The state herald., 1898-12-02
SANTIAGO's POOH-BAH
GENERAL WOODS ADAPTIVE
NESS.
The Eniclent Governor 1, Always Alert
and vigorous-Hs Sees Everything and
Corrects Many Evils

anu NiEOfOus-he sees ESerytnInR anu
Corrects Many Evils
When Colonel freddy" Roosevelt is
sworn in at Albany the rough riders
will have given two governors to the
uation, for General Leonard Wood is
the military governor of Santiago de
Cuba. The rough rider governor of
New York will have to set u pretty hot
pace when he begins his gubernatOrial
career IL he would run in the same
class with the rough rider governor of
Santiago, for General Wood not only Is
making history but n record beyond the
most sanguine hopes of his warmcst
admirers. 1t Is striking coincidence
that the colonel of the rough riders
should be appointed governor of Santia-
go 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-
lieve that the sequence of events
placed both men where they are sole
ly by the operation of the law of the
selection of the tittest.
1t would take IL long and weary
search to find two men more unlike
, than Governor Wood and Governor
elect Roosevelt. Roosevelt Is all fire,
demonstrative enthusiasm, explosive
energy, visible aggressiveness, leading
up to pyrotechnical finishes. Wood Is
like hydraulic press which accom-
plishes large results quietly and unos-
tentatiously by the exercise of tre-
mendous and unnoticeable energy,
which is all the more effective because
1t Is noiselcss, constant and under
perfect control. And, like that same
hydraulic press, Governor Wood is self
contained. imperturbable and solidly
constructed.
The whole army knows all about
General Woods physical prowess, his
skill as n boxer. his reputation as m
nll-around athlete. But II remained
for the 'aftcr-surrender" days of san
;iagO to develop the fact That as IN cN-
executive official dilomat, evcn-tem'
pered judge and adroit handler of men
Governor Wood has few equals.
l asked General Wood about five
minutes after he had taken his seat nj
the desk formerly used by the Spanisl,
governor general what he would dc
trst.
"Clean out about 200 years of dirt =
he replied.
That very hour the first gang of Gu
bans was put 10 work on the streets
The first week of his administrator
Governor Wood was in the saddle eigh
teen hours day. lie personally
inspected every foot of every street al
ley, court and lane in old Santiago. ii,
made house to house canvass, exam
lining interior courts, rooms and liall
ways. and before the Spaniards nn'
Cubans of the city knew what had hap
pened they Were whitcwnshiiig thei
houses. digging dirt out of their courts
sweeping their halls. cleaning thei
rooms and obediently and dutifully I'LL
ing barrels with refuse. which was So
nut every morning on the curbs OF tn
narrow sidewalks for the carts ans
auartermasters' wagons which patrolle'
the town.
The citizens did this unusual, thi
unprecedented. kind Of work not undc
orders of Governor Wood. but becaus
the alcalde-the mayor of Santiago
had issued the instructions. Goycrno
Wood, with that diplomatic Graf
which has enabled him 10 admlnistc
the municipal affairs without friction
never put his name under an ordei
ordinance or official proclamation In th
EARLIER days OF the American occupi
ilon of Santiago. All such papers wer
signed by the mayor Of the city, b,
they were written In General Wood
Office and carried across the hall Ia III
mayors office.
The military governor OF saniine
was a veritablc Pooh-Bab: he wa
mayor, corporation counsel. conmi
sioncr of public works, superintendent
OF police, commissioner OF health, q
inspector. inspector OF weights an
measures, port physician. harbor ma
ter, superintendent Of street and nllt
cleaning, gas Inspector. city aitorne
city collector, city treasurer. city cler
chief janitor Of the city hall, desk Sc
reant Of the central station ana poli'
magistrate. In this continuous M
nlcipal performance General Wo,
played nil parts without leaving Il
stage, sometimes acting two or mo
roles Mt once.