The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1903-12-19
SC'Y ROOT FOR GEN. WOOD
SAYS REPORTS SENT OUT sT
NEWSPAPERS ARE UNTRUE.
Has Addressed q Letter 10 Senator
Proctor Of the Committee on Mill
tary Affalrs-Rsfuses to Bring Gen.
Wood Back from Manila to Testify
Before Committee.

Washington, Dec. 16.-Secretary
Root has addressed the following let
ter to Senator Proctor. acting chair
man Of the committee on military Af-
fairs:
Sir: l enclose q letter from Brig
adler General Tasker II. Bliss, asking
attention to the report OF his recent
testimony before your committee as
witness regarding certain objections
to the confirmation Of General Wood
II appears that the press reports OF
General Bliss testimony are the pre-
else contrary OF what he in fact testi-
hed. He wishes this set right for
his own reputation and shall take
liberty OF doing so as far as praetiea-
BILE by giving his letter TO the press.
AT the same time wish to call
the attention Of the committee to the
fact that some persons seem TO be
persistently furnishing to the press
false statements OF the testimony TAX
en- by you. the perversion OF the eVi-
dence being in every case to the pref
udiee of General Wood. II can not
be doubted that the newspapers pub
fishing these reports believe them TO
be true and that the reports are sent
to them by the representatives OF the
press in good faith under the same
belief. 1t Is evident that some person
Is undertaking To convey TO the press
representatives information % what
goes on in the committee and Is TAX
ing advantage Of the fact that the eVt
dence Is not published TO state II false
Ily for the purpose OF in!uring Genera
Wood in the public mind: so thai
while your committee viii act upor
the evidence actually before II. tbs
public Judgment as TO how you oughI
to act will be based upon an entirely
, different and erroneous idea OF wha
the evidence Is.
| IF ths evidence actually given call
J ed for General Woods presence
, should. Of course. bring him back from
? the Philippines. but do not feel JUS
, titled In Withdrawing him from tn
Important duties which he Is perform
2 Ing on account Of false reports OF EVIL
= dence which has never In fact besi
0 given. II hardly seems fair that al
3 lonicer who Is not here TO protect him
self. but Is serving his country faith
+ fully under orders on the other sid
Q OF the world, should have his reputa
, ton stabbed in this way. earnestl
, request your committees attention 1
Q this subject. Very respectfully.
"ELIHU ROOT.
t Secretary Of War.
Bliss Letter.
General Bliss. in his letter. contri
: diets the report that he strongly Of
posed tho admission without paymer
Of duty Of the silver service purchase
In New York by the Jal AlaI and thl
he received mandatory instruction
from General Wood to admit said 81
& yer service free Of duty. lie says b
testified most positively under oat
1t that neither directly nor Indirect.
70 verbally or In writing. personally frol
d him or through any subordinate, nc
d from any person whatsoever had
received even an lntimation as TO n
remission OF duties upon these art
c Giles: that ordered the remission
duties because believed then and d
ID 50 now that II was In accordance Wit
Is the law; that II any mistake was mad
I was solely responsible for II. fu
81 Their testified that during the two ar
II half years that served directly u
- der the orders OF General Wood
military governor Of Cuba know
~ no action Of his that was not consI
tent with the character OF an homo
able officer and a man Of integrity.