Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-14
GEN. WOOD As GUEST
Whippoorwill Club Gives Re
ception in His Honor.
VETERANS AS HOSTS
ADDRESSES BY MEMBERS OF G. A.
r. AND OTHERS.
Guest of Honor Responds and Receives
an Ovation-President Roose-
velt's Name Cheered.

miums were Showered upon the man who
did 50 much to bring out of chaos the ex-
cellent conditions which existed in Cuba
when the United States relinquished con-
troll of the island.
At the tables sat men who fought for
their country in former conflict; men who
could appreciate thoroughly the obstacles
General Wood had to overcome in a foreign
country. They were pleased to have him
with them; they were glad to extend the
right hand of fellowship. In short. th2y
recognized him as a warrior worthy Of their
confidence and good will.
The steamer Samuel J. Pentz Transported
the party to River View. leaving the wharf
at o'clock. The run down the river was
a pleasant one Mr.. B. H. Warner was the
POSTMASTER at the banquet, which was held
in the main dining room of the motel. The
dining room was decorated for the occasion
American and Cuban colorS were inter-
twined On the lapel of each member of
the club was badge. a rosette of small
silk Cuban flags, tied with knot of Amer
lean flags The guest of honor, Major Gen
eral Wood, the POSTMASTER, B. H. Warner,
and chief whippoorwill Major John Noel
roy, wore great rosettes of larger Cuban
flags, with long streamers of silk stars and
stripes. These souvenirs were the work Of
Mrs. Isabel Worrell Ball.
The Sons of Veterans were represented by
the national commander, Colonel Campbell:
national secretary. Mr.. Clay Collet, and
several others.
Letters of regret were read from Mr. Ell
hu Root, Secretary of War, who was I'm
avoidably absent from the city. having oeen
summoned to Oyster Bay by President
Roosevelt; Mr.. Moody, the Secretary of the
Navy; Mr. Ware, the pension commits
soner: General Crozier and Mr.. George l..
Dyer of the Spanish War Veterans, who
sent regrets at not being able to be pres
ent.
Tol TT
corted General Wood into the dining ROOM
where exercises under burlesque ritual of
the Whippoorwill Club were in charge of
Mr.. George r. CorSon and Major N. NJ
Brooks. At the right of the POSTMASTER sat
the guest of honor. Adjoining him on the
right were B. F. Bingham, commander Of
the Department of the Potomac, G. A. r.;
Mr.. Binger Herman, commissioner of the
general land office, and Captain Henry A.
Castle, auditor for the Post Office Depart
ment. To the left of Mr.. Warner sat Major
McElroy, Major Thomas s. Hopkins, Ma
jor George c. Ross and Major Corson.
Chairman Warmers Address.
Mr. Warner was felicitous in his remarks
in introducing General Wood He spoke of
the WhippoorwiI Club and it's purposes,
stating that it is composed of men who
fought for the preservation of the Union
during the civil war. He declared that 1t
was fitting that the men who compose the
club should be still standing by the gov
eminent and defending the soldiers who are
fighting to uphold the cOuntry's honor. Mr.
Warner said General Woods services to
Cuba as we'll as to the United States, must
be appreciated by every law-abiding citi-
zen. He referred to the friendship that had
existed SO long between General Wood and
President Roosevelt.
General Woods success is based not on
wealth. but worth" Mr. Warner said. "A
few years ago his career could not be an
Icir I'd ord no ~ hnn pTnS
dent of the United States was undreamed of
l point to these two careers as object les
sons of honorable, efficient and, l may
say to use a modern expression, strenuous
sort, to show that the Wanted spirit of
1T76' which survived in 1861, and was even
more apparent in 1898, has not been lost
They set a mark.
I'VE need not be ashamed to be counted
as imperialists, because such Imperialism is
representative of brains, of progress and Of
Americanism- combination, not of wealth
or power, but which seeks to make not
only our own republic, but the whole world
better. L predict that in four years more
we can say even better things than all his
OF the guest l now take pleasure of pre-
senting to you, General Wood"
Gen. Wood Given an Ovation.
Mr. Warmers words met with vigorous
applause on the part of the guests. Gen
eral Wood was accorded an ovation when
he arose to reply. In part he said
Veterans of the Grand Army l am not
given to public speaking. but take pleas
ure in speaking especially to you veterans
of 1861 who saved the country. If you had
not done so, L doubt If we would have had
the chance to do anything. | appreciate
this reception because 1t comes from mer
who risked all they had for what they
thought to be right, and what was right
There was no better example of good, clean
work than yours in that struggle.
n small lint
IL was one in which good features were to
be found, and lessons learned There Is
nothing that l can tell you about war that
you do not know ten times, or one hundred
times, better, but you may be interested in
knowing something about Cuba.
Under the Spanish regime there was
never public school nor a hospital. The
death rate was appalling, and conditions
were worse than the average Imagination
could we'll picture Soldiers dropped their
arms to go in there for civic Improvement
Young men of a years service in the army
were put in charge of reforms, of work
new to them. They did that work success
fully. / think. They did 1t honestly-not
only for the Cubans, but to do a good work
for their country.
We were representing not ourselves but
the good faith of the United States, so
that we could look back on a just, decent
and favorable outcome. We dealt with dis
orderly people as they ought to be dealt
with, and they usually ceased to be disor-
derby.
In three years there were no officers
tried. no charges preferred. no complaint
received of maltreatment by any officer or
enlisted man of the army, of any woman in
the island. Never dollar was charged as
lost through an officer or soldier. They
stuck to their work, did 1t honorably. in
the most satisfactory manner. Such work
was possible because of loyal honest and
constant support of those high in authority
by all those serving In any capacity under
them.
Hard Months Experienced.
THE last six months of the American oc
cupation were hard months. The people
were looking with hopefulness toward reci
procity. Trade was dead in the meantime
Otherwise there would have been $500 600 adj
ditional for them in the island treasury
The situation there today is one of
anxiety. and they are worried and upcer
tain about the future. II you pull OUT a
drowning man from the water, and he
needs drink of whisky to keep him going
1t is well to give him the whisky. l leave
the rest to your imagination"
Gen. Wood referred to the Philippines and
the charges of cruelty against the army
there.
IF they put stain upon the flag. It ia
the same kind OF stain you put there In
the civil war" he said. 'They are doing
q