434 FAMOUS LIVING AMERICANS was placed in the Philippines, and the rebellion was put down after hard campaigning and considerable loss of life* Mr. Boot's greatest achievement in connection with the Philippines, however, was providing a form of government for the islands. When it became necessary to promulgate a plan of government, he was ready. His famous ** Instruc- tions ' ' to the Philippine ConMnission, says one writer, in real- ity comprised a constitution, a judicial code, and a system of law and statutes. So perfect were they that Congress adopted them in their entirety. What the ultimate outcome of the
- * expansion ' ' policy may be no one knows ; but certain it is
that our unexpected and quite unpremeditated possession of the Philippines has proved a blessing to those far-off islands. That the Philippine question, puzzling and troublesome though it is, has been handled so successfully thus far, is in very large measure due to the wisdom and foresight of Secretary Boot In 1903 Mr. Boot was a member of the joint commission to settle the dispute between Canada and the United States con- cerning the boundary between Canada and Alaska. This question had been pending for some time, and in 1898 a joint high commission to adjust various questions at issue between the United States and Canada had been disrupted by disagree- ment over this very question of the Alaskan boundary. This new conmiission, made up of eminent American and British jurists, met in London, and rendered a decision in favor of the United States. In the negotiations Mr. Boot was an earnest advocate of the claims of the United States, and it is hardly too much to say that it was chiefly due to him that a decision favorable to this country was secured. In August, 1903, Mr. Boot resigned his position as Secretary of War, the resignation to take effect January 1, 1904. On the last-named date he retired once more from public life, and resumed his private practice. He was allowed to continue it, however, only a little more than a year. On the death of John Hay, Secretary of State, President Boosevelt sent for Boot and informed him that he had been selected as Hay's succes- sor. It is said that during the interview not a word was said by either concerning politics or money matters. No condi- n
