Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-05
President Plain Spoken on
Friendship for Wood.
GEN. REYES PRESENTED
IDAHO MAY REVIVE OLD OATH
FOR THE MoRMoNs.
Secretary Hitchcock at Odds With
Oregon Senators Regarding q
Land Office Appointment.

scented to President Roosevelt at 3:4S
o'clock today. The presentation assumed
all the dignity and Formally OF a diplo-
matte function
After a careful consideration Of the status
Of Gen. Reyes, the State Department has
determined that he has full diplomatic
standing. He therefore Is recognized as
an envoy extraordinary and minister pleni-
potentiary from Colombia on a special mis-
sion. AS such he was presented.
General Reyes was accompanied to the
White House by Jorge Holguin. his coun-
sci, and Dr. Herran, the charge d'affaires
Of Colombia. The ceremony. was purely
formal The presentation was made by
Secretary Hay and the greetings, both on
the part Of the President and General
Reyes were marked by cordial friendli-
ness. No formal addresses were mace
either by the President or by General
Reyes, but Informally, they had pleasant
chat.
Whatever action hereafter Is to be taken
by General Reyes will be as fully ac-
credited representative Of the Colombian
government and his negotiations with this
government will be entirely through the
medium of the State Department.
II. Clay Wooley. who was recently APP
pointed assayer Of the mint at Boise. Idaho.
was presented to the President today pJ
Senator Hepburn and Representative
French Of Idaho. Mr.. Wooley. who was
until few months ago a bishop in the
Mormon church, was appointed assayer on
the recommendation of Senator HeyDurn
after a hard fight and 1T is known that
determined effort will be made by Senator
Dubois and others to prevent the conf1rma-
ton.
1t is charged that Wooley resigned hts
position as bishop of the church on being
told that he would be appointed assayer,
and it is further charged by Idaho demo-
Gratis that the appointment was in payment
Of debt to the Mormons for successful
support given the republican ticket for the
legislature.
This support, 1t Is charged, enabled the
republicans to capture the legislature and
to send republican here in place of Sem
ator Heitfeld. embellishments At any
rate. the feeling toward Mormons In Idaho
is either growing more bitter through the
usual religious reasons or the bitterness Is
being. for political purposes. fomented by
the democrats.
opposing the confirmation of the appoint
ment, however. A faction Of the repub-
licans Is seeking the same end, and the
newspapers representing this faction are
shouting against alleged Mormon domina-
ton. This faction is led by W. E. Borah,
who was a candidate against Senator Hey
burn for United States senator, and they
declare that Senator Hepburn obtained his
election through Mormon votes in the legis-
lature They have sent many protests to
President Roosevelt against the appoint
n'ent, but the President stands by his Sc
lection.
The anti-Mormon feeling Is running 50
high in Idaho that there is a threat to re-
vive the old test oath that was in force in
the state for so many years 1t required
that every voter should register. and that
before voting he should take a prescribed
OATH declaring that he was not living in
polygamy and that he owed no allegiance
to an ecclesiastical power superior to the
state. and national governments. Under
Nof hfch ho n
ncan faction declare they will revive.
thousands Of Mormons were d.sfranchfsed.
1t Is declared that polygamy is practiced
more or less openly in many Of the Nor
mon counties Of Idaho, and that the Nor
mon church has broken its promise not to
NEEDLE in politics. -
Senator Dubois is to lead the fight
against Reed Smoot In the Senate and this
is part of the fight in Idaho - :
President Stands by Wood.
President Roosevelt has today and here-
tofore given friends who have talked with
him 30 understand that he IL friend Of
Gen. Wood whose confirmation as major
general is being fought in the Senate,
and that he will stand by him to the limit
He does not wish any one to think that be-
cause influential men like Senator Hanna
are opposing Gen. Wood he will withdraw
friendship that has existed q number Of
years or support that he believes to be
have the least intention of withdrawing
the nomination, and 1t IL pointed out by
the President, in talking to friends, thao
Gen. Wood was made a brigadier general
by President Mckinley.
He was promoted four times by McKin-
ley. each time, 1t Is stated. on merit and on
the recommendation Of his supertors- Sec
rotary Root regarded 1t essential both to
the interests of Cuba and to those of the
United States that change should be made
in the Office of governor general of Cuba
After considering the matter at length he
recommended to President Mckinley that
General Wood be named to succeed General
Brooke. On that recommendation and after
personal investigation of the subject Presi-
dent Mckinley appointed Wood governor
general.
That, it is indicated. was the situation
when President Roosevelt assumed his
present office. In due course he nominated
General Wood to be a major general fol-
lowing. 1t Is asserted. absolutely the line of
seniority. He did not Jump" him over
any other officer in the service.
When Gen. Wood returned from Cuba he
voluntarily requested that he be given
active service, preferably in the Philippines
To this request the President and the Sec
rotary of War acceded, and Gen. Wood
was made commander of the department
OF Mindanao. his particular task being to
subdue the warlike Moros. That duty he
now Is performing.
Concerning the pending inquiry into Cen
Woods record being made by the Senate
committee on military affairs, the Presi-
dent has let 1t be understood that he Is
taking no part. 1t is matter which he
regards as belonging exclusively to the
Senate. He Is quite willing to have the
nomination considered in connection with
Gen. Woods record as shown on the files
of the War Department.
1t is stated authoritatively that the fact
that the President entertained Ray STAN
nard Baker. magazine writer, who ap-
peared before the Senate COMMITTEES this
week as a witness in the Wood investiga-
ton, had no Significance, and that the Pres
ident never had any communication with
him regarding the Wood case. One letter
was written by Mr.. Baker to the President
In which the Wood case was referred to
but 1t was not answered because, meantime
Mr.. Baker had made a public statement
regarding his position on the matter and
an answer. under the circumstances. was
not considered necessary.
The President earnestly desires that Cen
eral Wood should be confirmed, and he he
heves that he will be when all the facts TN
the case have been developed 1t is thought
he would have preferred that the INQUIRY
into the case should have been public bur
Is quite willing to defer In that matter to
the wisdom of the Senate committee.