Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-11-21
THE FIGHT ON GEN.
LEONARD A. WOOD
Senator Hanna Is Expected to
Lead the Opposition to
His Advancement.
INVOLVES POSTAL FRAUD
Conviction of Some of the Senator'S
Frien5s in Cuba Is Said to Be
the Reason for His Antag.
onism to Wood.

Washington, Nov. 16.-If the senators
who are trying to make u for the
administration can bring it about, Sen
ator Hanna will manage the fight
against the confirmation OF Brigadier
General Wood. Senator Hanna has de-
clined to commit himself. He dislikes
| General Wood cordially and is inclined
to hold him responsible for the convic-
ion Of his friends who were charged
with postal frauds In Cuba. Many or
the closest friends OF Senator Hanna
have urged him to join in the fight
against Wood. The Ohio senator has
asked fer time to investigate the case.
He has promised that he will oppose
General Woods confirmation II con-
WINGED that the charges against him are
well founded.
vii Join Crusade.
This rather formal announcement of
Senator Hanna's position is accepted
here to mean that he will join the anti
Wood crusade. even with Hanna fight
Ing the promotion of General Wood, the
chances are he will become q major
general with the consent Of the senate.
The democrats. who had been counted
upon TO line up so'idly with the presi-
ltlll > tIltilllcS, SilOM DO lIiul'dtlOl VI
presenting a solid front. A poll of the
committee on military affairs shows
that 1t is favorable to General Woods
confirmation. Democratic members of
the committee refuse to play politics in.
army affairs. The democrats on the
committee are ate of Tennessee, Cock
cell of Missouri and Pettus OF Alabama.
This democratic combination knows as
much, or a little hit more, about army
ife and military affairs h any other
IN the United States senate, or for that
matter, outside of 1t. Senator Bate
served IS a private throughout the
Mexican war and in the Confederate
service went from captain to a major
general, surrendering in 1865. Pettus OF
Alabama is a Mexican val veteran and
L Confederate brigadier general. Cock
cell was n brigadier general in the Con-
federate army. Senator Cocltrell holds
that the sime to have opposed General
Woods promotion was when Mckinley
first advanced him irregularly.
Rathbone Has Documents.
Estes G.. Rathbone, Cuban director OF
posts during the military occupation Of
he islands. is now on his way to Wash
ngton with a trunk full of documents
'elating to the receipts and disburse-
nents during General Woods admins
ration. 1t was upon the representa-
ions of Rathbone that Senator Hanna
lied his protest with President Roose-
Jelt against General Wood, insisting
hat he had exceeded his authority in
Instructions to the judge of the trial
,ourt in the RathbOne case. Rathbone
viii first consult Senator Hanna on his
arrival here, and until this evidence Is
submitted the committee on military
affairs probably will delay action.
Senator German is counted upon In
he effort to defeat General Woods
confirmation. Ills policy is known to
De one of antagonism TO President
Roosevelt in I'll things. He wants to
emphasize the personality of the pres
lent for its political effect in the east,
because Roosevelt will be the republic
IN candidate for president. Should
German and Hanna pool Issues, it
would present q most surprising polit-
cal combination. Hanna, Of course,
will contend that he is prompted by Il
determination to vindicate his friends
whom he believes to ave been perse-
,utcd. He will make il clear that his
light is against Wood, not against
Roosevelt, while German is expected to
tight Roosevelt through Wood.