The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-21
REASONS THAT LED TO
APPOINTMENT OF WOOD
Principal Points of Secretary
Roots Letter to Chairman of
Senate Military Committee.
LIVE MEN IN THE ARMY
Needed in Higher Grades to OBJ
tain Best Results-WoodS
Ability and Services.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2O.-The letter of
Secretary Root to Senator Proctor. acting
chairman of the committee on military af-
fairs, dated Nov. IS last, giving resume
of the military record of Gen. Leonard
Wood and stating the chief considerations
which led to his nomination as a major
general, made public to-day After
quoting from remarks commendatory to
General Wood na6e by Generals Miles,
Lawton, Graham and Forsythe. the letter
recites that upon these and similar evil
dences of fitness. President Mckinley APP
pointed Captain Wood colonel of the First
volunteer cavalry in May, 1885," The Sec
rotary also quotes fl ON the concentrations
of Generals Young. Wheeler, Sumner and
Shafter on General Woods conduct in the
Santiago campaign, and says General
Woods appointment as commander of the
Santiago province appears to have been
based on a statement made by General
Shafter in dispatch to the department. in
which he said he thought General Wood
by far the best man to leave in command
at Santiago"
The secretary reviews General Woods
subsequent military career, saying in this
connections: 1.-The high estimate put by the
secretary of war upon General Woods
services as military governor is shown in
the published orders of the War Depart
ment," abiding to the general orders of
March Is. 1903, and July 4, 1902, which have
heretofore been published. The secretary
adds that the opinions expressed in those
orders also were the opinions of both
presidents under whom the service was
rendered, saying:
Upon a review of General Woods entire
military record, think it fair to say that
no officer of the American army below the
grade of major general has held more i'm
portant commands, rendered more distin-
guished service demonstrated to a higher
degree the possession of the qualities which
nj man TO render valuable services TO the
country as a major general"
In speaking of the principles which, he
says, sound policy requires the President to
follow In making appointments, the secre-
tary says:
The law which recognizes seniority alone
as the title to promotion up to the grade of
colonel abandonS that rule when it deals
with general officers and imposes upon the
President the duty of selecting the best men
for generals without expressing any lirnita-
ton upon the class from which he is to
| make the selection"
The secretary adds that when such a Sc
lection Is to be made two different consid-
eratiOnS always present themselves to the
| long and meritorious service, the other to
secure the best possible man. He says con-
siderations do not always coincide, pointing
to the same man. Continuing. he says:
THE appropriate reward of honor fire.
| quently comes to our officers when their
| careers are about to close-when they have
| passed the period of initiative OF ambition
| and strenuous exertion-and have come to
| the period of comparative repose. An army,
all of whose general officers are selected
| for the purpose of comforting rewards and
| thus having at its head constantly shift
| ing body of general officers, none of whom
has more than very few years to serve,
| and all, nearly all, of them are just
| closing their careers and resting upon their
laurels. cannot possibly reach the highest
standard of efficiency. To have a live
army, which keeps abreast of the times,
in constant state Of preparation and
| ready to meet emergencies with the great
| est activity and force, must have a
reasonable proportion OF its general officers
selected from the men in the prime of life,
! with careers to make, with ambitions en-
/ ergy, initiative, and whose service will be
| long enough TO maintain continuity of pol
| ideas which require time for their accom-
| plishment.
| Previous rank" continues the secretary,
| lis of little consequence provided the serv-
| Ice shall have been long enough to furnish
the requisite experience and make the dem.
| onstration of capacity certain
| The secretary says he thinks both con-
| siderations unite in the case of General
| Wood, and concludes by saying that Gen
| eral Woods record and the views of public
! policy led President Mckinley to appoint
| him brigadier general, and that the pres
ent nomination is in the regular order of
| seniority.