The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1904-01-15

Asked General Wilson to Keep Still,
Declares Senator Scott--Scathing
Condemnation of Wood-Nomina-
tion Of Buchanan, Minister to Pana.
ma Confirmed.
Washington, Jan. 1f-There was
submitted to the senate behind closed
doors this afternoon the report of Sen.
ator Scott (Rep., w. Va), of the COM
mittee on military affairs, opposity
the nomination of General Leonard
Wood, as major general.
In it's sixteen printed pages it pre-
sents sensational personal and Off
cial arraignment of General Wood re-
producing testimony to support his
contention that General Wood was
guilty of completely with another army
officer in the preparation and publica-
tion of an article rejecting discredit-
ably upon their ranking officer, and in
accepting bribes in Cuba from the
Jai Alai gambling establishment,
which he licensed
A portion of the testimony of Ma
jor General James II. Wilson, retired,
is given to show that General Wilson
contended at Sycamore Hill, to Presi-
dent Roosevelt then vice president,
that General Wood had not participat-
ed in the battle of San Jaun hill and
in which Mr. Roosevelt is credited
with reluctantly admitting the
charges, but asking General Wilson
not to tell anybody.
In his summing up, Senator Scott
says: However unpleasant it may
be to reject this nomination, this body
cannot afford and ought not to Sc
riously consider the question of giving
its approval to any such transaction.
Let it be done and it will serve
as precedent, and will be an invita-
ton for all kinds of disgraceful con-
duct on the part of officers of the Unit
ed States who have no more sense Of
propriety than General Wood, and It
will ever lie hereafter in the mouth
of this body to question the acts of
impropriety and indecency on the
part of any government employe.
II wish to say just another word.
At the conclusion of the evidence Of
General Wilson the junior senator
from Ohio, Mr.. Hanna, asked that Gen
eral Wood be brought before the COM
mlttee of this body having this inform
alton in charge to the end that he
might answer the allegations and ac-
cusations made against him and re-
iieve himself from the unjust (as his
H.,t1 Io tos, -
tions and criticisms made against his
character. And quite colloquy en-
sued, 1t being claimed By some of
his champions that lnere was no rea-
son for him to be heard; that moth
ing had been proved against him;
that there was nothing for him to
answer; In word, that he was self
yindicated.
This submit was to me. and must
be to every one perfectly monstrous.
When did it como about this indiyi.
dual, a doctor in civil life and blood
less soldier in battle II he ever saw a
battle. has reached the exalted posi-
tion that he is unlike other people
and is not to be accountable to any
one, not even to the senate of the
United States, and will not even hon
or 1t with his presence. now for my
part, l want to say that 1t Is due to
General Wood, it Is due to the presi-
dent of the United Statcs that he
should be thought not only explain but
disprove many Of the statements made
in the evidence now here for consid-
GRAFTON for confirmation should be
thought of. Tho fact that he is will.
Ing to let this information so on with.
out personally meeting 1t like man,
Is in itself Strong evidence to my
mind that ho Is not made of material
that goes to make up soldiers such as
we need for our major generals and
chief of staff"
OF the charges of insubordination
against Wood. the report, among other
things says:
Surely this is not an inviting pic
ture OF one, who during the period OF
six years has boen elevated from the
position as surgeon In the army OF
the Unitod States to that of major gon
eral. and who at no distant day will
be placed at its head IL this conflrma
tion is made. Condone this conduct
and the character and moral Of the
army will be gone: a premium placed
upon intrigue and discount placed
upon tho first and highest duty of 0
soldler-that OF loyal support and un
questioning obediance to the orders
of his superior officer"
OF tho case In It's general aspects
tho report says
"Tho case Is universally recognized
as one of moro than passing interest
The appointment is that of major
general in the army. a lifc position
and of young man whom 1t is con
ceded, must in few years. II con
Armcd, succeed to tho head of the
army OF tho Unitod States: and by
reason of his age will. IN that cepaci