The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-04-17
AGE and Craftsmanship.

Senator Elihu Root enjoys the rather unique
distinction of having lot of younger men con-
slider him available candidate for President
while he insists that he is too old for the job. At
the time Mr.. Root has taken up the strenu-
Gus work of directing the convention which is to
prepare or amended constitution for the
State of New York, and he is giving almost daily
evidence of physical and mental vigor, equalled,
by few of the younger men in public life. To his
mental alertness is added great experience in di-
recting government affairs, and helping to formu-
late government policies which successful
He directed the War Department when we had
war, and he handled our foreign relations when
there serious questions to be dealt with.
His term in the United States Senate was
marked with activity and ability, and he volun-
tarily retired when he reached the age of 70.
But why should either Mr. Root the Re-
publican party the voters generally, consider
that they are barred by the Psalmist's span Of
life? That span has been enlarged by modern
civilization and Mr.. Root is a conspicuous ex-
ample of that expansion. Old age has not set
its mark upon him in any way. He is young
man at 70 and he is doing the work that other
young men who have passed the seventeen mile
stone have done with the enthusiasm of youth.
The same question of age brought up against
Uncle Joe Cannon seven. years ago, when some
of his colleagues suggested him for President.
There was in the public mind fear that he
too DID, that he might not live through the term
But Uncle Joe is still alive and has demonstrate
ed that he can come back at the age OF -. And
there others. John Quincy Adams was elect
cd to the House OF Representatives after he
tired from the Presidency and served until he
died at the age OF 81. John Marshall delivered
some of his greatest opinions when he had passed
the age of Is; Ben Franklin was 81 when he be-
came member OF the convention which framed
the Constitution of the United States
Other countries have had old men with the
vigor and enthusiasm OF youth Gladstone was
three times Prime Minister Of England after he
passed the age of TO- and Lord Roberts was sent
TO South Africa to fight Dom Paul Kruger after
both had passed the seventeen milestone. Lord
Palmerston Prime Minister at the age OF 81,
and Disracli at the age OF 70. Emperor William
|, Bismarck and Won Motke were all past 20
when they defeated Napoleon H. and created tho
German Empire. In France, NJ. Grcvy was elect
cd President of the Republic at the age Of II and
reelected at the age OF 70. Crispi was Prime Min
lister OF Italy at the age OF = and Emperor Francis
Joseph OF Austria has passed his fourscorc years.
In art literature, science and philosophy many
men have done their best work after their seven
ticth birthday and there is every reason to expect
Mr.. Root to do some OF his most valuable work in
the future by helping TO restore sanity and sta
bility to government machinery, which has been
somewhat coCgcd with the exaggerated idea OF
lawmaking III response to hystcrcal demonstra-
ton and the demand for something new. Mr.. Root
has already begun this work OF conserving
representative government the greatest gift OF
the Anglo-Saxon race to the liberty OF the world.
There is reason why Mr. Roots friends should
be discouraged; he is OF the youngest men i'll
public life measured by his ability to do a mans
work in a responsible and manly way. Let them
continue to boom the great New York Senator
1t will have healthy effect on tho country
whether they win or lose.