Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1907-09-25
THE DISAPPOINTMENT or ROOT

I, has often been saii that rcpu5- lies are ungratcful We do not h. lieve this is true. w. think this ob scrvation arises more from the appear ance of ingrati,udc ,ban from that un beautiful trait itself We believe tha, the people of inc United states stand ready to reward faithful service upon the part of public men.
 Sometimes, to be sure. the people are mislead. Sub,l" appeals are made to their passions and prejudices, ob- vuring their view and clouding their perceptions. Then. too, frequently. they humliatc men who have s,riven long and courageously To serve them honestly.
 But generally speaking. the failure of public official to gain coveted advancement or retention in govern. mental service k due to ,ae shrewd maehinations of politicians who work aither from the inspirations of re- venge or expodiency.
 Other men who are deserving of the guerdon of their fellow citizens ap. proyal, fall victims to circumstances for which they ar" m no sense rc. sponsiblc, and over which they have no control.
 In th,s class Henry Clay stood a, great cxcmplar of thc truth ", have just stated. Among ,hc victims of skillfully manipulated popular preju dice and passion, James C. Blaine - name stands ont n large letters.
 And now we have another illustr ous name to adorn our text that of Elihu Root, secretary e' state. who has yosrncd for the presidency as ard cnty as did Clay and Blaine, and who has served his countrymcn as well as they did. Root lost the presidency once by reason of the application of the rules or eNpedicncy. He lost it a second time because circumstances over which he mad no control, rend cred him unfit as n candidate.
 Today this great man and wise statesman, sick and tired from over work, is approaching the close of his public career, rich in triumphs of ac complishment- triumphs which, in view of his great disappointment, are hut as the ashes of his hope.
 When Root entered Mckinley 's first cabinet as secretary of war, hc as president. It was McKinley's de. sire that he should and he was slated for the vice presidency as stepping stone. Al the Philadelphia convention 1t developed that the politicians de- manded Theodore Roosevelt the friend of Root for many years. Root had delivered the speech nominating Roosevelt for his first public office. Rowing to the party's ''expedi. oncy,' Root stepped aside for Roose volt, who was elected, Then followed McKinley's assassination, and Roosc. volt became president That is how Roo: missed his aim the first time.
 In 1901, in response to his wifc's opportunities, Root retired from ,hc cabinet, ana opened his New York law offices to Il clientage worth at least t250,Oo0 per year.
 Roosevelt was reelected. Then the brilliant John Hay, who had also known disappointment, went to his TO. ward.
 Roosevelt called for Root to serve ns secretary of state, He pointed out that the opportunity to become presi' dent was at last at hand.
 Despite his wife's advice 10 tho contrary, yielding to his great ambi. 'ion, Root abandoned his law practice, i re.cntcrcd public life. Roosevelt wanted him to be president. He was hfst rhoirr. An looked fair