Evening star., 1902-02-05

AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Gen. Leonard Wood Will Not Be
Censured.
WROTE LETTERS WITH PERMISSION
Arrangements Made for the
Charleston Trip.
THE "A IELS CA f
WROTE LETTERS WITH PERMISSION
TIL E DA N LIS CA 8 f

Leonard Wood, governor general of Cuba,
has neither been censured nor reprimanded
and that he will not receive from the Presi-
dent or Secretary of War any letter or tele-
gram censuring or disapproving his action
in sending to United States Senators a cir
cular letter giving facts relating to the de-
plorable conditions existing in Cuba.
Secretary Root does not contemplate or
desire any censure for General Wood.
Neither does President Roosevelt. They are
the only two officials who would under
take any censure. They are fully cog
infant of what General Wood has done, al
though they have not seen officially a copy
| of the letter sent out by General Wood to
members of the upper house of Congress.
Conferred With Secretary Root.
The further statement can be made that
when General Wood was in Washington in
December last he conferred with Secretary
Root as to the advisa bility Of sending to
| public men and those interested any facts
| bearing upon financial and commercial con-
no improperly in this being done by Cen
eral Wood, and gave the latter his per-
mission to proceed as he deemed proper and
advisable. General Wood has not there
| fore, exceeded the authority he asked for,
and the War Department does not con-
slider that he has committed any grave
plunder IN writing this letter.
| 1t is possible that if the matter were to be
| done over again Gen. Wood would not be
| given authority to address letters carrying
with them an appearance of personal inter-
! est In expected legislation for Cuba. 1t is
pointed out that if Gen. Wood has made
| any mistake in the eyes of the War De-
partment it has been in the tone of his let
| ter and the manner of sending it.
Secretary Root was at the White House
| in conference with President Roosevelt
this morning. 1t is not understood that
| there was any serious discussion of the
| letter of Gen. Wood. as the President and
Secretary Root are agreed that the COVER
nor general of Cuba will not be censured
The friends of the adminstratio point
out that anything Of this kind is given un-
due agitation IN the hope that it may en-
barraSs the administra ton.
What Secretary Root Says.
| Star reporter saw Secretary Root at
the War Department this afternoon soon
after he concluded his conference with the
President at the White House. which, pre-
sumably, related to the published criti-
cisms of Governor General Wood on ac-
| count of his direct communications with
senators and representatives in regard to
legislative matters. Secretary Root was
disposed to make light Of the matter as
something unworthy Of serious considera-
tion: He said he had not seen the circu-
lar letter OF General Wood and had no in
| formation regarding it beyond what he had
seen In the newspapers When General
Wood was in Washington in December
last he informed the Secretary that mem
bers of Congress had frequently ap-
| preached him with questions regarding
matters and conditions in Cuba, and for
his own protection he asked Secretary
Root If he were authorized to give the in
formation requested. The Secretary said
that he told General Wood that there was
no objection to his giving members of
Congress any information be thought
proper regarding Cuban affairs and it was
undoubtedly acting under this general au-
thority, he said, that General Wood had
again communicated with members of Con-
gress respecting legislation necessary for
the welfare of the government Of which he
| is the temporary head.
Secretary Root was not disposed to dis
cuss the matter any further for publica-
ton but in answer to a direct inquiry he
said that General Wood was not to be rep
rimanded for this transaction.
Feeling In Congress.
Some senators are represented as being
very much incensed over General Woods
circular letter to senators and representa-
tives urging Cuban tariff concessions. This
sentiment is not unanimous at the Capitol,
especially on the House side.
Il find myself unable to feel a very deep
sense Of outrage" said Representative Nc
Call OF Massachusetts, a republican mem
Der OF the ways and means committee, to-
| day:
II know 1t was the desire Of the commit
tee to have General Wood appear before
the committee Instead, he sent his subor-
dinate, Colonel Bliss. 1 do not see how
General Wood can be blamed for writing
what he would have said, and what his re-
sponsible officer. Colonel Bliss, said
General Wood Is more than mere mill
| tary officer in his present capacity He is
a great administrative official, and 1t is
right and proper that he should express his
views upon questions having a bearing
upon the administration Of civil affairs in
Cuba
The President's Charleston Trim.
President and Mrs. Roosevelt and the
party to accompany them to the Charles
| ton exposition will leave this city for the
south next Monday night In a special train
| over the Southern railway. The hour for
departure has not been definitely fixed The
| train will reach Summeryille, S. c., the fol-
| lowing afternoon. Tuesday night will be
| spent at the Pine Forest Inn, Summerville
| as the guest of Captain Wagner. At this
| point the party will inspect the growing
| of tea. Wednesday morning the President
| will go to Charleston, Spending the day
| in that city and at the exposition grounds
At night a banquet will be rendered in the
Charleston Hotel The return journey will
begin Thursday, February 13. apd the train
will reach Washington early Friday morn
| ing, making four nights and three days
away from the city.
the President are Secretaries Wilson and
Hitchcock, Attorney General Knox and
Postmaster General Payne They will be
accompanied by ladies Of their families.
Daniels Case to BE Investigated.
Attorney General Knox had a talk with
| the President about several cases in the
Department OF Justice. In the case of Ben
Daniels who was recently nominated to be
| marshal of Arizona, his commission has
not been issued, and will not be until the
charge of having served sentence In the
| Wyoming penitentiary has been disproven
| The charges are that Daniels who was a
private In the Rough Riders in the Spanish
war, served a term for larceny. The At
| tcrney General has written the United
| States district attorney who conducted the
case against Daniels for statement OF the
/ facts.
| A Missouri MarshaIshiu.
John F. Hawley and l. A. Chapman of
ChAlieothe. Mo-, and w. w. Morgan Of
Kansas City were presented to the Presi-
dent this morning by Representatives JOY
and Barthoadt OF st. Louis. 1t is learned
that Louis c. Bohle has declined a renosni-
i nation as United States marshal OF the
eastern district OF Missouri. which includes