Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-11-20
GENERAL WOOD
UNDER FIRE.
Question Of His Confirmation is
: Discussed by the Senate in
Secret Session.
THERE IS MUCH OPPOSITION.
senator Hanna Declared His Actions
In the Rathbone Case Showed Unit
ness for High Command

ellington, Nov 19.-rhe inquiry OF
sho senate committee on military AZ
,o,rs into the opposition to the comm
,,a, NJ den. Leonard Wood to be
major general in the army, was pesuh
.aaav and the hearing 80 far as 1t has
cone was behind closed doors BEFORE
.,os,nq the doors there were exchanges
:, orip,ou concerning the proprlety oil
,,,ar,ng the proceedings public. The
IL, vas raised by Senator Quarles
and several other members of the COM
,r,,tee that as all OF the business was
executive In character the committee
IA M right to make It public without
a., occurring an order from the senate.
senator Scott made a plea for open
sessions during the hearing. 1T VIII
ali he in the evening papers anyhow
no said. and think IL better to nave
az authorized report than to try TO
hide the proceedings
Others said they had no objection TO
,ublicity, but contended that the COM
,nittee could not itself assume authority
10 opeu the doors to the press.
In addition 10 the members OF the
committee and the newspaper men,
senators Hanna and Teller ana MAI
Estes q. Rathbone were present, lne
three last named being prepared 70
present objections TO Gen, oou
COMBINATION. 1t was stated that no
chorqes had yet been filed against the
General but Senator Proctor, who pre-
e,ded said that he understood That
Mai Rnthbone would present such
charges.
II has been determined that the ses-
slons OF the committee Will not be pub
Tic The objections made In the com
mittee today were sufficient TO snow
the disposition of senators on this
matter
Al the session of the committee today
Senator Teller said he objected TO Gen,
Wood because of the injustice that
WAS being done to the army by his pro-
motion.
Senator Hanna said that the action
OF Gen. Wood In the Rathbone case
was,of n character to show ms unnt-
ness for high command.
Senator Hanna's protest dealt prin-
cipally with his active interest in be-
half OF Mr.. Rathbone. when he was un-
per prosecution for malfeasance In Of
fee as directors OF posts for Cuba In
1900 and In subsequent years. He said
that Gen. Woods requirement that
Rathbone should give a cash bond OF
$4,000 In American gold when he was
first arrested was beyond all reason, In
view Of the fact that the amount hi
was charged with misappropriaung was
only about $4,000, and he contendec
thata man who would be so unjust anc
so unfair under the circumstances
should not be entrusted with high com
mand He also spoke OF his long ac
ouaintance with Mai. Rathbone, and
reiterated his confidence in his integ
rltys
Senator Teller said that he hat
known Mai Rathbone for many year
and from his knowledge of him, both II
public and private life, he felt the ma
Tor had been unjustly treated undo
the directions Of Gen. Wood. III
then took up the question OF the pro
motion Of Gen. Wood and went int
details to show that he had heel
pressed forward IN IAN unprecedente'
manner He said that from the tim
Of he beginning of the Cuban wal
when Gen. Wood was n surgeon wit
the rank of captain. he had been lifte
over the heads of almost 800 other ON
GERS, of whom half had seen service |
the Civil war.
The committee will continue its SEES
sion tomorrow.