Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-01
ROOTS DENUNCIATION OF BOSSES
An Epoch Marking Speech That May Make Him President,
Though 1t Was Intended as the Moral Plea of
Man Whose Work is Done
By GEORGE W. DOUGLAS

praise is even higher for he said that Root
was the ablest man he had known in the
Government service and the greatest man
that has appeared in the public life of any
country in any position on either side of
the ocean in his time.
The career of the man is familiar. When
he was elected a delegate to the Constitu-
tional Convention, now in session, it was ad-
mitted before the convention assembled that
he would be it's president He stood so far
above every one else that there was no
competition. What his fellow lawyers think
of him was indicated when the American
Bar Association at it's recent meeting chose
him as its president while he was absent at
tending to his duties in Albany.
His father. who was professor Of mathe-
MATES in Hamilton College, wanted him to
become teacher, and young Root did teach
one year in the Rome Academy; but he pre-
ferred the law. When he was admitted to
the bar he started to practice in New York
city. He was one of the associate counsel
in the defense of William NJ Tweed and
suffered in reputation because of the ingeni-
Gus skill which he showed in the conduct
of his part of the case He then associated
himself with the reform wing of the Repub-
lican party-he was a Republican while hold
ing retainer from Tweed-and Interested
himself in local politics. Twelve years after
he was admitted to the bar he was the Re-
publican candidate for Judge of the Court of
Common Pleas; but, Of course, was defeated
In Democratic city. This is the only elect
i've office for which he ever ran, if we ex-
cept his candidacy as delegate to two Con-
stitutional Conventions. His law business
dealt largely with great corporations, and
har Lad 1T
didate for that reason. But his close con-
nection with great business enterprises ac-
custOmed him to dealing with large affairs.
He Reorganized the Army
When he succeeded Russell A. AIger as
Secretary of War he found the War Depart
ment managed in an unbusiness-like way and
the army suffering from dry rot Under his
administration the army was reorganized.
the general STAFF was created and a law was
passed increasing the efficiency of the militia
He drew the plans for the Government OF
cuba and for the management OF the Phil
ippines. On his retirement from the Cabinet
the foundations were laid for the expansion
or the army into an efficient weapon OF ma
tional defense.
He was the natural successor Of John IJsv
in the state Department, and after an in
terVal inthe practice OF the law he took up
the work Of that distinguished statesman
and conducted II with such skill that he won
international reputation. He made a tour of
south America for the purpose OF cultlvating
more friendly relations with the nations
there and he began that policy OF intimacy
which has been continued to this day. The
Nobel peace prize was awarded 10 him for
ms work In behalf Of peace, and his dlstinc-
ton had become so great that New York
elected him to the Senate And, as already
indicated, he stepped from the Senate into
the chair Of the presiding ofhcer Of the con-
vention which is revising the New York
Constitution.
To return TO the Albany speech, from
winch we started, its intense moral earnest
ness ana It's high patriotism distinguished IL
from every other speech thus far made In
that convention. II produced a thrill I'm the
hearts of its hearers. who, doubtless. while
they respected the hope uttered In the clos
ing sentences, hope to go back 10 his
birthplace In permanent retirement regis
tered vow that they would do their utmost
TO prevent that hope from being fulnlied for
the present.