Evening star., 1937-02-08
HIGH TRIBUTE PAID
TO EL|HU ROOT
Leaders in All Walks of Life
Laud Career Of Late
=
F., Statesman.
y the Associated Press.


man and diplomat.
Scores of the Nations prominent,
mourning his death yesterday at 81,
hailed him for his accomplishments
In many fields.
Simple funeral services will be held
tomorrow on the campus of his alma
mater, Hamilton College. at Clinton,
N. Y, where he was born and grew
to manhood. Burial will be at Clin-
ton.
Death came early Sunday to the
man whose career carried him to in
ternational prominence in the cabi-
nets of William Mckinley and Theo-
dore Roosevelt and later during the
years following the World War.
He became i'll Of bronchial pneu-
tnonia several days ago.
With him at the end were his three
children, Elihu Root, jr.; Edward
Root and Mrs. U. S. Grant, Sd.
Messages Of Coincidence.
Messages of coincidence arrived from
persons in high station in the Nations
life who paid tribute to his wisdom
and intellect and expressed grief at
the passing of the last of the elder
statesmen"
He would have been 80 next Mon
day, having been born February Is,
1845. After graduating with honors
at Hamilton, where his father was a
professor, he received his law degree
in two years from New York Uni
versity.
AS Secretary Of War under President
Mckinley he reorganized the War
Department. setting up the Army War
College and the general staff system.
I'm my judgment" said Newton D.
Baker, Secretary of War in the Will
son cabinet, 'he did more for the
Army and national defense of the
country than any other man who ever
occupied that office (Secretary Of
War;"
Eulogized by Pershing.
Gen. John j. Pershing, in eulogy
delivered 10 years ago, credited Elihu
Root with making it possible for the
United States Army Ito do its part
1n the greatest war in history"
He referred to Roots achievements
in founding the Army War College and
creating the Army general staff when
he was Secretary of War under Presi-
dent Mckinley.
THE Spanish-American War had
found us wanting in plan and lacking
In preparation" said Pershing. 1T
did not take Mr.. Root long to decide
that then was the time to remedy our
defects, if We were to avert complete
disaster in greater crisis.
He pointed out we had been living
under an obsolete militia law more
than century old, which every Presi-
dent down to 1898 had declared to be
worthless. He told Congress that the
mandate of the Constitution which re-
quired that body to provide for or
ganizing armies had been left un-
executed.
Those of us who passed through
the World War;" Pershing said, can
not but look upon Mr.. Root as the
guiding genius who made possible
the service of our general staff in
that conflict. BY inaugurating the
War College IA years before the
World War, Mr.. Root made it posi-
bic to provide staff personnel un-
surpassed in any army"
Root became Secretary of State
In Theodore Roosevelt's cabinet and
concluded rs treaties with foreign
governments while holding that post.
In 1909 he was elected United
States Senator from New York and
served until 1915.
World Court Organizer.
Root was an organizer of the World
Court, served as delegate to the 1921
Washington Arms Conference, and
was a member of The Hague's Per-
111anent Court Of Arbitration.
) Col Edward M. House, whose ad-
vice helped shape many of the poll
cies of President Wilson, tremed Root |
. man of such extraordinary ability
and influence that, had he partici-
pated in the Paris Peace Conference,
the whole course of world history
might have been changed.
In 1929, when he was 81, Root |
!ourneyed to Geneva at the request
Of President Calvin Coolidge and
president-elect Herbert Hoover, to
United States could enter the World
Court. His mission was success,
but the Senate blocked adherence.
Former Gov. Alfred E. Smith called
Root a born leader Of men"
"As one of the leading American
statesmen" Secretary of State Hull
said, his fine influence toward peace
full international relationships was
felt throughout the world"
Gov. Herbert Lehman of New York
described his as 'one Of the wisest
and most intellectual men I have
ever known"
Bainbridge Colby, Secretary of State
under President Wilson, said: He
certainly ranked with the greatest of
Secretaries of State. think
his fame ultimately will rest chiefly
upon his labors in the cause of peace
and international justice"
Declared Apostle of Good Will"
Chief Justice Charles E. Hughes
once described Elihu Root as the
true apostle Of good will" whose work
tr the cause Of peace has enhanced
the prestige of the American name
more than arms or battle fleets"
Henry L. Stimson, Secretary of
State in the Hoover administration,
paid tribute to Root through use of
the distinguished statesman's own
words
AT this time the best tribute that
! can make to Mr.. Root is to recall
the words of the prayer with which
he opened the New York constitu-
kional convention on May S, 1915, when
the clergyman who was to speak had
Unexpectedly failed to come" said
Stimson.
!. He then said:
Almighty God, We pray to thee
10 guide our deliberations this day.
Make us humble. sincere. devoted to