Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-12-21
HIGHEST RECOMMENDATIONS
Given When Leonard Wood Was APP
pointed to the Army.

Washington, Dec. 20.-The letter of
Secretary Root to Senator Proctor, act
ing chairman of the committee on mill
tary affairs, dated Nov. IS last, giving
resume of the military record of Gen.
Leonard Wood, and stating the chief
considerations which led 10 his nomi-
nation as major general, was made
pubilc, today. After quoting from re-
marks commendatOry to Gen. Wood
made by Gems. Miles, Lawton, Graham
and Forsythe, the letter recites that
Upon these and similar evidences of
fitness President Mckinley appointed
Captain Wood colonel of the 1st Volun-
teer Cavalry in May, 1885,"
The secretary also qdotes from the
concentrations of Gems. Young,
Wheeler, Sumner and Shafter on Gen.
Woods conduct in the Santiago CAM
paign. and says Gen. Woods appoint
ment as commander of the Santiago
province appears to have been based
upon statement made by Gen. Shat
ter in a dispatch to the department, in
which he said he Thought Gen. Wood
by far the best man to leave in COM
mand Of Santiago"
The secretary reviews Gen. Woods
subsequent military career, saying in
this connections:
1.-THE high estimates put by the sec
rotary Of war upon Gen. Woods Ser
vice as military governor is shown il
the published orders Of the war depart
ment' referring to the general orders
Of March 2G, 1903, and July 4, 1902
which have heretofore been published
The secretary added that the opinions
expressed in those orders also We're
in the opinions of both Presidents I'M
der whom the service was rendered
saying:
Upon review of Gen. Woods en-
tire military record. 1 think it fair to
say that TO officer of the American
army below the grade of major general
has held more important commands,
| rendered more distinguished service or
demonstrated to higher degree the
| possession of the qualities which fit a
| man to render valuable services to the
country as a major general"
In speaking of the principles which
he says sound policy requires the Pres
| ident to follow in making appoint
ments, the secretary says:
The law which recognizes seniority
llone as the title to promotion up to
the grade of colonel abandons that rule
when it deals with general officers and
imposes on the President the duty of
selecting the best men for generals
without expressing any limitation upon
the class from which he is to make the
selection.
The secretary adds that when such 4 Sc
lection is to be made two different con-
siderations always present themselves to
the appointing mind-one a desire to re-
gard long and mertorious service the
other to secure the best possible men.
He says these considerations don't always
coincide in appointing the same man
Continuing he says:
THE appropriate reward of honor fire.
Iucntly comes to our officers when their
careers are about to close-when they
have passed the period of initiative, OF
ambition and strenuous eXertion and have
come to the period OF comparative lepose
An army. all of whose general officers are
selected for the purpose OF comforting re.
wards and thus having at its head body
of general officers none OF whom has
more than very few years to serve and
Ill or nearly all of whom are just closing
their careers and resting upon their Tau
lonor of efficiency. To have Il live army
which keeps abreast OF the times in Il
constant state of preparation and ready
% meet emergencies with the greatest ac-
tivity and force, We must have a reason
able proportion of its general officers Sc
iccted from the men i'll the prime of life
with careers to make. with ambition, en-
ergy. initiative. and whose services will
ne long enough to maintain continuity OF
policy and sustain effort in working out
IDEAS which require time for their accom-
plishment.'
'PreviouS rank" continues the Sccreta-
ny. is OF little consequence provided the
service shall have been long enough tC
furnish the requisite experience and make
the demonstration of capacity cert;lin.'
The secretary says he thinks both con-
iiderations apply in the case of Gen.
Wood and concluded by saying that Gen.
Woods record and the views of public
policy led President Mckinley to appoint
present nomination is in the present order
Of seniority.