Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-11
TESTIMONY PRINTED
HEARING OF WOOD CASE BY THE
SENATE COMMITTEE.
The Late President McKinley's Act
Criticised By Gen. James II. Wilson,
Who is Contradicted by Roosevelt.

Testimony offered in the hearings before
the Senate committee on military affairs
concerning the nomination of Brig. Gen.
Leonard Wood to be major general has
been furnished to all the senator's. The
document is of 800 printed pages comprts-
Ing the evidence given by employees OF the
military government of Cuba, army officers
and other witnesses called before :he com
mittee for examinations regarding the
charges which were filed against Gen.
Wood The testimony is being dgested by
members of the Senate prepare tory to the
opening of a contest over confirmation of
the nomination. which promises to become
one of the most notable in the history of
the Senate
Some of the points for and against Gen.
Wood are brought out more clearly than in
the reports heretofore published but the
brief prepared by Senator Foraker for the
majority and that prepared by members of
the committee who opposed confirmation
cover the evidence fully. The printed tssti-
mony shows that Gen. James H. Wilson
was particularly severe In his criticism OF
Gen. Wood, and while on the stand also
criticised President Mckinley for making
him brigadier general. The criticism was
brought out by the following question from
Senator Foraker:
You think that President Mckinley made
MISTAKE Wnen lie fNdue zen. w OON---
Answer Il think he made deadly mis-
take"
q. (Continuing) when he made Gen.
Wood a br;gadier general?"
A. When he made that appointment 1
think he gave the greatest shock to the
sense of discipline and fairness of the
American army that it has ever received"
Wood in San Juan Battle.
Gen. Wilson further stated that Gen.
Wool NO at tha hott 81
and told the committee that he had in
formed the President then governor of
New York of this fact. This evidence was
refuted by Secretary Root when he went
on the stand a few days later who stated
that Gen. Wood not only was at the battle
of San Juan, but that his division COM
mander had reported him for conspicuous
bravery and for handling his troops so we'll
that he desired to recommend him for pro-
motion. The Secretary further said that
Gen. Wood was at the bloody ford "in the
hottest and heaviest fire that our men had
to endure, when the men We're falling all
around them Continuing. he said: Il
think i ought to say, too that a part of
the facts upon which President Roosevelt
determined so far as within his powers
TO keep Gen. Wood in the same order of
relative rank where President Mckinley
had put him was his personal knowledge of
Gen. Woods presence in that fight and of
the extraordinary gallantry and efficiency
lie USpidyeU as known 10 the President by
his personal obSerVat ton in the battle
Gen Wilson in his testimony also re-
counted conversation he had had with
Gov Roosevelt regarding the presence of
Gen Wood at San Juan In this CONVERSE
ton Gen. Wilson said he informed the gov
ernor that in the Spanish war Wood was
never in but one battle and that at Las
Guasimas, where but for his rescue and
support by the colored troops he would
have been badly handled. Gen Wilson
quoted Mr.. Roosevelt as saying that he
Wood was at San Juan. Gen Wilson
contradicted this statement, saying you
know that he was in the rear looking for
ammunition According to the witness.
Mr. Roosevelt replied. Yes. but do not
tell anybody
Secretary Root in his testimony referred
10 this alleged conversation as follows:
81 think I ought TO allude to the remarks
Of Gen. James Fl. Wilson here as to the
conversation with the President OF course
the President cannot be a witness The
President informs me that Gen. Wilson is
mistaken. and that no such CONVERSE ton
regarding Gen. Woods presence at The
San Juan fight that day ever took place
between him and Gen. Wilson"
Military Officers Tributes.
a communication from the Secretary Of
War 10 the committee, containing the mill
tary record of Gen. Wood, includes extracts
from the reports of Gen Miles and Gen
Lawton. Cen Miles says: This officer
Wood served in the field under nv COM
mand for several months during the terri
bic campaign against the Apache Indians
under Geronimo. He is one Of the most
enterprising, intelligent and fearless officers
In the service, and competent to fulfill the
duties of field officer
Gen. Lawton said: when through ex-
posture and fatigue the infantry hsttal;on
lost lis last officer lin the pursuit of Geron-
llno) Capt. Wood volunteered to command
IT in addition to his duties as surgeon. In
this duty Capt. Wood distinguished himself
most His courage, endurance and examnle
made success possible. / served tbrouei,
the war of the rebellion and in many bat
Ties. but in no instance do remember such
oeFotloh 10 uuty or such example of
courage ana perseverance. 1t was mainly
due to Capt. Woods loyalty and deviation
that the expedition was successful.
Wood and Brooke.
Ray Stannard Baker in his testimony dis
eussed the Runcie magazine article at great
length He was asked what was Runcie's
attitude toward the Brooke administration,
and said Runcie opposed it. He thought
Runcie's purpose in writing the article was
chiefly To relieve his mind Mr. Baker was
asked If 1t was not the idea that If wouId
help Gen. Wood TO have it understood that
Gen. Brooke was inefficient Mr. Baker
said he WAS in sympathy with Rancie's idea
but that he would not have printed the
article had he considered Its influence upon
Gen. Brooke After much questioning how
ever. ne admitted knowing that Runcie was
antagonstic to Gen. Wood
In the same connection the witness said
that Gen. wood was very frank in his ex-
prsssions of disagreement to certain things
that the administration was doing
In reply to a question by Senator Teller
Mr. Baker said Gen. Wood discussed such
questions IN the presence of Runcie and
himself.
>-sSS->---