The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-01-12
ARGUMENT AGAINST WOOD Review of Evidence by i Senator Scott. e.. CONFIRMATION APPROVED
 'FS
 No Capacity to Command Ever Displayed by Wood. T Took Gifts of Havana Gamblers and Was Guilty of Publishing an
 Article Reaecting on Gen.
 eral Brooke. 
CONFIRMATION APPROVED

fairs. has submitted in executive session of the Senate, a review of the evidence introduced before the committee in the hearing on the nomination of Brigadter General Wood to be a major general. Senator Scott in giving his reason for opposing the confirmation, quotes many points brought out against General Wood. particularly those in connection with charges that General Wood accepted gifts from the Jai Alsi Company, a gam bling institution of Havana, and was guilty in complicity with Major James E. Runcie in the preparation and publsca- ton of an article refecting discreditably on Major General John R. Brooke, his ranking officer. The Associated Press recently carried the greater portion of such extracts as they appeared in brief, giving the views of the minority members of the military committee. Senator Scott makes strong personal argument in the Senate in op- position to the appointment of General Wood to be a major general. He prefaces his remarks with the statement that con- firmation to so high a position as that of major general should be made with due deliberation and the person to be confirmed should be highly qualified and in every way worthy and above suspi- cion. Concerning nominations of this character, Senator Scott said:
 Look to the Senate.
 "The President the appointive power, is the commander in chief of the army and navy of the United States and ap- pointments in either of these come from him to those under him with peculiar force and power. in that what he says to those under him is to them the law and even complaint or criticism on their oNfC Of fnaflhnF1in fi0n. hence, to us alone, this great body of Americans who make up the army of the United States, loyal, true and faithful as they have ever proven themselves to be. can look for justice and right should the executive, their commander tn chief, either innocentIy or capriciously. make a mistake affecting their welfare"
 Commenting on statement in the brief of Senator Foraker, calling attention to the fact that it was President Mckinley who jumped General Wood over hundreds of officers in the army, Senator Scott says:
 we are told that Augustus boasted that he found Rome of brick and left 1t of marble, so perchance may General Wood lay claim to the boast that he found Cuba a den of filth and disease and left 1t with a sewerage system. This, however, goes to his credit as a physi- elan and as a sanitary officer and does not in any sense show his fitness to com mand a body of troops. The evidence In this case quite clearly establishes the fact that he was appointed because or his supposed capacity as civil governor and there is much to throw ooupI upon the question whether even his appoint ment as brigadier general was not re- Rretted by the President, and no one VIII believe that Mckinley would ever nave thought that necessitated promoting nm to major generalship, certainly not m the light of the present developments.
 Testimony of Wilson.
 Tho testimony of General James h. Iyilson concerning the advancement or General Wood is quoted at length, includ- ing that portion which asserts that ten eral Wood was not in the battle of san Juan. In reference to this the review says: uy,,uov shows clearly the natural resentment that will exist if this great wrong is perpe- trated upon the army of the Uniteo States by the confirmation or Gehei0A wood and it's injurious effect must neces- sarilv be very great, affecting as 1t does' the ambitions of scores of young men which must be nipped in the bud because of the youth of the general and because of the long time he may remain at tne head of the army"
 He says the circumstances so strongly support the charge and exclude the theory 0R innocence of General Wood that if he were being tried by a jury of his country men for a crime upon like evidence and under like circumstances his conviction would result beyond question. Senator Scott adds:
 .'It must be borne in mind that during the whole time General Brooke and Gen erai Wood were serving in Cuba. General Wood was considered by his superior of- fcer General Brooke, if not engaged in conduct of insubordination, as at least not performing his duty as loyal soldier should to his superior officer.'
 In reference to the support given by General Wood to gambling games played fin the Jai Alai Company's "fronton," Senator Scott says it Is shown by the testimony that General Wood was an habitual attendant at the game, especially spending his Sundays there on which days the betting reach as high as $5O,000
 In closing his review Senator Scott says:
 MT Scott's Conclusion.
 At the conclusion of the evidence of General Wilson. the junior Senator from Ohio. MT. Hanna, asked that General
 
 this body having this investigation in charge, to the end that he might answer the allegations and accusations made against his character and quite & colloquy ensued, 1t being claimed by some of his champions that there was no reason for him to be heard; that nothing had been proved against him; that there was nothing for him to answer; in a word that he was self-vindicated.
 This I submit was to me, and must be to every one, perfectly monstrous. When did 1t come about that this indi- vidual, a doctor in civil life and a blood less soldier in battle, if he ever saw a battle, has reached the exalted position 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 honor it with his presence |? Now for my part'I want to say that it is due to GeneralWood. it is due to the President of the United States. that he