New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-14
THE WOOD CONTROVERSY.


tive consideration by it of the nomination OF
Leonard Wood TO be major general has aroused
once more the activity of those who, on vari-
Gus grounds, object to his advancement 1t is
intimated that a public hearing on the nomina-
ton will be given by the Senate Committee on
Military Affairs and that the friends of Estes
c. Rathbone will seek to show that irregulari-
ties in Cuba for which Rathbone has suffered
were really due to General Wood. III SUCH
hearing is held the work Of Bellairs VIII doubt
less be exploited and attempts made to trace
some improper connection between Bellairs and
General Wood. The friends of General Brooke
will perhaps also be interested to present their
favOrite allegation that General Wood arranged
for and inspired Major Runcies North Ameri-
can Review" article attacking General Woods
superior, General Brooke and afterward evaded
responsibility for It. Finally, all the army in
huences opposed to General Woods exceedingly
rapid promotion as an injustice to other officers
will. of course plead that he has already had
ample conversation for his services They
saw that his previous extraordinary advance
ment out of turn on account Of those services
should not be made the excuse for still further
promotion at the expense of Others They point
10 presidents for the promotion Of older, but
now Junior bTigadier generals before him, and
assert that passing him over at this time would
not be any reflection upon him, but merely
recognition of the fact that, having properly
been rewarded for the past, necessarily at the
expense Of Others it was the turn of others to
60 up while he should be content to wait little
for his next step toward the top of the army list
This last question of the timeliness of the pro-
motion and its justice to other men may be pre-
scented TO the committee in such way that 1t
can reach a satisfactory conclusion On the merits
a. TNn,4g o1x invn alvin
judgment and considerations of expediency and
fairness which Senators can easily bring 10 the
study Of executive nominations. But ii is to be
feared that no such satisfactory conclusion can
be reached with respect to the other points in
controversy They belong in the domain Of for
NAL investigation. Some of the charges reflect
on General Woods personal and professional
honor. They can be proved or disproved only
by witnesses. A great mass of gossip and
rumor has been put in circulation, vouched for
by various persons except those who before
court of inquiry could give any conclusive test
mony on the real question at issue. Just what
is to be accomplished by spreading all this be-
fore a committee is not apparent.
For instance 1.-THE New-YOrk Sun" said on
June last that it held the signed declaration of
more than one reputable and responsible wit
ness that Major Runcie had stated to them that
eral Woods request. 1t also said that 1t had
seen the statement in Major Runcie's own hand
writing to the effect that he wrote it for q man
introduced by General Wood for that purpose,
and that when inquiry about 1t had been sent
from Washington General Wood had made
statements which were not In conformity with
the facts. These charges concerning the Runcie
matter are serious, as we have hitherto said
If they are true General Wood is unworthy of
high command. The Runcie affair should have
been investigated officially when 1t first oc
CURED, and proper punishment meted out for
the military offence against General Brooke.
Then all the facts would have come out in order
But just what can Senate committee do now?
1t might get this testimony which The Sun"
promised 10 produce. and indeed should now be
asked by the committee to produce, but that is
hearsay, so far rs General Woods alleged Of
fence goes. If because Of fits being only hearSay,
the committee favored General Wood, his
mics would still 90 up and down the country
circulating scandal and proclaiming that the
general had failed to deny their charges, but
simply rested their inability to get first hand
witnesses TO testify. If, on the other hand, the
committee rejected the nomination, 1t would be
said that he was the victim OF irresponsible
rumor and had been condemned on charges that
could properly be tried only in a military court,
where he had a chance TO defend himself.
This unfortunate controversy. so harmful TO
the army and to General Wood, does not, there
FORE seem in a way to be happily settled. 1t is
q pity that General Wood did not ask court
Of inquiry when the ISLANDERS were first uttered
and force his enemies to prove their charges
or forever keep still. Now the alleged offences
are no longer subject to review under the
statute of limitations, and neither General
Wood, General Brooke nor Major Runcie would
have any standing a petitioner for an in
quiry. Nevertheless General Wood might force
the issue and clear the air. If he were to enter
formal denial that these charges about his con-
nection with and subsequent reputation Of
Major Runcie were true that would be accepted
as satisfactory unless actually disproved. AS
the denial IL untrue. would be itself an occa-
sion for court martial his enemies could no
longer complain that they were not allowed to
prove their case, and in their failure TO do so
they would be utterly dscredited and he would
be triumphantly indicated. That vindication
should be forthcoming 1t is neither just to
General Wood nor TO the army that his nOmi-
nation should be rejected on the strength Of
irresponsible hearsay evidence, the one
hand. or, on the other. confirmed, for political
or personal reasons in the face of serious allega-
tons which have not been sifted TO the bottom
or even squarey denied. The whole matter
should be disposed OF thoroughly once for all.