The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-05
WOODS STATUS
OFFICIALS CIRCULATING ON EE-
 FECT or HIS ELECTION.
Must Be Confirmed or Will Have No Rank-Presiden Mignt Find Place for Him on StaH-Too Old to Drop Back.

Washington Special to New Orleans Ttmea~Oemocrat.
 A new and exceedingly interesting de- velopment occurred in the fight aga nst the confirmation of Leonard Wood as Ma for General when Secretary Root was no- tined by the legal otiicers of the departs msnt that if the nomtnation Is rs5 :cted
 For some days past the officials of the War Department have been trying Co de- termine General Woods status In the event of the rejection by the Senate of his nomination to be Major General. Af- ter struggling with the problem and look ing up all the precedents, the conclusion was reached that he would be out of the military establishment as effectually as though he had resigned. and wo i'd even be barred from the benefits Of the retired
 This decision was based on the fact that when the position of Major General was offered to him, Wood resigned his com mission as Brigadier General and accept cd the new place. The vacancy of Briga- dier General was instantly fl led by the promotion of Colonel Coolidge. who was th0reupon retired and another appoint ed to the vacancy created by his tire- which h General Wood es could % dr5p HA in the the event of the failure of the Senate to con- firm his nomination to be Major General. It is either Major General or nothing
 There has been much speculation at the War Department as Co whether or not General Wood could regain his place In the army in the event Al r or 6as ns advanced at the time he was promoted. While there Is no place for him in the line, it is believed that the President could tuck him away in one of the stan departments, and then promote him at once to the rank he now holds.
 "The age limit on tho appointment of officer today, "wou d prevent Wood if m getting into the line, as no man older than N may be appointed to that posi- ton. The President can waive any physi. cal or professional defects found in cam didate for commission, but this is a legal requirement and. of course. can not be set aside. Theer Is no open ng in the Quires that all vacancies in that branch of the. service shall be filled by details from the line.
 A. special act of Congress would have However. he could get into the Medi al Department by passing the examination. which. by the way is so stiff that he in hard study in order to qua fly. o ce in the service again, there would be noth- ing to prevent the President from ap- pointing him as s Hrigad'er General , or ed. But he would have to go bafore the Senate Military Committee again for com firmstion so 1t will be seen that whether army depends ent rey with the Senate"
 Senator Hanna sh 1ws no sign of weak Rning in his opposition of Wo d. ani the fact that q Senate Committee is to g to Havana to examine Into Woods rule at close range Is not a move that ce7 be con sidered fay ,rable to the army oficsr. Yet 1t Is satd In authorit7 tive circle that Woods confirmation iS assure7 and that Mrs. Wood has made arrangements to join her husband in the Phi ipplnes this month.
 While every officer in the army Is inter- ested in the outcome of the fiENt against General Wood. there are eovne 2H0 NfFfcers who are personally concerred in the re- sult This is hecause their own advanHe- ment is Involved
 When Woods name was sent 10 the Sem ate some 75l other nominations we 1t along with 1t. About 420 of these nae been confirmed and the officers passed up- on have received thA'~ enn1r'issiopa This