The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-08
GOVERNOR OF SANTIAGO.
GOOD ORDER AND CLEANLINESS
ARE GEN. WOODS HOBBIES.

ARE GEN. WOODS HOBBIES.
He Deals SternIy With EViIdOers,
But Gives Patient Attention to All
Who Wish 10 See Him-NObOdy
VIII BE Permitted to Stir Up
strife in the Town He Is Govern
ing.
From the New York Sun.
Santiago July 2S.-One OF the most popu-
lar men in the Fifth Army Corps now in
Cuba is Gen. Leonard Wood, military gov
ernor Of Santiago. His predecessor, Gen.
McKibben, who retired on account of sick
ness, was a gallant soldier but he had
quick temper and not overmuch tact. The
army thought that his appointment 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 Judgment 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 emblem of rank, but no one ever
took him for a private or a subordinate
officer Everybody who came in contact
with him was charmed with mis- 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 Fifth Volunteer
Cavalry; and they were all Of kind-5hat
he was observant of the little things when
went to cllnch victory, and which other
men in their excitement forgot.
Take cover" he said to one reckless
fellow, "theren be other battles to fight"
and TO another:
what in the world are you doing with
that hatchet? Throw it away and pump
your fire into them"
And again: stop that loud talking on the
left. Give all your attention to the enc
my"
on historic July / Wood commanded
cavalry brigade in the absence of Gen.
Young, who was sick man, and the ex-
army physician proved himself more than
competent TO wear his new honors The
army recognized in him the born soldier,
and there was not the least tinge of Jeal-
ousy in the congratulations that flowed In
on him when he was promoted. Again, the
army thought well of his selection for mill
tary governor because he was a combina-
ton Of soldier and physician and had ex-
ecutive capacity of a high order.
After these rapid promotions IL would
not have been singular, regarding Wood
as an average man, if he had felt his i'm
portance and shown it in his face and
manner But Leonard Wood Is not an aV-
erage man, and no one could say or him
that he had the "sweled head" AS mill
tary ruler Of the city, in the governor
1. 81 Il md
Str, pes, he was The same Wood-piain,
STRAIGHTFORWARD, consderate, quick Of per-
ception but deliberate in speech genial
but strenuous. Amy 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 meats in a shabby restaurant much
frequented by soldiers. He dad not like be-
ing military governor and frankly said
so, but he performed the duties as If he
were in love with them.
order in public places and cleanliness in
the streets were his hobby. But he was
heavily handicapped as saniiarian. There
was no fund for paying laborers. The only
consideration for work in the streets which
lie could offer was government rations ana
when the Red Cross Society was relieving
distress with liberal hand provisions was
soon a drug in the labor market. But Coy.
Wood managed TO flush the streets and to
get rid Of some of the smells. To make
Santiago clean and sweet IN a day would
he. beyond the ingenuity and strength Of
Waring, however.
Woods drastic reforms were too much
for The people he had to deal with. He pro-
claimed for instance, that heads of fami-
lies and physicians not reporting deaths
should be put to work on the streets for
thirty days, and in the local Cuban street
he was stralghtWay denounced as a ty-
rant more intolerable than Weyler. But he
was right Collins containing decomposed
dead had been carried through the streets.
ana soldiers on post had fed down lanes,
struggling with nausea.
Finding the price Of bread 20 cents the
pound loaf he ordered, after due investiga-
lion. that it be reduced TO 20 cents. The
higher price was extortion, and IL could
not be allowed in a city where want was
etalking People came 70 Gov Wood with
an sorts Of complaints, regarding him as
a Solomon who had the power and the wis
dom TO settle all disputes and forgetting
that a civil government still existed But
il was not his business 70 compel the pay
ment Of debts assure to heirs their own,
and sit as a judge IN equity. widows some
times came 10 him charging that tenants
refused TO pay rent or quit, and II the
charge was proved before the civil author
tiles Cen Wood was ready TO GUST the
wicked tenant.
Cuban editor landed with his satellite,
well-dressed, sleek and cocky parsonage,
and he informed Gen. Wood that he had
come to establish political paper in San
tiago.
mot while am Governor" said the
general.
what DO you mean to tell me that /