The sun., 1903-11-13
WOODS PROMOTION HELD UP.
THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM TO
BE INVESTIGATED.
Senate Military Committee to Give Hear
ins Next Week-The President Directs
Secretary Root to Appear Before
the Committee in Woods Defence.

Senate Military Committee to Give Hear.
ins Next week-The President Directs
Secretary Root to Appear Before
the Committee in Woods Defence.
WAsHISGToN, Nov. 12.-The Senate Com
mittee on Military Affairs to-day made a
favorable report on the nomination OF Rob-
ert Shaw Oliver To be Assistant Secretary
Of War and this action was reported TO the
Senate in executive session,
The nominations Of Major-Gen. S. B. M.
Young to be Lieutenant General and Of
Brig Gen Sumner TO be M1jor General
also received approval.
The next name on the list OF nominations
was that of Brig Gen. Leonard Wood
to be Major General. In response to the
protests against Gen. Wood which have
been filed by Senators Hanna and Teller,
the committee decided to hear any charges
against that officer which they may wish
to present. and fixed next Thursday for the
first hearing 1t has been also decided that
the hearings shall be open.
Senator Teller's action in the case is not
based alone on the charges made by Major
Rathbone, although he is anxious that those
allegations should he sifted to the bottom.
He is making the fight against Wood. he
says. mainly on behalf of the officers OF the
army who have been Jumped over by
Wood in his advancenlents He views
that as an ineictcnsioie act, and one tending
to demoralizo discipline in the army, be-
cause was notice TO them that promotions
IL tho service would hereafter be made by
IA voritism and not according to length OF
service or good conduct
Ono of the charges which viii be most
pcrsistpftlv pressed before the comraittee
is tbs. h. inspired and was responsible for
the article p,hlisned III the NortA American
Resieu writer by Major James Runcie,
L. s. A.. retired, criticising the admins
tration Of his (Mood's) predecessor as
Governor General of Cuba.
President Roose yelt has taken a personal
interest IN the case of Gen. Wood. and,
acting upon the Presidents 5 instructions,
Secretary Root has had compiled long
statement Of Gen. Woods services in the
Army. which will be sent to the committee.
In addition Ia written statement to be sent
to the Senate cnInnittee. it has beer pro-
posed to Secretary Root that he appear in
person before the committee, and urge
the confirmation Of Gen. Wood.
1t is KNOWN to the officers Of the War De-
partnert that the President was particu-
larry anxious to have Secretary Root return
from Europe IN time to take an active
part in the defci O OF Gen. Wood, and
tha: Mr. Root assured President Roosevelt
before leaving for London that he would
hasten his return for this purpose. and
if necessary, would appear before the
committee It is now said that the Pres j.
dent has indicated to the Secretary Of
War his hope that he will give the case of
Gen Wood his personal attention, and TO
this end the records of the War Department
have been thoroughly searched for any
mention Of Gen Woods military services
from the time he entered the army as a
contract surgeon up to the present day.
Senator Proctor of Vermont, the acting
chairman of the military committee, was
at the War Department yesterday and
to-day, and talked with army officers and
the Secretary Of War about Gen. Wood's 8
caee. He is OF the opinion that Gen. Wood
will be confirmed, notwithstanding strong
oprocitiop