The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-16
Head of the War Depart
ment Appears as a Wit
ness Before the Senate
Committee on Military
Affairs.
THE SPECIFIED CHARGES
FULLY INVESTIGATED
Candidate for Higher Rank
in the Army Ably De-
fended--- -Jai Alai AsSOci-
alton Did Not Present
Silver Service.

OufCl OCl fIkCs
Secretary Root appeared before the
Senate Committee on Military Afrsairs
this morning and made a strong presen-
tation of facts in behalf Of Gen. Leonard
Wood, whose noinination for promotion
from brigadier general to major general
is now under consideration.
Secretary Root denounced the attack
now being made on General Wood as
vicious and spiteful, based on insinua-
tions rather than facts.
He said that so far as specified charges
had been made they had all been thor
oughly investigated by officers OF the
War Department. and by the late Presi-
dent Mckinley himself with the result
that not only was General Wood fully
exonerated but President Mckinley had
promoted him ''for distinguished ser
vices from the grade Of captain TO that
Of brigadier general
The Only Way.
Under existing laws, said the Secre-
tary, there was no other way by which
special services rende-ed by officers CT
the army could be recognized than
through promotion Ee sketched rapid
" and in terms OF warm commendation
General Woods good service in uthe
army. The general. although attached
TO the medical department, had rendered
conspicuous service as a leader OF Eazn
in Indian campaigns Secretary Root
then referred to Woods service as colo
mel OF the volunteer regiment Of Rough
Riders. and his selection, not only be-
cause OF his executive ability. but De
cause Of his medical knowledge, as gov
ernor of the town and province OF San
tiago. He told how Wood had won the
confidence of the people there in the
\ trying circumstances incident to the first
assumption of American authority 81
Cuba and to the marvellous and beneh-
cial change he soon wrought in the san
Itary conditions there
As for General Brocse's charge .Aat
Wood had disobeyed orders in refusing
to send to Havana all the revenues of
Santiago, Secretary Root said that the
people of Santiago protested so strongly
to the War Department and the Presi-
dent against the enforcement of that
order that Wood was instructed by
President Mckinley to retain those
revenues for the benefit of the provinrs.
No Favoritism.
Woods subsequent selection a. gov
ernor general OF Cuba. was not. Sec
retary Root said. the result of favorit-
ism, but OF distinct belief based upon
the results he had accomplished at San
tiago. that he was the best qualified Of
ficer available to harmonize the diner
ences between Cuban factions and TO
establish friendly relations with the
United States through winning the co-i-
hdence OF the Cuban people.
He had done this successfully in the
face OF great difficulties. and looking at
the splendid results obtai,led, Secretary
Root failed to see whore any sound
criticism of his administration could
lodge. With regard to the jai alai Sec
retary Root denied that it was purely
professional game He said that a large
part of every day the courts OF the as
sociation were occupied by citizens Of
Havana playing the 60 ne or learning
it. 1t was a popular SPORT
The Jai Alai Silver.
As for the acceptance by General
Wood of the present of silver service
from the Jai Alai Association. Sec-s-
tary Root asserted that the gift did not
come from that association at all. Ik
was the result of a popular subscriptions
in which all Of the principal merchants
and citizens OF Havana Joined as a
testimonial TO General Wood on the eve
Of his departure from the island. II
was a fact that a leading officer OF
the Jai Alai Association. who is also
a prominent merchant of Havana. took
a prominent part IL the collection of
the subscriptions. but that I'D rot make
it a gift from the association
Record of Bellairs.
AS to General Woods connecs don with
Captain Bellairs. Secretyry Root said
that he did not believe that Wood knew
anything about the captains previous
criminal record uutit after he had left
Cuba. General Wood had personally
assured him that E;eIla.rs' record was
straight while he was in Cuba, and that
when he heard stories rejecting upon
Bellairs past history he CWood) had
refused to believe thc-n until the facts
were presented