The Washington times., 1903-12-15
CARRIED Accounts of Testi-
mony Before SenateCom-
mittee Concerning Cen
eral Wood Show Him as
Telling Untruths.
HIMSELF RESPONSIBLE
FOR OFFICIAL ACTS
No Orders Received From
General Wood to Admit
Jai AIai Present Free Of
of Duty-Secretary Root S
Letter to Committee.

LCllCt ~ SOltlAlllAlCG.
Secretary Root has called the attention
OF Senator Redheld Proctor to the gar
bled reports of testimony in the Gen.
Leonard Wood case and has asked the
Senate Committee on Military Affairs TO
consider IL it is fair for General Wood
to have his reputation stabbed by a
manipulation of the testimony in his
case while he is serving tn. Government
on the other side Of the world. All tes-
timony in the Wood case is given in Sc
cret sessions of the Committee on Mill
tary Affairs. and the reports Of these
sessions are said by Secretary Root to
be colored in the interest Of General
Woods enemies.
Brig. Gen. Tasker II. Bliss. who testi-
fed before the committee sent a COM
plant to Mr.. Root, which inspired the
Secretary's protest against the reports
General Bliss says he testified before
the committee that he had no instruc-
tons concerning the admission to Cuba.
free of duty. OF a silver service which
the 'Jai Alai gave to General Wood The
philadelphia Public Ledger published
q story In which General Bliss was
quoted as saying he had mandatory
instructions from General Wood to adj
nit the silverware free of duty.
Secretary Roots Letter.
Secretary Roots communication TO
Senator Proctor is as follows:
December u. 1903
Sir: inclose a letter from Brig. Gen.
Tasker II. Bliss. asking attention to the
report OF his recent testimony before
your committee as a witness regarding
certain objections to the confirmation OF
General Wood. 1t appears that the
press reports of General Bliss testimony
are the precise contrary of what he sn
fact testified. He wishes this set right
for his own reputation. and 1 shall take
the liberty of doing so. as far as practi-
cable. by giving his letter to the press.
AT the same time 1 wish to call the
attention 81 the committee to the fact
that some person seems 20 be persist
entity furnishing to the press false state
ments Of the testimony taken before
you. the perversion Of the evidence be-
ing in every case 70 the prejudice Of
General Wood 1t cannot be doubted that
the newspapers publishing these reports
believe them 70 be true. and that the re-
ports are sent to them by the repre-
sentatives of the press in good faith. I'M
der the same belief.
Trying to InjuTe Wood.
1T is evident that some person is
undertaking to convey to the press
representatives information OF what
gees on in the committee, and is taking
advantage of the fact that the evidence
IS not published 20 state It falsely. for
the purpose of injuring General Wood
81 the public estimation: so that. while
your committee will act upon the evil
dence actually before it, the public
Judgment as TO how you ought to act
will be based upon an entirely different
and erroneous idea OF what the evidence
1s.
IF the evidence actually given called
for General Woods presence. 1 should
OF course bring him back from the
Philippines, but do not feel justified
IN withdrawing him from the important
duties which he is performing on &C
count OF false reports OF evidence which
has never In fact been given. It hardly
seems fair that an oflcer who is not
here TO protect himself but is serving
his country faithfully. under orders.
on the other side Of the world. should
have his reputation stabbed in this way
I earnestly request your committees
attention to this subject.
Very respectfully.
"ELIHU ROOT.
Secretary OF War.
Zion Redfield Proctor acting chairman. |
Committee on Naval Affairs, United |
States Senate"
GeLeral Bliss Letter to Secretary.
General Bliss letter to Secretary Root
Is as follows:
Dee 10 1903
'"The Secretary OF War
Sir: I have the honor to invite your
attention 20 the article which 1 have
marked in the accompanying copy Of the |
philadelphia Ledger OF Thursday
morning. December TO- 1903. In con-
nection Herewith I beg to ask whether
II is not possible for the War De-
partment 20 take any steps for the pro- |
lection OF its officers who may be sub |
poenaed 10 give testimony before Con- |
gressional committee I'm secret session.
Twice 1 have appeared before the
Military Committee OF the Senate. under
orders from II. to give testimony in the |
investigation which IL is conducting in |
respect to the nomination of General /
Wood for promotion. On both Of these |
occasions / was examined as TO the |
admission OF certain package con-
tanning articles intended for General |
Wood. Immediately prior TO the with |
drawsl Of the American government OF |
occupation IN Cuba.
on each occasion I testified most posi-
lively, under oath. that neither directly /
nor indirectly, verbally nor in writing. /
personally from him nor through any SUI
0oronate. nor from any person whatso-
ever. had ! received even an intimation
as TO the remission Of duties upon these
articles; that I ordered the remission Of
duty because I believed then. and be-
heve now. that II was in accordance
with the law; that II any mistake was
mace l was solely responsible for n
and that II duties are stin due 70 the
Island OF Cuba on these articles, the