The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1937-02-08
ELIHU ROOT

Few in national history have made
outstanding record of public service than Elihl
Root whose passing at the age of 80, was recorded
the week Reaching the virtual peak
in the profession of law Root had the true stature
of statesman and served on scores of missions TO;
his countryfas well as serving twice in the Cabinet
once as Secretary of War under President Mckinley
again as Secretary of State for President Theodore
Roosevelt, and MEMBER of the United State
Senate.
His first contact with public service was in 1873;
when President Arthur named him federal distric
attorney for southern New York This post he helo
years with credit before he turned back to four
teen years OF civil practice which him reputa-
ton master of his profession.
His appointment by President Mckinley to heat
the war department in 1899 was momentous even
for the army for Root destined to become tht
author of the general staff law which put control
operations of the American army in the hands o.
combat officers
BY 1908 Roots work with the army nearly
completed, and another vexing problem the Alaska
boundary dispute with Canada turned tt
him. His powers of negotiation secured quick set
Element so that February /, 1904 he felt fire.,
to resign and return to New York law practice.
Just eighteen months later Secretary John Ha,
dead and President Roosevelt brought Root bacl
to Washington head of the state department. vsr
quickly became the CHIEF figure in the Roosevelt
cabinet
Root took hold at the bottom. as usual. He begaf
a thorough Reorganization of the American consula
and diplomatic services designed free them of til,
menace of political appointments. What he planned
was not to reach its full scope until many years late
in the administration of Secretary Charles Evan,
Hughes but the ground work was laid by Root.
Mr. Root left the state department January 81
1909 and six weeks took his in the Senate
He to under trying conditions. The insur,
gent revolt running strong, and old friends wer
joining the movement away from the titular Re-
publican leaders. But Root stayed regular" ever
after the detection of Roosevelt his former Whit.
House chief. and lived to the party reunited.
AS a private citizen he played a conspicuous rol,
in the world urging support of the war measure;
of President Wilson, without regard to partisan con-
siderations. 1t Root that Wilson turned whel
he came to grips with the Kerensky Russian problem
This a delicate task because Japan must neces.
sarily look with concern American gestures toware
Russia but Root saw to it that there franz
understanding of American purposes in Tokyo o.
his return he made report which became the bas
of Wilson's Russian policy.
In the League of Nations controversy nearly al
factions of the senate in private communication
with Root and he gave freely of his advice toware
a compromise which would contribute to the idea
of international peace to which he had devoted tn,
best years of his life.
The services of Mr.. Root were sought in create
variety of public and semi-public activities thai
those of possibly any other statesman of hi
time. He was for example, constant call by tbs
Republican organization in New York and tenn
porary and permanent chairman of seven of its stat
conventions between 1908 and 1922.
He was delegate to several national conventions
and besides the memorable gathering of 1912, wa
temporary chairman and "keynoter" of the 100.
assembly.
He was American counsel in the North American
Fisheries Arbitration of 1910. He president in 191
of an arbitration tribunal involving interests of Grea
Britain France, Spain and Portugal in church pro
perty fnt
Societies and organizations devoted to the art
and sciences education the legal profession and pro
paganda for peace always asking him for time
money and effort and he gave freely of all three
He was president at various times of the American
Bar Association the Carnegie Endowment for Inter
national Peace the American Society of Internatona
Law, The National Security League and the bar asso
Citations of the State and of the city of New York.
Honors TO him from North and South Am
erica and from Europe. He received docorates from
dozen American colleges and universities, from
oxford University England Toronto and McGill il
CANADA; lne university OF LeyueH III 0eIildiy ult
university of Paris the university of Buenos Aires ane
the university of Lima, Peru
Decorations were bestowed by Belgium and Greece
He was honorary president of the anAmerican con-
ference at Rio de Janero in 1906 honorary
member of the Institute of Advocates OF Brazil ano
of the Mexican Academy of Legislation and Juris-
prudence.
In 1912 he was awarded the Nobel prize in 1924
the Theodore Roosevelt Medal for ADMINISTRATION OF