The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-12-04
MADE THE LAW To
SUIT HIS OWN IDEAS
Statutes Were Not Allowed to Stand in the Way
of the Much Favored Governor General
Senate Committee Png Up Abundant Proof Of Woods Unnsss
For Higher Rank in the Army.
IITAsHINGToN, Dec 3.-The sana

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3-The senate
w committee on military affairs to-
day resumed it's hearing in con
nection with charges fled against Gen
eral Leonard Wood in opposition TO his
confirmation TO be major general The
firsC witness was Melville Z. stone,
general manager o. the Associated
Press.
Mr.. Stone was questioned concernins
the report thar General wood had
sought 20 retain =. G. BelIai~s as the
representative OF the Associated Press
a Havana. He submitted a letter writ
ten by Major Runcie to Colonel Charles
IS. Diehl, assistant general manager OF
the Associated Press. which requested,
n behalf of General Wood. the reten-
ton of Beliairs, saying il was impor-
tent 20 have man representing the
Associated Dress at Havana who was
i'm the confidence of the military gov
ernor. Mr.. stone said the matter was
then urder the charge Of Colonel Diehl
Bellairs was retained. but his previous
record was not known TO the officers ca
the Associated Press. When 10 became
lu own Benairs was discharged
Mr.. Stone was also asked as TO what
knowledge General Wood had Of Bel
lairs' record, but upon this point he
could give the committee little informa-
ton, 1t was decided that Colonel Diehl
should be subpoeraed.
Baker on the Stand.
Ray Stannard Baker. the man who
Major RunCie said was at the dinner
with General Wood and himself when
the proposed magazine article CRITICS
ing General Brooke was discussed, was
the next witness.
Mr. Baker confirmed some parts OF
the testimony of Major RuDcie and con-
tradicted or qualified other portions Of
it. He denied that there had been any
consultation between himself and Cen
eral Wood relative to the publication Of
Major Runcies article rejecting upon
the administration OF General Brooke.
lie said. however, that he had talked
with General wood regarding an arti-
Gle which was subsequently published
over his own signature. When asked
whether he had cOnversed with the
( president relative TO the Wood case, he
replied in the negative. and also made
practically the same reply 70 a Ques-
tiOB as to whether he had conferred
with war department. officials concern
/ ing the article which was published
over the signature of Major Runcie.
/ Nj Baker said that it had been given
I him by Runcie. but that so far as he
] krew General Wood had no knowledge
Z Of it previous to its publication. He
said he had taken dinner with General
\ Wood and Major Rurcie several times
/ at Santiago. but that the publication OF
i an article attacking General Brooke had
never been the subject Of conversation.
! Witness Closely Pressed.
/ Mr.. Baker was questioned closely by
| Senator Scott Of the committee. and
I by Senators Hanna and Teller. who
/ were present. They quoted Major Run
1 cie's letter 70 Baker suggesting that
[ the time was OppUrtUne for the publ
cation Of the RUuCie article in General
J Woods interest and asked him If the
/ letter did not show that there had been
! conferences on the subject and a per
i feet understanding. Mr.. Baker admit
\ ted that appearances would lead TO that
/ Inference, but insisted there had not
/ been any understanding.
] Mr. Baker admitted that he and
\ Wood and Runcie had discussed Cen
eral Brooke's administration Of Cuban