The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-03-23
!: CHARGES AGAINST WOOD =
. Il: - -. =. 49,
The. ExrGov. Of Cuba Makes Reply
- til Rathbone's Charges q.

Washington, March 2S.-Estes G. Rathi
bone, former director general Of posts Of
cuba c. e has filed N&5&h 1hs aa5utant general
eral Leonard Weed & eehnectioafft With With
the latteris duties as military governor Of
Cuba In brief, Major Rathbone charges
that General Wood manipuia ted The Cuban
COURTS THAT he received gifts from a
gambling concern amounting to IS, 060, and
that the gifts were admitted into Cuba
free Of duty, Contrary to law, :. %xz :
No official notice. of Major Rathbone's
charges has been, taken by the secretary
as yet, but General Wood, on reading
them;s asked and, received permission TO
file at the department a statement set
ting forth his side OF the case before his
for service in the Philippines
General Wood leaves Washington Wednes-
day afternoon for Boston, whence he sails
on Thursday for Manila In his statement
to the secretary, General Wood denies that
he received any but purely PERSONAL.
gifts while in Cuba AS to his attendance
on the :"Jai Allai'' a public institution at
Havana at which the Spanish national
game was played, General Wood calls at
tention to the fact that the Bishop of
Havana was present at the dedication of
the institution and conducted the service.
on that occasion. As governor general
Of Cuba. it was his policy, he says, to-
establish and maintain cordial relations
with the people of the island, including the
Spaniards, who were the influential ele-
ment. -! -. :,
He felt, he says, that it was but an ap-
probation. Of Spanish institutions for him
to recognize and oatronize the Spanish
national game, which corresponds closely
to the American game of racquets, and he
made it a point to attend the "Jai Allah"
quite often in the evenings, being accom-
panied: by several Of his aides. The lat
%o,. h.. irocf r,,o
ton in the game. The institution, Cen
eral Wood states, had a, drinking and bet
ting privilege legally granted by the au;
thorities and was attended in the evenings
by from two to three thousand people.
Last May, on the Sunday before his de-
parture, General Wood says he was asked
to receive a. delegation of Spanish mer-.
sonal testimonial of their esteem. This
proved to be handsome silver service.
General Tasker II. Bliss Their. in charge
of the customs service, General Wood
says, admitted .the gift free of duty, first,
because, under the law no duty was col
lected on inportations OF officials and
soldiers Of the United States, and, Sec,
ondly, because the law provided also for
the free importation Of household goods
and personal effects which were not to re-
main permanently in the island. AS the
custom houses already had been closed,
that the governor might make a complete
return Of the funds in the treasury: at the,
hour of the American evacuation: Cen
erla Bliss could issue no bond for the adj,
mission of the gift, but he personally ex-
amined it and caused it's free entry
The Associated Press. is authorized by;
General Wood to define his position briefly
as. follows: =. -.
/. General Wood is at any time ready and
glad to appear before any congressional
nh xn.I.f oH
may be brought against his record as
governor general of Cuba. He refuses.
however, to indulge in a newspaper con-
troversy under any circumstances.