New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-06
MINORITY ON Gen. WOOD
OPPOSE CONFIRM4TION.
Nomination Comes Up in Senate,
But No 4ction Is Taken.


INK against TIE confirmation OF Brigadier General
Leonard Wood 10 be major general have been pre-
rars9 j. ihe form OF Z brief. be used by the OPP
,oncnts OF this nomination when the reports OF
thc committee presented for acton Of the Sen
ate in executive session. The brief follows the tes-
tmonv introduced before the Senate committee in
she iuyes ricatior which begun or November -
and continued until December l. directing the at
ieution Of Senators passages in the printed re
port q the testimony and emphasizing the charges
which were made before the committee It is de-
cisred that most q the important matters brought
out IN the hearing came 10 public knowledge sub
seqGent 70 General Woods promotion be brig
adler general and that competent investigation
has vet been made in regard 30 the actual facts
of General Woods military career and experience
These assertions made FOR the purpose os
meeting The argument OF Senator Foraker that OBJ
iectio2s 70 General Woods advancement should
have been offered when President Mckinley had
under consideration the matter OF promoting him
20 De br!gadier general
First submitted IN the brief the argument that
IS not denied that the orders the court which
were introduced by Major f. G. Rathbone. We're
actually issued by General Wood as Military GOV
ernor. These orders for the admission OF *
Ts-te testimony. and in that connection attention
las been called by the minority to an order issued
ny the Secretary Of War. OF which General Woods
order is declared 10 have been perverson Of in
s--uctians
Secretary Roots order was promulgated by Colo
- Scott as adjutant general. or November u.
-|L, anG transmitted 10 the court November u.
1901 In this military order the prosecution is
stru0tec that IL II has any intention Of using -
evidence IL the trial OF the postal testimony
applied for fl the United States steps should be
taken immediately TO inform the proper judicial
authorities thst this cannot ba allowed" Anothe.
paragraph Of the same order says:
4 trial IN which there are used 'ex parte' de-
positions. given by persons whom there is no op-
rortunity 10 cross examine. is not fair and i'm
partial trial and, accordingly such dispositions
cannot be used at the trial
The minority says that 10 get around this order
General Wood used HIS authority as Military Gov
erncr 10 change the entire judicial system OF the
island.
don Of ". II. Reeves and his testimony the post
ri cases. The attention Of the Senate is directed
20 the statement OF General Wood in answer 70
The charges filed by Major Rathbone.
General Wood is charged in the third count with
having violated a promise made TO Major James
+. Runcie not TO cause the arrest OF Corydon n.
Rich. who had been assistant Mr. Nicely in
The finance department. of the Department OF Posts.
NJ. Rich a client OF Major Runcie's and
charge had been made against him. Major Runcie
testified that General Wood had pledged that he
would cause the arrest Of Rich and that the
pledge had been repeated 10 Major RUncie and
Rich together Rich afterward arrested and
placed incommunica6o for several days. even op-
l,ortunity 10 consult his counsel having been
MED him. This incident described by Major
Runce as the beginning OF the enlargement be
tween himself and General Wood. though Il
long after the close OF the incident IN relation
the magazine article.
The Runcie magazine article is the subject for
the fourth count. With many references TO the
printed testimony for the purpose OF supporting
the argument. this statement is made:
me f RaF sanRst5 ar a2d Ge
eTa4 Wood tor Runcie 70 write an article covering
article would be criticism of General Brooke's
aanIsi5:os lie Io also Swears that aftfr It was
written and sent 10 Baker.
The brief calls attention 10 the testimony Of
Major Runcte. in which he referred to writing the
article IN the absence Of General Wood and par
1icularly reference is made this statement from
Runce:
After General Woods return perhaps some few
Gays after ms return ne asked ne II had written
ana sent i to Mr.. Baker. -
Concerning the testimony Of Nj Baker this
statement is made by the minority:
. Baker stated j.. that he knew that he vas to
aware Of the tenor Of the article lie states that
Of criticism Of the Brooke admins ton and that
as a general result OF his visit to Cuba he found
mat General VI Oou was antagOnlstlc to General
BrOokes administration.
The testimony this point was brought out by
Senator Hanna. who asked:
Your information was as the general result OF
your visit there that General Wood was in rather
antagouistlc attitude toward the admnistra-
ton Of General Brooke TO affairs Santisgo?"
AZ Baker-IIe did not it,
SeRato--He was antagonisuc?
Mr.. Bakeries, sir.
The Jai Alai concession forms the fifth count In
the minority brief. and the following summing up
Is made:
Judge Advocate General Dudley states that the
10y the signature OF the Spanish Governor General.
The president OF me company states that the dOcu
5nents OF ApTji r. 1909 and October l6 1880. were
submitted 10 Genera! Mood, II being necessary TO
% So considering the privilege thereby conferred,
tt:lese documents being approved py Genera Wood
m0Hopoiy for ten years. The claim thai the gam
Alai. The rules governing the gambling feature
WOOD ala ot furnish fn for ife
Con OF The War Department. The publication of
cal Gazette" on May 8. 1902 Walliss Chairman,
with Tiffany * Co, OF New-York, restiies that
cab!ed 10 Tiffany by Mr. ZaTasqueta for a silver
service valued at about $500. and that he took
snc paid Tor by Zarasqueta. That this a gift
10 General Wood from the Jai Alai Company is
admitted
IL support Of the foregoing charge attention is
directed by the minority the testimony OF a
DOZEN witnesses. including that OF Colonel Edgar
5. Dudley. Of the Judge Advocate Generals de-
pertment Of the army. and the report OF Judge
Charles Z. Magoon law officer OF the Bureau OF
4nsClaF Affairs The sixth says:
General Brooke testifes the INSTRUMENTATION
OF General Wood. and that he General Brooke
itiia!ned from court martial process because OF
re IeelnE that such step would not be sane
Toned By the War Department lie testiAes 10
W ooq arbitrary Interference with the
we summary removal of "A prisoner from its hands
"'e The deportation OF the prisoner.
The seventh and last count in the brief refers on
orely % the testimony regarding General Woods
'e7aclty The testimony % Rrigadier General VIII
stlhce. Alexis +. Frye and a number OF others
Senate