The sun., 1903-05-08
The Runcie Attack on Gen. Brooke
in Gen. Woods Interest.

The extent to which the military fort
unes of Gen. LEONARD WooD profited
by the services of Gen. WOODS intimate
friend in Cuba, the convict BEL1AIRs,
is now generally and definitely known,
| The extent to which Gen. WooD was
aware or had reasonable opportunity to
be aware OF the real character Of his
daily associate, press agent and social
chief OF staff, then 80 recently from the
convict camp and chain gang at 1che-
tucknee in Florida, is question that
calls urgently for plain statement from
the high officer of the United States Army
whose reputation is directly involved by
these disclosures. This incident of Gen.
WOODS career will not down. Public
opinion awaits his statement; personal
honor requires it.
1t is no wonder that the now ascer-
tanned facts about the convict promoter
Of Gen. WOODS fame should recall atten-
ton to another affair directly concerning
him. We refer to the North American
Repiew article attacking Gen. BROOKE s
administration in Cuba at about the time
when WooD supplanted BROOKE in su-
preme command at Havana.
OF this publication a Havana corre-
spondent of the Evening Post, writing on
April %. remarked
Your readers will doubtless remember the once
much talked OF article In the Nonh Anne erteon Rsneu
for November. 1890, emitted American M'sgovern-
ment In Cuba This was an attack upon Gen.
BROOKE. prepared under Gen. WOODS direction.
and which, as Is we'll known. passed under his own
hand before publication"
Commenting on this incident on May l.
last Friday, our neighbor, the Post said
editorially:
The worst part OF this offence lies in the fact
that the article attacked Gen. BROOKE. Gen. WOODS
superior. In the most unmeasured terms. and de-
nounced him roundly for his failure properly to
govern the island Of Cuba. When the article ap
peared, Gen BROOKE had already been removed
and been succeeded at Havana by Gen. WOOD. But
the article was plainly a violation of military
decency and discipline that Secretary RooT ordered
Gen. Woop by cable to call Lieut.. RUNcIr. who had
accompanied Gen. WOOD from Santiago to Havana
to account for II. This was done. with the result
that Lieut.. RUScIE was removed from several com
missions and otnces In which. according to Gen
WOOD he was doing most valuable work for the
Military Government. Now It appears that Gen
WOOD was as guilty as Lieut.. RUSclE."
On Sunday last, May 8, the Springfield
Republican referred editorially to the
Incl dent in these terms:
Gen. WOODS connection with tho ex convict
newspaper correspondent, BELLArRs. has not yet
been fully explained. but the Generals connection
with q certain attack upon Gen. JOHN r. BROOKE.
WOODS predecessor Governor General has now
been made clear. In January. 1900, the North
American Rsrtw printed article American
Misgovernment In Cuba. by Lieut. JAMES E. RUN
Gle. In which Gen. BRookE's administration was
severely criticised and condemned. How untavor
able an impression concerning Gen. BROOKE the
article produced in the United States is we'll remem
bered Woop succeeded BROOKE as Governor
General at about that time. and the magazine article
certainly helped Americans to regard the change
as one that made for the better. Now. Lieut.. RUN
Gle was merely the nominal author Of that article:
the real and responsible author was LEONARD WOOD.
whose subordinate RUNcIK then was. The manu-
script was revised by WOOD and was corrected by
WOOD IN tndt OuCcI uduQWINiu8. luc assault
thus made upon superior ofncer, Gen BROOKE. was
In violation of the military regulations. and secre
tary Root ordered Gen. WOOD to discipline Lieut.
RuNcIE because Of IT. Thereupon followed the
singular performance OF Gen. WOOD removing
RuNcu from places that he held under WOODS
Government on account OF an article which WOOD
himself had inspired and revised"
And on Wednesday the Nev York
Tribune, without accepting the truth of
the charge that Gen. WOOD inspired and
revised the Runcie article, declared:
III this charge is true, Gen. woop ought to be
court -martisled II he made public attack upon
Gen. BROOKE. bis superior onlcer. through the
agency of a subordinate, he committed a serious
military offence II he concealed his part In such
transaction and punished his partner In 1t, he was
guilty Of an oct Of base cowardlce and false hood"
From this conclusion we do not think
any reputable newspaper, or any honora-
BILE man, in the army or outside of it, will
be likely to dissent. This is one of sew
eral cases which are critical, as affect
ing Gen. LEONARD WOODS title to public
confidence and esteem.
IL Snoulu not De pTeJudRed, ana there
are certain mistakes of fact or premature
and improbable assumptions in the fore
going extracts from several of our es-
teemed contemporaries which seem to
us to need impartial consideration.
The gravity of the Runcie article is not
overestimated in the citations above;
but it is right to say that the North Ameri-
can Rerieu, in accepting and publishing
the same on the strength of a responsible
name. acted naturally, properly and
strictly in the line of its well-known
policy regarding the treatment Of impor-
tant public questions.
Major RUNCIE's discussion Of affairs
in Cuba consisted Of two parts: First, a
eulogy Of conditions in the Santiago dis
trict during the several months of Gen.
WOODS independent command there:
and, secondly, a sweeping and bitter con-
demnation Of general results throughout
the island during the whole period of
Gen. BRooKEs supremacy and respon-
sibility. One or two specimens of each
section Of the article will give sufficient