The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1903-08-08

days when the name Of Leonard Wood
is mentioned in the hearing Of some of
the old veterans.
OF those whom love of Roosevelt
hath singled out the name OF Wood
Overtops the slate OF army officers in
tended for promotion. There is pathos
as well as injustice in the fact that
scores of gallant and accomplished Of
fcers Of the civil war are TO be retired
and denied forever the chance that is
marked for the Presidents play
ground pal. Simply because Wood
has been the friend, conidant and
playfellow of the playful young man
who happens to be President of the
United States, Leonard Wood, five
years ago an army doctor, with the
rank of captain, has been continually
and rapidly advanced in rank, pay and
power over the heads ofolder and bet
soldiers, whose lives have not only
been faithfully devoted to the service
of their country, but who have been
imperlled in every crisis that has on
fronted it in forty years.
1t matters not if the old veterans
shed their blood for the Union and are
entitled by every precedent of military
usage, every mede of honor and all
logic of justice to rank above this little
while-ago army apothecary. From
Colonel of a volunteer regiment to ma
%jor-general of volunteers aud then
brIgadier general IN the regular SER
vice. Then a governor general to Cuba,
a position in which he was allowed IN.
limited power along with the privilege
OF disbursing $50, 900, 900, for which
he has been held accountable to moth
ing and nobody save himself and his
own sweet will. 1t has mattered not
that accusations so grave qgainst Gen
eral Woods conduct in Cuba as to
provoke an effort to have his admins
tration investigated. Wood was su-
premely indifferent to his accusers.
Had not President Roosevelt in a pub
lie speech denouced them as "branded
with imfamyP" So Roosevelt's con-
gressmen and Roosevelt's administra-
tion blocked absolutely all inquiry as
to Woods conduct in Cuba. Woods
notorious acceptance Of costly gifts
from the s'Jai Alai," a well known
Havana gambling concern, was pub
lisbed everywhere. 1t was all right
with Roosevelt il Wood did it. When
the question of Cuban reciprocity was
pending before congress Wood busted
himself seeking to influence legislation,
emp sying Cuban funds to promote
reciprocity. 1t happened at the same
time that the beet sugar people of the
West to Secretary of the Department
of Agriculture James Wilson, as their
friend, to say a word to congressman.
Not regarding it proper for an execu-
tive officer to appear to NEEDLE with
the affairs of the legislative branch Of
the government, Mr.. Wilson declined.
But it was different with Wood. He
could do what no other executive officer
dared 10 attempt. Wood had no sooner
become governor. general of Cuba than
he at once c~onsorted with certain
newspaper writers to discredit the ad-
ministratiOn Of his predecessor, General
Brooke, and TO boost the adminsstra-
tion of General Wood. One of Woods
faVorite proteges IN the exploitation of
his autocrallc glories was one Bellsirs.
a former convict in the Florida peniten-
tlary. Wood, through this fellow and
Others who stopped over about him
continually and ~eomplacently, took
credit for what was due others and
laughed at every bad thing that was
imputed to him. Returning to Wash
ington at the close of the American
occupation of Cuba, Wood loafed at
and around the white house. Although
an officer of the army and liable to
duty, for months and months he was
allowed to idle in Washington, doing
nothing, unassigned, doing utterly
nothing Of which the public could
learn except TO chase across the coun-
try with Roosevelt and play slap stick
with him in the Roosevelt white house
Playroom.
At last the time comes for Wood to
be moving. The best of friends must
some time tire of each others com
pany. So 1t is arranged for Wood to
go to the Philippines, there, IN the due
Cue course of expeditions arrangement,
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