The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-11-13
CITES ENDORSEMENT BY
LAWT0k, MILES, ALGER,
AND OTHER SUPERIORS
Hearing Ordered by Sen
ate Committee on Mil
itary Affairs for Next
ThurSday-The Kath-
bone Accusations.

The strong current OF opposition to the
promotion Of Brig Gen. Leonard Wood
TO be a major general Of the regular
army, has moved the Senate Commit
tee on Military Affairs to order a hear
Ing of the matter before the nomination
is considered in executive session. The
hearing is set for next Thursday. and
will probably be public.
What charges viii form the basis OF
the hearing is not clearly known 1t Is
believed. however 1t will deal almost
exclusively with certain accusations to
be filed by Estes G. RathbOne. former
y chief OF the Cuban department Of
posts. That gentleman came TO Wash
ington yesterday morning equipped with
an a7ray OF documents on General
Woofs career as military governor Of
Cuba, whic.i h thinks must surely i'm
press the comnlittee.
Senator Hanna in the Opposition.
In any event he is to have a chance.
Senator Hanna has undertaken TO OBJ
tain for Major Rathhone an inquiry in
10 the circumstances Of his conviction
Tor rnisdemeanOrs while in charge Of the
Cuban postal service. This seems TO in
elude also a determination on the part
OF the Senator TO see that Major Rath-
bones charges against General Wood
are also heard. whatever they are or
however they have been already answer
ed Senator Hanna IS thought TO be op-
posed pers ynally to Generals Woods ad-
vance over more experienced officers on
the general ground that the distinction
has not been earned Whether this win
carry him TO the point OF an active
campaign against the confirmation OF
the appointment. is however, much
doubted.
The one cfher Senator who has active
" oOntribUssd to the opposition is Mr.
Teller. who had the nomination held
up last Wednesday for investigation.
He has since explained that he had no
personal interest in the matter and act
ed merely on behalf Of several army
officers. None of these officers win ap-
pear before the committee. Of course.
and no charges are expected from them
The Rathbone Accusations.
The Rathbone story of maladministra-
tion by General Wood was disclosed last
spring. II was then said, in the course
Of a general assault op the military
governor. that General Wood had re-
ceived a virtual bribe from a club Of
gamblers IN Havana. the "Jai Alai''
Company. and that ne had exceeded all
the bounds &C justice in order to prose-
cute RathF ore. These charges were
ignored BY the War Department on the
ground that u was already known to
the Secretary OF War that the charges
were in every respect without just foun-
dation"
Two OF three counts against General
Wood have since been added One Is 70
the effect ti.at he had various improper
dealings with a syndicate of Philadel-
phia flEanciers which has since obtained
credits the subsequent military governor
with having; inspired an attack on Cen
erai Brooke While the latter was in com
mand OF the ISLAND This - Ock con-
sisted OF an article in the North Amer 1
scan Review. which bore the caption !
United States MisgovernmenJ in Cuba. % /
and was gned by Major J. C. Runcie
But the Senate. as a whole. is not ex- J
pected TO take any great interest in /
these accusations. II is anticipated. BY
General Woods friends at least, that
they will not bear even an Informal ex-
animation.
A Matter of Service.
The real opposition in the Senate viii
depend on an almost general impression /
that General Wood has been promoted 1
fsrther and faster than his achieve /
ments IN the service warranted. and that 4
older officers have suffered in conse-
quence. There are said 10 be several 4
Senators firmly enough convinced OF 4
this 70 vote against confirmation OF 4
The appointment But no one with any
Knowledge Of the situation has yet said ,
this number was great enough to con-
troll the vote Of the Senate.
Anticipating, possibly exactly this
sentiment. General Wood prepared, be-
Confined On Third Paee.)