Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-17
CHAMP |ONSG EN.WOOD
Secretary Of War Assumes
Much Responsibility.
JAI ALAI COMPANY
NO MORE GAMBLING SCHEME
THAN BASE BALL.
Sharp Examination Of Head Of War De-
partment by Senate Investigating
Committee-Entire Field Covered.

The Senate committee on military affairs
last night concluded its investigation of
charges against General Leonard Wood,
filed for the purpose of preventing his con-
firmation as major general Secretary Root
was the only witness yesterday. He was
on the stand for two and half hours at
the forenoon session, and occupied the at
tention of the committe last night from 8
o'clock until II 80.
1t Is understood that confirmation will be
recommended by the committee by vote of
8 to 2, and that minority report will be
made by the opposing members of the COM
mttee.
The testimony of Secretary Root is prac-
tically the only defense that has been made
of General Wood in the hearing which has
extended since about the beginning Of the
extraordinary session of Congress. This
testimony however, covered the entire
range of the evidence produced against
General Wood, and was supported In many
instances with correspondence and other
data taken from records at the War De-
partment covering the period of General
Woods administration as governor general
of Cuba. Secretary Root undertook to as
sumo the whole responsibility for the orders
issued by General Wood affecting the ju-
dicial system in Cuba and concerning the
concession granted to the Jai Alai Company
DIT I1dVdnd. he Justified Ine acceptance by
General Wood Of the present of silver set
from the Jai Alai Company.
Closely Questioned.
At the forenoon session of the committee
Secretary Root was given every latitude in
telling his story Of the affairs in the island
and refuting the charges that had been
made by number Of witnesses, but at the
evening session questions were asked by
m
to the Runcie letter, the Jai Alai conces-
sion, of seniority as means of recognizing
military service. Many of the questions
were pointed, and in some cases severe upon
General Wood, but in every case General
Wood found warm defender.
The Secretary's statement was elabor-
ate and carefully prepared defense of Cen
eral Wood. He spent most of Tuesday and
large part Of the night, assisted by the
officers of the War Department, in the prep
aration of this argument. He made a
specific reply to each of the charges that
have been urged so far against General
Woods confirmation, and assumed respon-
sibility for many Of the matters charged
against General Wood, among others, it is
understood, the granting of license to the
Jai Alai He devoted particular attention
to the attack upon the integrity of the off,
cial accounts OF the Cuban treasury while
under General Woods administration and
he was prepared, with an immense amount
OIL Oata, TO answer the charge OI lOOSe ana
faulty accounting and auditing. He took
occasion to say that the weakness of this
charge might have been established long
ago had the Senate printed the accounts
which he transmitted to that body last win
ter in answer to a resolution.
The Rathbone Charges.
He asked especially about the charge
which Mr.. Rathbone had made that Gen.
Wood had influenced and tempered with the
courts in the prosecution of Rathbone. He
explained at some length the court system
in Cuba, saying that the court Of first i'll