The Minneapolis journal., 1903-12-25
His Friends Gable Him that the
Senate Will Confirm His
Nomination.
Little Doubt Exists That This Will
Be the Outcome of the Recent
Inquiry.
Walter Wellman Says the Charges
Made Against Wood Have Fal-
len to the Ground.
New York Sun Special Service.

AVIAN
Chicago, Dec. 25.--Walter Well
man. in a Washington special to the
Record Herald, says:
Friends of Brigadier General Leon
ard Wood have sent him what must
be a very welcome Christmas gift in
the form of a cablegram assuring
him that the senate committee on
military affairs will report in his IA
VOr virtually unanimously, and that
he will be confirmed by the senate by
an overwhelming vote.
There is no reason to believe tnal
these friends of General Wood are
mistaken. Since Secretary Root gave
his testimony before the committee
there has been little, If any, DOUBT as
to the outcome of the now famous
investigation. Even the opponents Of
General Wood admit that the report
of the committee Will not only be IN
favor of confirmation, but that 1t will
be so sweeping as to leave small room
for caviI on the part of his critics.
The truth is-and 1t is only just to
General Wood that this fact be made
known as generally as possible-that
the so-called lease" against him has
almost completely fallen to pieces.
Charges Fall to Ground.
General Wilson, Rathbone and his
stantiate their most serious charges.
and such trivial accusations as they
were able to establish cut no figure
in comparison with the admittedly
splendid services of General Wood.
That General Wood made minor mis-
takes; that he was domineerins and
forceful to remarkable degree, no
one denies. But, for the credit of
the American army, probably most
people will be glad to learn thru the
report of the committee. as they shall
learn presently, that not a single stain
has been cast upon the reputation OF
General Wood as a man Of honor. 1t
Is a matter of justice, as well as or
news, to chronicle the fact that every
accusation made against the integrity
of General Wood has fallen to pieces.
He will emerge from the investiga-
ton with a clean bill Of health.
Persistent and, in some degree, sue
cessful efforts have been made by his
enemies to spread the impression that
General Wood was not scrupu1ous as
to money matters. For many months
this city has been filled with gossip
concerning General woods alleged
graft" and money-getting by various
means while he was governor general
of Cuba. 'I
Charges Were Serious.
If one were to listen to and believe
all these unsupported tales. Wood was
a. man SO dishonest and reckless as to
be unfit for e. place In the American
army or in any other post of respon-
sbiity. 1t was alleged, among other
things, that he and Mrs. Wood had
virtually denuded the palace at Ha-
vana Of it's ancient and valuable
tapestries, pictures and other articles
of value and that Mrs. Wood had
carried these precious heirlooms to
Europe, being afraid to bring them to
the United States.
General Wood has been accused by
his enemies Of "feathering his nest
in divers shady ways. Constant repe-
tition Of these tales, with the usual
facile addition of circumstantiality, had
tended to produce a decidedly uneasy
impression, even among those who
were reluctant to believe i'll Of an
American soldier or any other man
without proof. 1t is needless to say
that all of these malicious stories fall
to the ground. Not a word Of proof
in support Of any one Of them has
been brought before the committee.