Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-19
Mr.. ROOT SWORN IN
New Secretary Of State Takes
the Oath.
WILL LEAVE TOMORROW
WILL RETURN TO WASHINGTON
ABOUT SEPTEMBER 1.
Minister Takahira the First Diploma at
to Call Upon the New
Official

Mr.. EHhG Root of New York today form
ally assumed the duties Of Secretary of
State. He arrived here last evening from
New York and was met at the railroad sta
ton by Assistant Secretary Adee by whom
he was accompanied to the New Willard
where he viii make his home during his
short stay in this city. Mr.. Root appeared
at the State Department this morning and
temporarily took possession of the office of
Assistant Secretary Loomis. which adjoins
the office of the Secretary OF State on the
east and communicates with it. 1t has
been decided not to disturb the crepe which
was placed on the chair and desk used by
the late Secretary Hay. on the day of his
death, July i last. until the completion of
the thirty days period of mourning. usual
In such cases. That room will therefore
remain unoccupied and sacred to the men,
ory of Mr.. John Hay until the lst of next
month.
The Ceremony.
At 10 o'clock Mr.. Root formally oual-
fed as Secretary of State The oath of Of
flee was administered by Mr. William Nc
Neir, assistant librarian Of the Department
or State, who Is a notary public There
was no special formality about the cere-
mony.
The oath of Office was the usual one pre-
ScrlDed by statute and In subscribing to II
Secretary Root solemnly swore that he
would support and defend the Constftu-
ton OF the United States against all enc
mics. foreign and domestic; that will bear
true faith and allegiance to the same. that
l take this obligation freely without anv
mental reservation or purpose of evasion:
and that l will well and faithfully discharge
the duties OF the office on which 1 am about
to enter So help me Cod
senator Charles Dick of Obfo x,,bo -.
pened to be in the building On official bust
ness, asked permission to witness the cere-
mony OF swearing in. He was accompanied
by his law partner, Mai BRYAN As soon
as the oath had been administered Senator
DICK stepped forward extending his hand
L want to be the first to congratulate
the new Secretary of State and 1 congratu-
late the country"
You are very kind" said the ,eu, cooro
tary. Are you here to represent the mill
tary? inquired Mr.. Root. with smile. and
everybody laughed at Senator Dick wbo-js
military general.
Among the other spectators of the cere-
mony were ex-Assistant Secretary of Nav
Frank w. Hackett. Solicitor W. L. Penfield
Frivate secretary Babcock of The Secretar ry
OF states office. and newspaper men. One
or the latter remarked:
Il want to have the n!eas,re oe cao,,.
you sworn in as President in 1900" Where
upon Mr.. Root waved his hand deprecating-
ly.
was hCSCSSdTy IOT me TO take the n
WITHIN thirty days after my appointment was
announced. This was the most convenient
time Tor 1t, remarked the Secretary at
VIII acquaint myself with some of the do
taiis or the office, to be able to answer a
number of questions that are being a sked of
me. l intend to follow the rule of Secretarv
hay, and not come to office in the after
noonS.'' ~
Will Leave Tomorrow.
Secretary Root received the conprat,,la
tions of his friends in his usual erac,ors
manner and in answer to INQUIRIES as IN
MS plans said that he would remain In this
city until tomorrow morning, when he
would go to New York to close I'D certain
business arrangements necessitated by his
assumption of the duties of the federal Of
nce He remarked that he felt in need OF
a a. tSoa.ioIl N On aItef ms strenuous years work
IN New York, and there was nothing Of
pressing Importance now pending hasora
the department of State. and as nrs cticaI IIr
al the members of the diplomatic corns
were away from Washington he felt that
the present was the very best time for III,
10 take vacation, and he therefore mr.
posed TO do So He said, however. thai be
wouid Keep IN touch with the State De-
pdItment. ana II anything of Importance
occurred he would be prepared to ret,,r =.
TINS city at a days notice ~
secretary Root will probably arrange m
% pe at oyster pay about the 1st of August
no
the peace plenipotentiaries of Russia anS
Japan. and will return to Washington ahon,
.he ISL or September. fully prepared 70 on.
ter upon the active discharge of the dntias
OF his new office ~ uu'ieS
secretary Roots first act was To ap,o,,..
the retention of E. ]. Babcock as nr;,.at -
secretary. The latter was appointed origi-
hany by Secretary John Sherman. and ra-
NAMED under Secretaries Day and Hay
secretary Root at once undertook. with tSa
assistance of Private Secretary Rahcocr
10 dispose of mass of private corresnond,
ence, mostly personal letters of congratuIa-
tlon, which had accumulated at the denart-
meht since the announcement of his ap-
pointment. 1t is not likely that there vii,
De any changes in the personnel of the Sec
rretarys immediate assistants, at anv rate
for the present, and the indications are that
Private Secretary Babcock and Messenger
savoy will continue to serve in their pres
ent capacities for an indefinite time to come
Mr. K. Takahira, the Japanese minister
who is one of the few members of the din
lomatic corps still in Washington. called at
the State Department about II o'clock and
paid his respects to the new Secretary of
State, with whom he is well acquainted
There were many other callers during the
afternoon, among them being Mr. E. Have
NTH, charge of the Belgian legation