East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1921-09-29

Give lydia e FinlIbam'e Vegetaole
Compound fair trial
opinion was aroused as a result OF the
weakness disclosed during the war
with Spain.
One OF his first acts was to put
Leonard Wood in charge Of pacifying
Cuba. He then organized g volunteer
army and pacified the Philippines. af-
ter. which he personally drew up a
system of government to take the
place OF the military autocracy which
had prevailed since the cession from
Spain. The system of government
which Root drew up was complete In
every particular even to the establish
ment of a school system.
These things accomplished. he
turned his attention to affairs at
home. reorganized the War Depart
ment and created General Staff
While he was thus engaged John
Hay, Secretary Of State, fell i'll. So
great was McKinleys confidence in
his War Secretary that he entrusted to
Root much of Hays work so that for
time Root was, practically speaking,
both Secretary OF War and state.
The Boxer uprising in China came
along during Hays Illness, and Root
| handled it in the same efficient man
ner that he did anything else.
When Roosevelt succeeded McKin-
ley after the assassination at Buffalo.
Root handed in his resignation, desir-
| ing to retire. he said, In order to
Augment his small financial ro-
sources" He and Roosevelt were close
personal friends, and when, a year
later Roosevelt asked him to accept
| the Secretaryship of State left vacant
by Hays death. he did so.
He cleaned house in the State De-
partment in much the same manner he
had in the War Department, COM
pletely reorganizing, among other
| things, the consular service.
Elihu Root is generally credited
| with inaugurating american
ism,' or the policy of closer and
more friendly understanding between
the Americas, North and South. He
| labored necessarily toward this goal
during his long service in two Cabi-
nets.
| Perhaps the best remembered act of
Root as Secretary of State was his
| negotiation of the "gentleman's agree
ment" with Japan, by which Japan
agreed TO restrict her flow Of coolies
into the United States.
It was at Roots instigBtion that
President Roosevelt sent the fleet
! around the world on its memorable
| trip Admiral Bob" Evans expressed
himself on that famous Journey as
ready for a fight or froiic.' and the
result was a substantial betterment in
| Americas foreign relations.
Root retired from the State Depart
ment few weeks before Roosevelt
was succeeded by Taft and took his
seat in the United States Senate.
There his great abilities were i'm
mediately recognized, and he soon beg
came the administration lender. He
retired from the Senate in 1915,
He was staunch advocate Of pre-
paredness before the United states en-
| tered the war. Since his retirement
from the Senate, Root has led COM
paratively quiet life-for him.
At the- earnest solicitation Of Presi-
dent Wilson he consented to head the
extraordinary mission to Europe dur
ing the revolution of 1917 his last
governmental undertaking.
Elihu Roots fame is not confined
to his own country. Foreign statesmen
and critics have chorused his praises.
viscount Bryce, author OF 1.-THE Amer
lean Commonwealth" once character
lied him as "the greatest Secretary of
State America ever had" Sir Cecil
Spring Rice, former British Ambassa-
dor, said that ''as a diplomatist Root
has no peer" Lord Manley said he
was "thc ablest mani ever met"
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