The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-04
HEATH AND WOOD.

In condemnng Heath and backing Genera
Wood, President Roosevelt offers an inconsistency
TO the public. The circumstances involved i'll iii.
two cases not alike. but each is of prominence
and Importance. The facts tending TO warrant 4
presumption of Heatlis conscious connection with
the postal scandal are decidedly fewer than those
which would justify Woods promotion.
The Bristow report involves Heath but lacks
the direct evidence that might be accepted as re-
Election upon his integrity. On the other hand the
testimony of Major General Brooke and of Major
Runcie before the Senate Committee on Military
Affairs seriously affects General Wood as to both
military conduct and the observance Of military
proprieties.
BY inference Heath is accused of mlsmanagc-
ment: and, by another Inference, of a degree OF
responsibility for the shocking state of affairs In
the PostOtfice Department Wood is directly ac-
cused. Unless he produce facts which will con-
tradict General Brooke and Major Runce, he does
not deserve the high rank which Roosevelt would
confer upon him.
Roosevelt affixed the seal of his official approval
upon the Bristow report. The report places Heath
before the public under kind of yelled, back-ac-
tion indirect, nconclusive but compromising ndict-
ment The Republic is not interested in a defense
of the former First Assistant Postmaster General
anu DeHeVeS tnlC were lie 10 uiScluSe Gil lie huOWS
as secretary of the Republican National Campaign
Committee a very interesting chapter would he
added to the history of the Republican party. But
that is not the question now the point is that the
Presidents attitude toward the clever Mr.. Perry
Heath is admirable illustration of the mpulsive
and unreasonable policies often pursued by the
opinionated and autocratc occupant of the White
House.
Ac IN rhofa Tho f0nt TJo &c
geon, whose active service career-save for brush
with Filpinos the other day-was mere episode
of red tape, and whose advancement wholly rests
upon good civil administration when Governor
General of Cuba. The press of the land almost
unanimously has cried out against this one mans
advancement over the heads of some three or four
lished and again, setting forth his career
in detail. STILL we have been practically told from
the White House that he is the greatest man the
army ever knew.
And he is charged point blank with
pleasant things by Major Rathbone, with gross in
by retired Major General, and with
collaborating with Ray Stannard Baker
in writing article rejecting upon General Brooke
which appeared in one of the Eastern magazines
over the signature of Major Runcie.
AS with every complication in matters of state,
the question before the public and administration
boils down into the simple inquiry, what to do
In the case Of Heath it would seem that, If the
man is to be condemned in public opinion, more
Of basis in fact for such attitude towards him
should be Forthcoming. To simply throw him out
Of the National Committee, to eliminate him with
out sufficient explanation, especially since Sena
tor Hanna stands by him, gives him the look of a
victim of presidential prejudices
With reference to Wood. the charges against him
should be fully investigated. He should be brought
back from the Philippines to make what answer
he can. If his explanations are unsatisfactory to
the Senate committee the latter should not alone
fuse to confirm his nomination, but should rebuke
him. The nomination should not he confirmed in
any event, since his services have not been of such
overwhelming Importance that recognition of them
requires an overturnins of army precedents.