The Monte Vista journal., 1898-12-03
SANTIAGO's POOH[-BAH
GENERAL WOODS ADAPTIVE
NESS.
The Enelsat Governor IL Always Alert
and vigoroas-Hs Secs Evsrysh,ng and
CoPseots Many Evils


When Colonel Teddy" Roosevelt Is
sworn In ut Albany the rough riders
will have given two governors 10 the
nation, for General Leonard Wood il
the military governor of Santiago de
Cuba. The rough rider governor OF
New York will have to set pretty hot
pace when he begins his gubernatorial
career II he would run in the same
class with the rough rider governor OF
Santiago. for General Wood not only IL
making history but Il record beyond tn.
most sanguine hopes OF his warmesi
admirers. 1t Is Il striking coincidence
that the colonel OF the rough riders
should be appointed governor Of Santa
20 and lieutenant colonel OF that com
mand be elected governor OF New York
In less than six months from the day
the rough riders were sworn into the
service Of the United States. but those
who know both men can readily be-
lleve that the sequence OF event.
placed both men where they are sole.
~ by the operation OF the Inv OF the
selection Of the tittest.
1t would take long and weary
search to find two men more unlike
than Governor Wood AMI Governor.
elect Roosevelt. Roosevelt is all fire
demonstrative enthusiasm. explosive
energy. visible aggresslveness. leading
up to pyrOtechnical finishes. Wood Ii
like hydraulic press which accom-.
plishes large results quietly and unos.
tentatio,isly by the exercise OF tire.
mendouS and unnotIceable energy
asked General Wood about tive
minutes after he had taken his seat a,
the desk formerly used by the Spanist
governor general what he would dc
tirst.
Clean out about 200 years Of dirt
he replied.
That very hour the first gang OF Gu.
tans was put to work on the streets
The hrst week Of his administration
Governor Wood was In the saddle eigh.
teen hOurH day. He personally
inspected every foot Of every street, al
ley. court and lane In old Santiago. He
made house to house canvass, exam.
lining Interior courts. rooms and hall.
ways, and before the Spaninris and
Cubans Of the city knew what had hap.
pened they were whitewashing their
houses. digging dirt out Of their courts,
sweeping their halls. cleaning their
rooms and Obedieutly and dutifully fill.
Ing barrels with refuse. which was sci
out every morning on the curbs Of the
narrow sidewalks for the carts and
quArterma masters' wagons which patrollcd
the town.
The citizens did this unusual, this
unprecedented. kind Of work not under
orders OF Governor Wood. but because
the alcalde-the mayor OF Santiago
had issued the instructions. Governor
Wood, with that diplomatic craft
which has enabled him 10 administer
the municipal Affairs without friction,
never put his name under an order,
ordinance or Official proclamation In the
earlier days of the American occupn.
tlon OF Santiago. All such papers were
signed by the mayor Of the city. hut
they were written In General WOOd's
office and carried across the hall to the
mayors once.
The military governor ~ Santiago
was q veritable PoOh-Bah: he was
mayer. corporation counsel. commits.
siOner Of public works. superintendent
Of police. commissioner Of health. oil
Inspector, inspector OF weights and
measures, port physician, harbor mas-
ter. superintendent OF street and alley
cleaning. gax Inspector. city attorney,
city collector. city treasurer. city clerk.
chief jnnitor Of the clty hull. desk ser.
gennt OF the central station and ISoiice
magistrate. In this continuous mu.
uicipal performance General Wood
played all parts without leaving the
stage. sometimes acting two or more
roles at once.