The sun., 1903-12-16
CALLS WOOD A FALSIFIER.
lLEXIS Il. FRYE DOES Not RE-
GARD Mn AS TRUTHFUL.
srcretar, Root to Testify yTO-day-RepOrt to
BE Made to Senate on Jan. 4, when .
Demand VIII he Made 10 Have Proceed
inrs Published and Wood Summoned.

Demand VIII he Made 10 Have Proceed
inrs Published and Wood Summoned.
WASHINGTON, Dec. l5,-Major James F.
Runcie, Inspector General George H. Bur-
ton, L. s. A, and Alexis f. Frye were the
witnesses before the Senate Committee on
Military Affairs to-day which Is reaching
an end Of the hearings on the charges
against Gen Leonard Wood
Major Rnncie's testimony was Of little
importance so far as it bore on the matter
of the article in the North American Reriep
written by him but inspired by Gen. Wood
Mr. Ray Stannard Bakers testimony on
that point having been submitted to Ma jor
Runcie he took occasion to reiterate that
Gen Wood had inspired the article in ques-
ton and that he had talked with Gen Wood
about the article both before and after 1t was
published.
Major Runcie gave the committee some
valuable information regarding the Cas-
teheda concession at Havana, which was
granted and confirmed by Gen. Wood
under circumstances which left Secretary
Root in the dark concerning the true char
acer of the proceedings. The Castefieda
said to be established at Havana by virtue
of Gen Woods order, issued in violation
OF the Foraker act.
Inspect or General Burton was called
merely to establish the date upon which
he began investigation OF the Cuban postal
frauds, the purpose being to determine
whether this date preceded the date Of
Cen Woods arbitrary changes in the penal
code of Cuba admitting ex parte evidence
in criminal trials.
One Of Major E. G.. Rathbone's charges
against Gen. Wood Is that the military order
in question worked to the injury of parties
on trial and resulted in a miscarriage Of
Justice
The most interesting testimony OF the
day was offered by Alexis E. Frye, former
Of Public Instruction in
Cuba and formerly an intimate friend Of
Gen Wood Mr.. Frye told the committee
Of the visit Of 300 Cuban teachers to Har-
ward University in 1900 and OF certain cir
connected Herewith which
caused him to lose faith in the word Of
Gen Wood.
Before the teachers left for the United
States Gen. Wood informed Mr., Frye that
he intended TO issue an order curtailing the
eachers' salaries. Mr.. Frye asked that
his project be abandoned, and especially
.eouested that the teachers be not deprived
,f their full salaries during their visit to the
United States.
Upon arrival at Harvard Mr.. Frye told
Eliot Of Gen. Woods proposed
lction. President Eliot, said the witneas,
vas much =. interested IN tn the matter. and
,ot cut down satarise during the visit Of
he teachers, AZ he feared the news would
,ullify all the pleasant and profitable Inn
oreseions gained on the trip. Nevertheless
he order was Issued
Gen. Wood visited Boston while the Cuban
teachers we're there. He learned of the
that his order had made
and in O speech to the teachers, President
Eliot being present, Gen. Wood told the
eachers that he had no idea how the order
'ame to be issued that he had not author
zed its issuance. and that it would be re-
'cinded; and that. 30 long as he remained
at the head of affairs in Cuba. there would
90 no reduction in the salaries of teachers.
Stenographic notes Of Gen. Wood speech
were submitted to-day by Mr. Frye to the
committee. In spite of this public decla-
-ation, continued the witness, an official
and the order was issued by Gen. Woods
This incidert caused Mr.. Frye to lose
'ai'h entirely in the promises Of Gen. Wood
TIE witness referred to President Eliot
nr sIbs'antiation of the statement that
zen. Wood assured the teachers that no
re!uction in salaries would be made.
Mr. Frye also told of breakfast given by
zen. Wood to himself and seven school
Inspectors at Havana, at which protest
vas made by the inspectors against the
action of military inspectors. who at several
it,( (',,l hnI ~ ,,I<N
Gen. Wood. according to Mr.. Frye, |
SsUrod his guests that authority had never !
cen given the military Inspectors to close !
schools, but on the contrary they had !
'cen specifically instructed not to interfere |
With the schools. Yet even while the |
lreakfast was being, served. military in
pertors were out in the provinces. in some |
Instances closing schools and interfering |
With the administration of others, and their |
"s were approved by Gen. Wood.
The result Of this action was to bring |
,hout break between the witness and Gen. |
!. Aood. One Of the Senators to-day asked
dr, Frye if he regarded Gen. Wood as
70 did not.
The committee will call Secretary Root |
@ the stand tomorrow, and it is expected |
hat his testimony will close the in
'estigation. The committee is not ex-
so Sn S make rb1 s s the S seoae
enc after the holiday recess.
At the request Of Senator Hanna, who |
MI have business at Columbus in the in |
erin in connection with his reelection to
he Senate, it is probable that the COM
nlttee will postpone making its report
ntil he can return to Washington.
A minority report will be made, since |
is a foregone conclusion that the maj jority |
u the committee will make a report favor
he to Gen Wood
When he two reports reach the Senate
demand will be made that the proceed
nEs taken thus far in secret be published |
n full, in order that the public may de-
ermine for itself whether the testimony |
as been garbled by the preess.
demand will also be made that Gen.
ood be summoned from the Philippines
0 face the evidence brought out in the |
1vestigation. This demand will be based |
n the fact that Gen. Wood is not now con-
'onted by mere charges. but by evidence |
support of the charges that have gone |
D far TO establish their truth that it cannot |
e ignored by an officer of the army.
I Bl LEARNS FROM nOOD CASE