Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-12
Peacemaker of Cabinet

! with one of the great legal minds of the
| generation, but he was tmpervious to
the itching for public Office which
affects so many young lawyers.
There is a Washington legend associ-
ated with StimSon's first appointment,
perhaps apochryphal, but worth the tell
ing. Stimson had gone 20 Washington
on business, but as usual had found time
for his daily canter on horseback. One
day President Roosevelt and Elihu Root
were riding through Rock Greek Park.
Roosevelt was looking for a vigorous
United States attorney for the New
York district. He conf1ded his predica-
ment to Root and asked his advice. At
the moment a solitary horseman was
approaching on the other side Of Rock
Creek
"There's the man for you now" cried
Root.
who is he?" asked Roosevelt.
Henry Stimson; I'll call him over"
Pleased Roosevelt.
Root hailed his friend. Stimson turned
his horse, slipped down the steep bank
and into the waters of the creek. Half
way across his horse stepped on
With admirable GOODNESS and superb
Workmanship, Stinson drew his mount
up, galloped up the steep bank and
came to stop before the others.
"Bravo!" cried Roosevelt, and the APP
pointment was made on the spot, with
out further discussion of StimSon's quail
if1cations. Stimson accepted, and Roose-
welt never had occasion to regret his
impulsive decision. It fell to Stimson
to carry out some of Roosevelt's trust
busting" policies, including prosecution
throughout his service Stimson proved
his absolute independence Of the
wealthy clients his firm long had rep
resented.
On the reputation then established,
Stimson became the Republican candi-
date for Governor of New York in 1910.
1t was bad year for Republicans, with
the Taft administration already on the
rocks. John A. Dix, the Democratic
candidate, was not superman, but any
Democrat could have carried New York
In that year. AS a consolation for his
gallant but losing fight, StimSon was
offered a place as Secretary of War in
the Taft cabinet.
There he formed an acquaintance
which was to prove of considerable sig
nif1cance in the years just ahead
Leonard Wood was chief of staff, and
he and Stimson were agreed on the
utter unpreparednesS of America for
any military adventure. There was lit
tie time to accomplish anything. The
Democrats were in control of Congress;
Taft knew his days were numbered.
When Stimson went out of ONCE in
1913 the war clouds had not gathered
over Europe.
Saw Americas Needs
Out of his War Department expert
ence, however, Henry Stimson gained
some vivid ideas as to Americas needs.
When Roosevelt and Leonard Wood
launched the preparedness movement in
1915 they found an able and enthusi-
aStic lieutenant in Stimson. Already
well past the military age limit Of IS,
Stimson was eager to impress the
younger men of the land, and he en-
rolled as a student at Plattsburg. With
that training, he was ready when the
call came in April, 1917, and he was
one Of the first to enlist.
The War Department viewed this
man Of SO as an admirable desk execu-
tive; it made him a major judge
advocate. But Stimson had no urge
for the comforts of Washington. He
demanded active service. and the War
Department, reluctant to give up his
legal talents, finally had to yield. He
was trained for the field artillery, and
he found his goal as colonel of the
305th Regiment Of the National Army,
with which he served so CALAMITY that
both France and Belgium conferred
decorations upon him.
Politics Lose Attraction.
Politics. meanwhile, had lost their at
traction for Stimson. He had not en-
joyed the 1912 campaign, when his two
friends, Taft and Roosevelt, had OPP
posed each other so bitterly. His heart
was perhaps with the pugnacious colo
nel but his head was with the con-
sentative principles of Taft, and his
loyalty was for the man who had
brought him into the cabinet. He was
glad when his service ended in 1918
and he could get back to his law prac-
tice. In the years between that time
and the call from Coolidge in 1927 he
had just one political venture-his serv-
y