The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1903-08-08
THE PRESIDENT AssAILED.
Real Object Of Democrats q. OF
posing the Promotiea Of
Gen. Wood.

Reports concerning the lining up of
forces for and against the confirma-
ton OF Gen. Leonard Wood as major
general indicate the possibility of q
night over the matter. The indica-
lions are further that the fight will
be led by democrats in the senate,
aided by army officers and the friends
OF such who think they have been un-
fairly treated by the rapid promotion
OF Gen. Wood. There Is reason to be-
lieve that the real object OF the lead
ers OF the fight In the senate will be
to hurt President Roosevelt. Army
officers who feel aggrieved by the rapid
promotion of Gen. Wood would natu-
rally like to defeat his confirmation as
major general. and perhaps humiii-
ate him II they could. but democratic
senator's will have no such personal
animus, says the Indianapolis Journal.
Their object will be to make political
capital by trying to make 1t appear,
that the president has been governed
by motives of personal favoritism, and
has thereby established demoraliz-
ing precedent
The fight will not open till the SEN
ate meets, but in the meantime there
are some phases of the case worth con-
sidering. In the first place. as far as
the overslaughing of other officers is
concerned or the establishing of a de-
moralizing precedent. 1t was done by
the early promotions of Gen. Wood.
all Of which were made by President
Mckinley. 1t was President McKin-
ley who commissioned Col Wood to
raise the regiment of cavalry known
as the Rough Riders regiment, and 1t
was President Mckinley who made
him brigadier general Of volunteers,
major general of volunteers and a
brigadier general of the regular army.
1t was President Mckinley who made
Gen. Wood governor of Santiago, and,
later, military governor of Cuba, in
both OF which positions he made q
splendid record. All of his early pro-
motions and assignments to special
duty came from President Mckinley.
The only favors he has received at the
hands of President Roosevelt are an
assignment to duty in the Philippines
and his promotion from the rank of
brigadier general to that of major gen.
eral In the regular army There is
nothing In this record to supply the
basis Of an attack on President Roose-
welt. II the attack Is made II will be
chiefly on the memory of William Nc
Kinley.
But, no matter from what quarter
the attack comes or against whom 1t is
aimed. 1t will be weak in that 1t will
Ignore two essential facts-first, the
ability and prominent
services Of Gen. Wood. and, second,
the fact that the question of promo
ton Is one that rests exclusively with
the president. No person denies Gen.
Woods ability or fitness to command,
though his actual military experience
has not been great. and no person
denies that his services in Cuba were
such as to entitle him to almost any
reward In the gift of the government.
The president has a free hand in the
matter of promotions In the army.
Tradition, precedent and custom,
based on sound principles, have estab-
ished certain rules regarding promo
lions, but as far as the law is con-
,erned the matter rests wholly with
he president. The responsibility is
IN him. and he is the sole and final
Judge as to the fitness of a promotion,
md whether 1t will conduce to the
lonor. welfare and efficiency Of the
rmy or not No person would con-
end that IL an officer next in line of
romotion were VIGOROUSLY unfit the
resident would be bound to promote
i'm, and 1t is equally true that he is
Justified In promoting an officer over
he heads Of others II, in his opinion,
he unusual promotion is deserved.
he power, the right and the respon-
lbility are his. When the attack on
en. Wood is made. or rather the at
lck on Presidents Mckinley and
.oosevelt, through him. It will be
,und to be without justification In law
r ron SON