Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-03-23
Governor General of Cuba De-
tends His Actions While In
That Island
GIFTS WERE "PuRELY PERSONAL
Brisadier General Leonard A. Wood,
Places in Hands of Secretary of War,
a Voluntary Statement Regarding
Charges Filed Against Him BY Ma
ior Rathbone.


General Leonard A. Wood has placed
lin the hands of the secretary of war
a voluntary statement regarding the
charges filed against him by Major
E. j. Rathbone, director general of
Cuban posts No official notice OF Ma
jor Rathbone's charges had been taken
by the secretary as yet, but General
Wood, on reading them, asked and re-
ceiyed permission to file at the depart
of the case before his departure for
service in the Philippines. General
Wood leaves Washington on Wednes-
day afternoon for Boston, whence he
sails on Thursday for Manila. Pending
the action Of the secretary on ms
statement General Wood refuses to
comment upon the charges, most oil
which he says have been heard before.
In his statement to the secretary, Cen
eral Wood denies that he received any
but purely personal" gifts while in
Cuba. AS to his attendance on the
Cal Allah" public institution at Ha-
vana, at which the Spanish national
game was played. General Wood calls
attention to the fact that the bishop
of Havana was present at the dedica-
ton of the institution and conducted
the service on that occasion. AS gov
ernor- general of Cuba it was his policy.
he says, to establish and maintain cor
dial relations with the people of the is
land, including the Spaniards, who
were the influential element. He felt.
he says, that it was but an apprecia-
ton of Spanish institutions to recog-
nize and patronize the Spanish ma
tional game. which corresponds to the
American game of racquets. and he
made it a point to attend the "Jai Allah
quite often in the evenings. being ac-
companied by several of his aides. The
latter. he says. received professional
instruction in the game. The institu-
ton, General Wood states, had drink
ing and betting privilege, legally grant
ed by the authorities, and was attended
in the evenings by from two to three
thousand people.
Last May on the Sunday before his
departure General Wood says he was
asked to receive a delegation OF Span
him a personal testimonial of their es-
TEEN. This proved to be handsome
silver service General Tasker III. Bliss,
then in charge of the customs service,
General Wood says, admitted the gift
free of duty, first, because under the
law no duty was collected on importa-
tons for officials and soldiers of the
United States: and secondly, because
= Soc. II, r,.nr tyVN
portation OF household goods and per-
sonal effects which were not to remain
permanently in the island. AS the Gus
toms houses already had been closed
that the governor general might make
a complete return of the funds in the
treasury at the hour of the American
evacuation, General Bliss could issue
no bond for the admission of the gift,
but he person examined 1T and
caused It's free
General Wo. J. fast night to the
Associated Press representative that he
would leave with each member of the
senate Cuban committee copy of his
statement to Secretary Root, and that
he was ready at any time to appear
before that committee to reply to any
charges which might be brought
against him. The Associated Press is
authorized by General Wood to define
his position briefly as follows:
General Wood is at any time ready
and glad to appear before any con-
gressional committee regarding any
charges which may be brought against
his record as governor general of Gu
ba. He refuses, however, to indulge in
a newspaper controversy under any
circumstances.