The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-07
sU9SA
President Roosevelt Will NOmi-
nate Him for Major General.
His Confirmation Is Expected
Within Ten Days.
HANNA OPPOSES 1T.
Notified President He Would
Continue the Fight.
Committee Is Understood to Be
for the General.
HANNA OPPOSES 1T.

Washington, Dec THE president
will send to the senate today the nomi-
nation of Leonard Wood to be major
general and those of 167 other officers
dependent upon General Woods promo
ton.
He will also send in the nominations
of about 25 civilian appointees who
failed of confirmation. including DR..
Crum. to be collector of the port of
Charleston. The commissions of all
these appointees have been dated at
the time of their original appointments
and are regarded by the president as
being recess appointments.
A representative of the administration
said to-day assurances had been given
that Mr.. Wood would be confirmed in
tween Senator Hanna and the
President did not result as was
hoped by some of the friends
of General Wood, in the with
drawal of the senator's opposition. The
two talked over the matter spiritedly
and candidly. Hanna said he was firm
ly convinced that the general was not
fitted for the position to which it was
suggested he would be raised He said,
too, that Wood had purposely and
knowingly injured and disgraced his
friend, Rathbone, and that the senator
could not forgive him. Hanna is re-
ported to have told the President that
he was determined to make dignihed
resistance until the last to the nomi-
nation, but that he did not feel a per-
sonal resentment toward those who
were backing Wood.
The president pointed out to Senator
Hanna that President Mckinley, his
dearest friend had promoted General
Wood repeatedly, and that it was
through President Mckinley that WOOD
was raised to the rank of brigadier gen
eral, thus putting him in line for the
present promotion. The conference had
no other result than to show that each
man was standing by his friend, and
that while each had the greatest ad-
miration for the other, the greatest re-
spect for the opinion of the other, IN
most things, each would persist in the
course so far followed so far as General
Wood is concerned
1t is regarded as settled that the nom
ination will. have favorable report
from the committee on military AFFAIRS
The testimony to be offered before that
committee has very largely been given
Unless some unheard of evidence shpuid
come up to influence senators, there VIII
not be at the most more than two or
three votes against confirmation in the
committee.
Senator Scott is generally believed to
be settled in his conviction to vote
against the nomination. senators tors
are known to be as firmly in favor OF
confirmation. Quarles is believed to be
favorable. ard Warren is regarded as
likely to vote for confrma ton. or the
Democrats Cockrell, Pettus and Black
burn favor confirmation, while Bate is
regarded as doubtful.
The opinion that prevails IN the COM
mittee is so pronounced for WOOD tnat
even the opposition senators have no
expectation of a change of sentiment
or of an adverse report
If Senator Hanna should appeal to
his friends as personal matter to
stand by him the consequences are re-
garded as likely to lead to decidedly
strained relations between the pres1-
dent and the Ohio senator. No such
step is expected.
BY the manner of adjourning the
house the extra session of the fifty
eighth congress will expire by constitu-
tionaI limitation, when the regular ses-
sion begins. This eliminates the possi-
bility Of recess between the two ses-
sions and opportunity for the pres1-
dent to review his civil and military
recess appointments. Such appoint
ments as have not been confirmed by
the senate during the extra session,
must be renewed simply In the form
of nominations, which, in effect, are
but recommendations and do not be-
come effective in any case until con-
firmed by the senate.
In effect, this action will denote
General Leonard Wood from his pres
ent rank of major general, to which
the senate has not confirmed him, to
the rank of brigadier general, which he
held prior to August 8, last. 1t also
will denote in like manner, 167 army
officers, who were promoted respec-
lively to fill the vacancies caused by
the promotion of General Wood
The important civil appointments
affected include William D. Crum, as
collector of customs at Charleston, S.
C.; Charles P. McClelland, as q. member
of the board of general appraisers of
merchandise at New York. and T. "
McAlIister, of Vicksburg, Miss, as re-
ceiver of public moneys, all of whom
are serving under recess appointments,
the effect being to vacate their pres
ent positions. AS Collector Crum's re-
cess appointment has thus been termi-
mated, and the situation in the senate
has been such that his confirmation is
despaired of, the collectorship of the
port of Charleston will remain vacant
until the expiration of the next session
of congress, unless the president selects
some one else for this place and the
nomination is confirmed by the senate.