ty rather
than questions of right and justice. His greatest opportunity for
constructive statesmanship was offered in the making of the New
York State constitution. But when it became known that Mr. Root had
dominated the Constitutional Convention, that the proposed
constitution was Mr. Root's constitution, that was enough; the
voters rejected it in the referendum.

Distrust spoiled the mission to Russia during the war. The Russians
distrusted him while he was with them. President Wilson distrusted
his report when he returned. And Mr. Wilson's successor equally
distrusted him when he chose a man to finish the work which Mr.
Wilson had badly done or to correct the work that Mr. Wilson had
left undone at Paris.

Light on President Harding's attitude toward Mr. Root is thrown by
an incident at Marion during the campaign. The Republican candidate
had made his speech of August 28th in which he indicated his views
upon the League of Nations. Two days later a newspaper arrived in
Marion containing a dispatch from abroad where Mr. Root then was,
at work upon the international court.

The correspondent represented Mr. Root as "amazed" at the position
Mr. Harding had taken.

The candidate came to the headquarters early that morning. One of
the headquarters attaches handed him a copy of the paper. Mr.
Harding read the dispatch and was angry.

"That man Root," he exclaimed, "has done more harm to the
Republican party than any other man in it! He is always pursuing
some end of his own or of some outside interest." He started away;
then turned back, still angry, and added: "You remember the Panama
Canal tolls incident. That was an example of the kind of trouble he
has always been making for the party."

Many reasons have been given why the President passed over the
obvious man for Secretary of State. Mr. Root himself, who would
have taken the place gladly as an opportunity for his extremely
keen intelligence, but who did not seek it, thinks that the Senate,
flushed with its recent victory over Mr. Wilson and desiring itself
to dominate foreign relations, conspired to prevent his choice. The
Senators did oppose Mr. Root, but their lack of influence with the
President has been sufficiently exposed by events.

The real obstacle to Mr. Root's appointment was Mr. Harding's
distrust of him, the instinctive feeling of a simple direct nature
against a mind too quick, too clever, too adroit, too invisible in
many of its operations.