The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-11-12
COMMITTEE TO HEAR :
OBJECTIONS TO WOOD
Fight in the Senate Against
His Confirmation.
BEGINS IN SECRET SESSION
Mr.. Teller Asks That No Action Be
Taken Until Protest Car Be Filed
With Committee.

The Senate Committee on Military At
fairs today decided to hold a public
meeting on next Thursday to hear any
persons who object to tie confirmation
or the nomination Of Gen Leonard 3.
Wood TO be a major general
Mr.. RathbOne, formerly director gen.
eral Of posts in Cuba. is one of the wit
nesses TO be examined. Senators Teller
and Hanna, both of whom are friends
of Major Rathbone. have been notified
OF the intention of the committee. and
invited 10 be present.
A beginning was made in the Senate
yesterday. in the course of the executive
session. to prevent the confirmation of
Gen. Leonard Wood as major general.
L. s. A. 1t is recognized that If Gen
eral Woods confirmation is accomplish
ed at this time, he viii become head OF
the army in 1908. and have the prospect
OF continuing in that petition until his
retirement in 1924 This would so eff
fectiveIy block the ambition of all other
that a general fight against the confir-
nation viii be conducted by men within
the service.
Far and away beyond this element Of
personal interest, however. is the fight
against General Wood for alleged indis-
cretlons and errors OF official conduct
while governor general or Cuba.
Evidence will be forwarded IN detail &
is said. by Estes G. Rathbone. formerly
director general of posts in Cuba, whom
General Wood was instrumental in send
ing to jail in Cuba, for completely in
postal frauds in the island and - ex-
penditure of public money for the pay
ment OF private bills in the course Of his
official service.
In Executive Session.
In executive session yesterday, when
General Woods nomination for promo
ton was read in the batch of over ]. 600
army names, Senator Teller of Colorado
requested that no action be taken in re-
gard to this nomination until he could
file with the Committee on Military AZ
fairs a protest against its confirmation
and charges 10 substatiate the protest.
Senator Teller Is close to the leaders
Of the Democratic national committee.
representatives and members OF which
went TO Havana several months ago in
an effort 10 get evidence that General
Wood had received from the Jai Alai,
well-known sporting association in
Havana. certain valuable gifts in return
for having extended the charter Of the
association Tor period OF ten years
Just as he was evacuating the island
with the American troops in May. 1902
General Wood frankly admitted receiv-
ing the gifts. but denied that they were
given him for any service of the kind
charged.
Mr. Rathbone made serious charges
against General Wood. and endeavored
TO prove the latter guilty OF the same
extrava gances in Cuba that were
charged against Mr.. Rathbone This
data viii be drawn upon by those who
are lighting the generals confirmation.
A Mass of Data.
In addition to this. the Military Az
fairs Committee Of the Senate will be
confronted with a mass of informa ton
in regard 10 General Woods promotion.
Long lists of the officers over whose
heads ne has been promoted will be
brought forward as reason why be
should not now be made major gem
eral
General Woods friends are, in the
meantime not Idle. They have collect
ed from the archives of the War De-
partment all the official commentator
of his services including his part In
the famous campaign against Geronimo
and his services later as volunteer
regiment commander in Cuba and as
military governor OF Cuba