The Washington times., 1903-12-06
PRESIDENT WILL STAND
BY GEN. LEONARD WOOD
Hanna Conference Has Not
Changed His Position.
REGARDS COMRADE AS HERO
Still Desires Perry Heath's Retirement,
But VIII Submit Question to
National Convention.

President Roosevelt will stand by
Gen. Leonard Wood 20 the end lie has
not the slightest intention OF backing
down or of Withdrawing the nominal
ton.
The President made it perfectly plain
to callers yesterday that this was his
attitude-that he considered Wood en-
titled TO promotion. and that the Friday
night conference between himself and
Senator Hanna, while it had been
friendly, had not altered either his own
position or that of the Senator with
/ reference TO the Wood case.
The President has a genuine liking
for General Wood not alone because
Of their old friendship. but because he
regards him as the sort Of an officer
I that deserves promotion, When Wood
came back from Cuba and wanted to be
assigned to active service in the Philip
pines. preferably down in Mindanao,
where the Moros are active. the request
met the Presidents approval. There
are an abundance Of officers who come
I back from tropical service and want
peace and quiet and when Wood proved
+ TO be OF the other sort. the President
4 felt that his advancement was entirely
justified.
Bell as Precedent.
/ II is known that the President looks
upon Woods promotion as one Of the
same kind as that OF J. Franklin Bell,
/ who started in the Philippine service as
lieutenant, and who. by brilliant ser
I vice as a scout and the head of a vet
eran volunteer regiment, forced his way
/ 10 the front Bell. however. was ad-
vanced 1.02l numbers, far more than
! Wood
To some of those who called yester-
! day the President pointed out that
President Mckinley and not himself was
responsible Cor Woods advancement.
/ Mr. Mckinley promoted him four times
| on the recommendation Of superior Off
GERS and also named him as Governor
General of Cuba on the recommendation
Of Secretary Root President Mckinley
made him a brigadier general and pro
NOTED him over the heads of others
( President Roosevelt promoted him 10
major general in tie line of seniority.
Relies on Records.
Further than this. the President made
I il plain that he desired ia take no part
/ in the inquiry by the Senate Military
! Affairs Committee and was willing TO
( let the records of the War Department
] determine whether Wood was entitled
+ To the appointment.
SO far as the retiment Of Perry s.
Heath as secretary Sfs tbs Rspubliean
National Committee IS concerned il be.
/ came known. more definitely TSan ever
( yesterday what the Presidents position
( Is. He viii leave this nuestion-tc. the
national committee. He and Senator
I Hanna talked this over. and Il was
+ agreed the President would not inter
i fere. At the same time the President
/ has not changed his opinion that the dis
iciosures of the Bristow report justify
I him in feeling that Heath ought TO step
down and out
+ Senator Hanna's Status.
Senator Hanna has declared to his
friends IN words OF unmistakable en-
phasis that he ola not announce Friday
or yesterday. or at any other time that
he had decided not TO accept the chair
manship OF the Republican National
Committee.
The question with him is still an open
one and he 50 informed the President
I II IS largely a. matter Of the state of
his health he says. whether he viii or
VIII not accept.
( Governor ". n Crane. Of Massachu-
sets. viii be urged. in case OF Senator
Eanna's deciination. 10 accept the place
To the men closest. TO him here. he has
said. and they believe him. that he can
not take the place because OF health and
/ business reasons. He will ia all prob
/ ability decline. but ne viii have place
1 on the advisory board.