabinet who re-
garded it as discreet to say more than
Il believe Mr.. Root Is the man." or "the
situation looks hopeful or TO advise the
newspapermen aboard Don't get very
far from Mr.. Root" there was feeling
in the air that the matter had been settled
to the entire satisfaction Of the President,
just before President Roosevelt left for
Oyster Bay Yesterday morning his secre-
tary, William Loeb, Jr., made this state
ment:
The President will make an announce
ment tomorrow regarding the Secretary
ship of State"
When Mr. Root left TIE train and started
for the Twenty-thrd street ferry to go to
his new home, at Park avenue and Seventy
first street. reporters swarmed around him.
Attorney General Moody and Paul Morton,
who returned to this city with the Presi-
dent and Mr.. Root waved their arms and
fed
will you lee the next Secretary Of State?"
Mr.. Root was asked.
Il have nothing to saw" he replied,
ANY announcements concerning the Cabi-
net must come from the President himself.
! understand that he contemplates making
an announcement Tomorrow
Mr. Root went directly home, lunched
there and left the house at 1880 p. H. 1t
was said at the house that he had gone
out Of town At his office, ~ Liberty
street, reporters were told that Mr.. Root
was on his vacation. He had left town
without saying when he would return.
OYSTER BAY, July R-There seems to
he no doubt here that President Roosevelt
expects favorable reply from Elhu Root
to whom he rendered the portfolio Of the
Department OF State while en- route be-
tween here and Cleveland.
The President declined to give out his
official statement on the subject to-day.
statement will be given out tomorrow
morning.
The reason for the delay is not alone the
decorum which might forbid the naming
OF a successor the same day the President
returned from Secretary Hays funeral
II Is supposed here that Mr.. Root asked
for days margin before replying, in order
to consult clients with whom he has con-
tracts to put through certain litigation.
II is unlikely that any Of them would de-
cline to release him. but the one chance in
hundred is supposed to be sufficient
reason for Mr.. Root to delay his reply and
for the President to postpone his state