Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-12-23
GEN. WOODsHAS
A FINE RECORD
Secretary Of War Root Writes TO
Chairman Proctor Reciting Woods
Good Services.
BY PRES. MCKINLEY
Character Of Service as Well as It's
Length Considered m Making
Promotions.

Washington. Dec. 2O.-The letter of
Secretary Root 10 Senator Proctor,
acting chairman of the committee on
foreign affairs. dated November 18th
last giving a resume of the military
record OF General Leonard Wood and
stating the chief considerations which
led to his nomination as major gen.
oral was made public today After
quoting from remarks commendatOry
to General Wood made by Generals
| Miles, Iawton. Graham and Forsythe.
the letter rCcitcs that upon these and
similar evidences OF fitness President
Mckinley appointed Captain Wood
colonel of the first volunteer cavalry
In May, 1898. The secretary also
quotes from the concentrations Of
Generals Young. Wheeler. Sumner and
Shaiter on General Woods conduct
in the Santiago campaign and says
General Woods appointment as com
mander of the Santiago province ap-
pears 10 have been based upon a state
mcnt made by General Shafter in a
dispatch TO the department In which
he said he had thought General Wood
/ 10y far the best man to leave in com
mand of Santiago. The secretary re.
views General Woods subsequent
military career, saying in this con
ncctiOn
The high estimate put by the sec.
rotary of war upon General Woods
/ services as military governor is shown
! In the published orders OF the war
! department
Referring 10 the general orders OF
March %. 1903. and July 4, 1902,
which have heretofore been publish
ed the secretary adds that the opin.
/ ions expressed in those orders also
were the opinions Of both presidents
under whom the service was rendered,
saying:
Upon a review of General Woods
entire military career ! think IL fair
TO say that no officer OF the American
army below the grade of major gen.
eral has had more important com
mands. rendered more distinguished
service or demonstrated in a higher
degree the possession of qualities
which 1T a man to render valuable
services 10 his country as major gen.
eral"
In speaking OF the principles which
/ he says sound policy requires the
president to follow in making appoint
ments the secretary says:
The law which recognizes senior.
! ity alone as title 10 promotions up to
grade oi colonel abandons that rule
when il deals with general officers
and imposes upon the president the
duty of selecting the best men for
generals without expressing any limi-
tation upon the class from which he
Is 10 make selection"
The secretary adds that when such
selection is To be made two different
considerations always present them
selves TO the appointing mind. one.
the desire TO reward long and meri-
torious service. the other TO secure
the best possible man. He says con-
siderations do not always coincide,
pointing TO the same man. Continu-
ing. he says
IAN appropriate reward of honor
! frequently comes to our officers when
/ their careers are about 10 close
when they have passed the period OF
| initiative. ambition and strenuous ex.
ertion and have come to a period Of
comparative repose. An army, all OF
whose general officers are selected
for the purpose of comforting regards
and thus having at its head con.
stantly shifting body of general Off
GERS, none OF whom has more than
very few years TO serve and all or
nearly all of them just closing their
careers and resting upon their laurels.
can not possibly reach the highest
standard OF efficiency. To have live
army which keeps abreast OF the
times, in constant state OF prepara-
ton and ready to meet emergencies
with tte greatest activity and force,
W. must have n reasonable proportion
oi its general officers selected from
men In the prime OF life. with careers
10 make. with ambition, energy. ini-
tiatiyc and whose services will be
long enough TO maintain continuity OF
policy and continued effort in working
ideas, which require time for their
accomplishment"
/ Previous rank" continues the sec.
retary. lis OF little consequence pro-
yided the service shall not have been
long enough 10 furnish requisite eX
perience and make a demonstration
Of capacity certain
The secretary says he thinks both
considerations unite in the case Of
General Wood and concludes by say
ing that General Woods record and
views Of public policy led President
/ Mckinley to appoint him brigadier
general and that the present nomina-
tion is in the regular order Of senior
ity