The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-21
REASONS GIVEN FUR APPOINTING WOOD Secretary Root Gives Facts to
 Senator Proctor A REWARD FOR GOOD WORK Quotes Various Generals and Others as Saying That Wood Was the
 Best Man to Have Been
 Left at Santiago.
A REWARD FOR GOOD WORK

Washington, December 20.-The letter of Secretary Root to Senator Proctor, act ing chairman of the committee on mil- itary affairs. dated November Is last, giv- ing resume of the military record of General Leonard Wood, and stating the chief considerations which led to his nomination as major general, was made public today. After quoting from remarks commendatory to General Wood, made by Generals Miles, Lawton. Graham and For sythe. the letter recites that upon these and similar evidences of fitness, President Mckinley appointed Captain Wood colo mel of the First Volunteer cavalry, trough riders), In May, 1899. The secretary also quotes from the commentators of Gen erals Young, Wheeler, Sumner and Shaf- ter of General Woods conduct in the San tiago campaign and says General Woods appointment as commander of the Santi- ago province appears to have been based upon statement made by General Shaf- ter in a despatch 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 connection:
 High Estimates.
 "The high estimate put by secretary of war upon General Woods services as military governor, is shown in the pub lished orders of the war department" re- ferring to the general orders of March 25, 1903, and July f. 1902, which have here tofore been published.
 The secretary adds that the opinion expressed in those orders also was the opinions of both Presidents under which the service was rendered. saying:
 Upon review of General Woods en- tire military record, I think it fair to say that no officer of the American army below the grade of Major General has held more important command, render ed more distinguished service or demon- strated to higher degree the possession Of the qualities which fit a man to ren- der valuable services to the country as major general"
 In speaking of the principles which sound policy requires the President to follow in making appointments, the sec retary says:
 nule IS Apdndoned.
 ''The law which recognizes sovereignty alone as to the title of promotions up to the grade of colonels, abandons that rule when 1t deals with general officers and imposes upon the President the duty of selecting the best men for generals. without expressing any limitations upon the class from which he Is to make the selections"
 The secretary adds that when such a selection is to be made, two different considerations always present themselves to the appointing mind-first, a desire to reward long and meritorious service, the other to secure the best possible man. He says considerations do not all ways coincide pointing to the same man.
 Continuing, he says:
 The appointment of honor often comes to ofhcers when their careers are about to close; when they have passed the period Of initiative, of ambition and stren- uous exertion, and have come to the period of comparative repose
 Can't Reach Highest Standards.
 An army, all of whom it's general of- ncers are selected for the purpose of conferring awards and thus having at it's head a constantly shifting body Of general officers, hone of whom has Hiofe tnan a very lew years to serve and all or nearly all of them are just closing their careers and resting unon their laurels cannot possibly reach inc highest standard of efficiency. To have a live army which keeps abreast of the times in a constant state of preparation and ready to meet emergencies with the greatest activity and force, we must have a reasonable proportion of general off cers selected from men in the prime of life with careers to make, with ambi- tions, energy, initia tive and whose ser vices will be long enough to maintain continuity of policy and sustained effort in working out ideas which require time for the accomplishment"
 Previous rank,' continues the secre- tary, lis of little consequence, provided the service shall have been long enough to furnish the requisite experience and make the demonstration of capacity cer- tain."
 The secretary says he thinks both con alterations unite in the case of General Wood and concludes by saying that Gen. eral Woods record and the views of pub- lie policy led President Mckinley to an- point him a brgadier general, and that