Arizona republican., 1903-11-22
The Charges Against Gen. Wood.

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 If is evident that if the president s nomination cf Brigadier-GeHeral Leon ard Wood to be a major-general in the regular army is to be confirmed II Will be cnly after a vigorous contest in the senate. The democratic senators will be unanimous against confirmation, on political grounds, on the theory that to turn down the nomination Of MT Roosevelt's closest personal friend will make trouble" in the republican camp and a number of republican senators are opposed to the appointment on grounds more CT less personal.
 The cpposition to General Wood has been gathering hcldway fer several months. Indeed. there have been rum hIings in the army ever since he was elevated to the position of brigadier- general. Most army officers recog- nized. however. that he was placed in supreme command in Cuba because of the excellent administrative ability he had shown at Santiago, and it. was generally admitted that events had made him the logical military governor of the island And. while the command had to do chiefly with civil affairs and the bringing of order out of chaos, it was necessarily a military office. Con seouently. it would have beer an un- welcome and anomalous situation had Colonel Wood been placed in chief command in Cuba, with a number Of generals under him. It vas not only expedient to make him a brigadicr, but Ee had earned high place in the reg uIars by distinguished service.
 S t was not until it became quite certain that it was the intention of tho adlHinistra ton to give him still ar other promotion. making him a major general, that the murmugs of Giscon- tent grew pronounced among the of fcers of the regular army who saw their own chances for promotion di unfinished by the elevation of the colo rel cf the Rough Riders. Some of the opposition in the senate is a reflection O. this sentiment in the army.
 Senator Hanna's attitude is under stood to have been determined largely by his Iryaltv to his friend. Major Estes C. Rathbone, formerly fourth assistant postmaster general, and chief Of the postal service during Gen. Woods first year at Havana. The ar rest of Majc? Rathbonc under charges of conrlicity in the Nccly frauds IS familiar history. Out of that arrest there grew up a bitter feud between Wood and Rathbone, and Senator Han ma, believing that Rathbonc had been wrongly accused, has Loyalty stood by him.
 Had Gen. Woods enemies confined their attack to the proposition that it was unjust in the abstract, to promote him over the heads of a long line of army officers to a position whence he could, within few years, succeed to the command of the general staff Cr the army, the probabilities in favor of defeating the nomination would have been greater, perhaps, than they now are.
 So far as the case has developed. it v tical advantage has been gained by bringing charges against Gen. Woods character His personality is one that appeals strongly to the people; both President Mckinley and President Roosevelt held him in the highest es- teem, after long acquaintance, and it has been generally believed that he was a man of unquestionabIe integ- rity It will be difficult, indeed. to shake this belief. In view of the high regard in which Gen. Wood is held throughout Arizona dating from his active campaign with Col Lawtoa and personal participation in the capture of Geronimo and reinforced by the popularity he gained as colonel of the Rough Riders, the outcome of the case will be watched here with more than usual interest.
 The charges alluded to concern his administration as governor general of Cuba. It is clalmed that he granted a valuable concession to a corporation, the stockholders of which were after ward assessed $1O share for the pur- chase of a silver service, worth S5.Oc0. This service was presented to Cen. Wood at q banquet on the eve of bis rolilquishing command. At the same time, CT shortly afterward. it is al- legged. the company presented Mrs. Wood with jewelry to the value or S2'5cO These charges, originally made hy Major Rathbone, were answered in March last by the Hon. Eiihu Root, secretary of war, in these words:
 The Jai Alai company. referred to in in the charges, maintained a court in which game is played somewhat sim il9r to our game of racket, and in
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