The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1903-01-08
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is held down By Major General
Leonard Wood. he draws $500 per
year and his dutie> apparently con-
sist Of amusing the president-or per
haps he statement may be revei sed
the president Is amusing him.
More than one government official
whose labors require at least eight
hours attendance at the desk during
the day have asked recently why
Wood is not put work If he is to con
tinue drawing the salary attached to
his job. They have looked up the
records and ascertained that Wood
left ihe island Of Cuba last June.
Since that time the only service he
has rendered the county in return for
the $500 monthly pay he draws has
been trip to Europe, a daily walk
or horseback ride with President
Roosevelt. or a presidential bout at
boxing, fencing or single stick each
day when he is in Washington and
that is almcst constantly.
Whe it is recalled that generals in
the army who outrank Wood in age
in length Of service and in real serv
ice rendered the country are hard at
work in various portions of this ma
tion and in the tropical islands we
have acquired, it does seem that
Wood is about the costliest luxury on
the government payrolls These facts
considered, he looms up in the light
of a pampered favori.e and no,hing
else. He is perhaps the ablest bodied
general in the army Yet he is also
the only idler and loafer. He wears
a major generals insignia, but for a
period Of -even months he has done
nothing 10 warrant the decoration un-
less his recent exploit in raising
blue lump on very strenuous per
sons head may be termed brave
enough to merit such a reward
General Wood should be heartily
ashamed of the classification he re
ceives in the army register. In a long
list of good soldiers mentioned there,
he alone IS classed without com
mand or definite work to do He is
merely mentioned as a major general.
A major general at large, with a row
ing commission is something out of
place in this busy government of ours,
yet Wood goes on from day 10 day en-
joying just such a commission.
This idling drolling soldier Of the
republic Is the very same, too whom
rhe president defended last y'ar in a
speech at Havard. 1t was soon after
Wood had returned from Cuba and
the stories of his connection with the
sugar truF Is efforts to lower the duty
on Cuban sugar were going the
rounds of the national press. Il was
alro charged at the time that Wood
had stripped the governor generals
palace at Havana Of all the old paint
ings and much of the silver ware on
his departure for the United States.
President Roosevelt, in his defense Of
the QuicklY-made general, said in
effect:
Those people who speak of Leon
ard Wood in This connection cover
themselves with infamy."
In the light of the generals pres
ent labors and his pay for the same.
such infamy as may be in the case.
would seem to rest on Woods should
ers.
So far "a can be ascertained. Wood
is not on vacation He hac been
given no special de-ail The social
functions at the White house, whore
the general spends the major portion
OF his time. are arranged and con
Quoted under the supervision of Col
onel Bingham If Wood had a detail
il would necessarily read, If based IN
his present occupation: "Official ex-
erciser of the president" j" or physical
culture director at the White house, %
and no such job is permissible
The facts presented mere are not
eminating from that class OF citizen
generally known as the common scold
and fault finder They arr being dis
cnssed by conservative senators and
representatives. Woods idleness IS
remarked and condemned all over of-
fetal Washing on The salary he
draws IS large ona. largar IN fact
than senators and representatives
d.aw. To calize fully the position
ne is in one merely has 70 compare
his services and his pay with the scTv.
es ard pay Of such men as senator
Morgan. Senator Hanna. Senator Al
lison or Representatives Hepburn
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