The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-12-04
PATRONAGE AND
FIGHT ON WOOD
ONE MAY BE CLOSELY CONNECT
ED WITH THE OTHER.
Opposition to Wood Declare His Cam
paign Against the Moros a Grand
Stand Play-President, 1t Is Said,
Would Not Regard His Failure to
4 Secure Ratification as d Personal
Affront.
From the Journal Bureau, Colorado Building,

From the Journal Bureau, Colorado Building,
Washington.
Washington, Dec. 4.-However one
may regard the charges against Cen
eral Leonard Wood, it is notable that
their consideration is the closest ap-
proach the country has had in recent
years to the process of combination
by the senate" as it was intended by
the federal constitution. The senate's
approval of a nomination usually sig
nifies that the president is disposing
of his patronage in a manner reason
ably agreeable to the members of the
body. The contrasting experiences of
Presidents Cleveland and Mckinley
furnished a, notable illustration Of this.
Cleveland's appointments suffered
heavily at the hands of the senate,
while the cases in which it did not
confirm Mr.. McKinley's appointments
were extremely few. Mr.. Roosevelt
has been somewhat less successful
than his predecessor, altho he has by
no means met reverses equalling
those of Mr.. Cleveland.
So generally has the Washington
public come to treat senatorial con-
firmation as an evidence of good re-
lation between the president and the
senate that the moment any repub-
lican senator's name gets into the
paper as Slikely to oppose General
Wood, the, question is at once raised
whether he had not been getting his
full share of the patronage or the
state These are the interpreting
signs rather than any estimate Of how
grievously General Woods alleged de,
reflections would affect the senatorial
mind When Senator Scott of West
Virginia, for example, is mentioned as
the chief opponent on the committee
of Woods confirmation, no one ex-
claims, "How the accounts Of the Ja1
Alai must shock his pure mind, but
the comment is rather that he does not
like Roosevelt and is tenaciously
welded to the candidacy of Mr.
Hanna.
In spite of the prevalence Of com.
| ment of this character, 1T remains
/ true that the senate is sitting the ar
Nguments presented against WOODS
| confirmation in something of the old
! fashioned way. It seems probable
! however. that the committee, from it:
rulings regarding the admission of ev
| idence, will not be turned from 1T
apparently friendly attitude TOWARD
J General Wood and the adm1n1stra
ton. The fight will probably come II
the senate, where a majority Vot'
confirms There are 81 republican,
and 33 democrats, no popullsts ana NJ
vacancies. The republicans can thu
make a net loss Of eleven votes Will
| SAFETY, anu Inc dlllOullI u uCAAAoSA o"e.
support for Wood is almost as un
| certain still as the extent of the re
publican opposition.
| It is certain that Mr.. Roosevelt viii
not regard an adverse vote in this cas-
as an affront, since he fully recognize
the right of individual judgment OF
such questions as the rapidity of Gen
eral Woods rise over the heads o
so many of the regular line, and ais
of the effect on the army of his ,hav
ing so long a term in it's command
should the next promotion come hi
way by seniority, as the present on