The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-03
Magazine Writer Gives
His Testimony Before
Senate Committee.
DINNER PARTY INCIDENT
Says the General Had No
Previous knowledge of the
Nature of the Article.

Ray Stannard Baker, the magazine
writer, drawn into the Leonard Wood
case by Major Runcies recent testi-
mOny, was the important witness today
before the Senate Committee on Military
Affairs. Acting Chairman Proctor called
the committee to order at IL O'Clock,
when there were present all the mem
bers except several who went TO their
homes last week on business and have
not yet returned to Washington.
Mr. Baker was called before the com
mittee to give his version of certain
events to which Major Runcie testified
last week, alleging General Wood was
aware of the preparation Of the maga-
zine article which Mr.. Baker caused
to have published When this testi-
mony was given here Mr.. Baker, who
was in Denver. Immediately denied that
General Wood had been consulted about
the article at a dinner party, etc, and
started East TO substantiate this view
under oath.
Tells of Dinner Party.
Mr.. Baker was called to the witness
chair by Senator Proctor at half-past Il
clock.
He was questioned regarding the din
ner party, and said he could not recall
any such conversation as referred 70 by
Major Runcie The dinner party on Oc-
tober o, 1901 was. he said, only ore OF
a number of such affairs in which Gem
eral Wood and he participated. If such
a matter as the Runcie article had been
talked over at one Of these meetings, the
witness thought he would have remen-
bered II, and that they would have
talked IL over at other times as well.
Dir. Baker said he went TO Cuba to
gather information for his own use in
magazine form. and that there was no
reason why Major Runcie should have
sent the article 10 him except that he
was IN touch with publishing interests
It was November 5 'vlusn he left Cuba,
he said. and November 3 when he got
a letter from Runcie inclosing the manu-
script. and asking him whether his
CBaker's) magazine could not use IT,
Raker found IL better fitted for re-
view magazine, and sent It to Col
George 3. Harvey, editor of the North
American Review" inclosing also Major
Runcie's letter
Shortly before going to Europe in
February, 1902, the witness testified, he
inquired from Colonel Harvey whether
any use had been made of the Runcie
article Harvey replied that it was to
appear Al AAG k1lAEltA A4AADEA over
Major Runcie's signature. Baker said
that was the only interest he had shown
in the article.
Regarding MAJOR Runcie's testimony.
Baker was retfcent in expressing an
opinion. but thought the army officers
falling out with Wood had led 10 the
charge that the general had previous
knowledge Of the articles preparation.
Mr.. Baker concluded his testimony at
1:45 o'clock. and hurried away to the
White House, where he was the guest
Of the President at luncheon.
Stone on BelIairs.
The first witness today was Melville
f. Stone. the Well-known newspaper
man, Of Chicago. He testified concern
ing the character and position of Capt.
f. T. Bellairs. who was the Havana
correspondent OF a press association at
the time General Wood was governor
general
Mr.. Stone said he knew of Bellairs
at that time only as newspaper man.
Major Runcie had then written the wit
ness in behalf Of General Wood and the
Government officials at Havana, saying
the. usefulness of Bellairs was such that
il was hopes he would be continued in
There had been no intimation no to
this time. the witness declared, that
Captain BeIlairs had a bad record. His
work had been such as TO make the rep
resentations of Major RunGie seem per
fectly proper, Mr.. Stone said. and moth
ing more was thought of the matter.
Meanwhile Bellairs remained there. and
some time afterward was ordered to Ma
Mia as representative of the press asso,
citation.
Not until after Bellairs had gone from
Havana, the witness said, did General
Wood know anything Of his record. The
discovery came about in a letter sent TO
Senator Hanna by a friend in Florida,
who made the charge that Bellairs was
an ex-convict. Investigation. Mr. Stone
said. substantiated the report, and Bel
lairs was forthwith recalled from Ma
Mia. The witness thought General
Wood had not been aware of anything
Of this sort regarding Bellairs while the
latter was in Havana.