Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1898-08-12
Good Order and Cleanliness Are
General Woods Hobbies.
DEALS sTERNLY WITH HVILDoERs.


Of Santiago. His predecessor, General
McKibben, who retired on account of
sickness, was gallant soldier, but he
had quick temper and not overmuch
tact. The army thought that his ap-
pointment was hardly the best that
could have been made. But it applauded
the selection of Wood. He had made a
fine record for bravery and sound judg-
ment during the war. Everybody knew
that broad, cool, kindly face and that
sturdy figure with the plain gray shirt
and riding breeches. Wood wore no en-
blem of rank, but no one ever took him
| for private or subordinate officer.
Everybody who came in contact with
him was charmed with his simplicity
of manner, the shrewdness and fairness
of his remarks, and his uniform unpre-
tentious politeness. There were many
stories Of his steadiness at Guasimas,
where he commanded the First volun-
teer cavalry, and they were all Of a
kind-that he was observant Of the lit
tie things which went to clinch victory
| and which other men in their excite
ment forgot "~--~.
"Take cover, he said to one reckless
fellow, "there'll be other battles to
fight" and to another:
"What in the world are you doing
with that Ratchet? Throw it away and
pump your fire into them"
And again: "Stop that loud talking
on the left. Give all your attention to
the enemy
On historic July Wood command
ed cavalry brigade in the absence of
General Young, who was a sick man,
and the ex-army physician proved him
self more than competent to wear his
new honors The army recognized in
him the born soldier, and there was not
the least tinge Of jealousy in the con-
gratulations that flowed in on him
when he was promoted. Again, the
army thought we'll Of his selection for
military governor, because ahe was a
combination of soldier and physician
and had executive capacity of high
order.
After these rapid promotions it would
not have been singular, regarding Wood
as an average man, if he had felt his
Importance and shown it in his face and
~snanner. But Leonard Wood is not an
average man, and no one could say OF
him that he had the ''swelled head"
As military ruler Of the city, in the
governors palace, over which foated
the stars and stripes, he was the same
Wood-plain, straightforward, consid-
crate, quick of perception, but deliber-
ate in speech, genial but strenuous.
Any one could see him; he listened to
everybody. He worked hard, early and
late, and listened patiently to all sorts
of appeals and complaints. The gray
shirt was still in evidence and often he
ate his meals in shabby restaurant
much freqaented by soldiers. He did
not like being military governor and
frankly said so, but he performed the
duties as if he we're in love with them.
Order in public places and cleanli-
ness in the streets were his hobby. But
he was heavily handicapped as sani-
tartan. There was no fund for paying
laborers. The only consideration for
work in the streets which he could
offer was government rations, and when
the Red Cross society was relieving dis
tress with q liberal hand provisions
were soon a drug in the labor market.
But Governor Wood managed to flush
! the streets and to get rid Of some of'the
| smells. To make Santiago clean and
sweet in day would be beyond the in
genuity and strength Of Waring, how
ever.
Woods drastic reforms were too
much for the people he had to deal
| with. He proclaimed, for instance, that
heads Of families and physicians not
reporting deaths should be put to work
on the streets for 80 days, and in the
local Cuban street he was straightway
! denounced as tyrant more intolerable
than Weyler: But he was right. COT
| fins containing decomposed dead had
been carried through the streets, and
! soldiers on post had fled down lanes,
struggling with nausea.
Finding the price Of bread so cents
. the pound loaf, he ordered, after due
| 4uN09t1&0G4VAS V40O; ~ w 10NtA0A ~ ~
cents. The higher price was extortion,
| and it could not be allowed IN q city
where want was stalking. People came
! to Governor Wood with all sorts Of
! complaints, regarding him as Solo
mon who had the power and the wis
! dom to settle all disputes and forgetting
that a civil government still existed.
But it was not his business to compel
the payment Of debts, assure to heirs
!. their own and sit as q Judge in equity.
I Widows sometimes came to him charg.
! ing that tenants refused to pay rent Q,
quit, and if the charge was proved be:
fore the civil authorities General Wood
was ready to GUST the wicked tenant. &
IT, "a Cuban editor landed with his sat:
| elite, q we'll dressed, sleek and cocky
parsonage, and he informed General
Wood that he had come to establis 81
,olitical paper in Santiago .
!. ct while I am governor, s said the
eral. ..s s.t
What Do you mean 70 tell me thai
not start q newspaper now TN
ans are il possession? gaspet
or.