The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-12
Major General Should be
 Above Suspic
SAYS WOOD WAS 4 GAMBLER
Claims Grevious Injustice Has Been Done By Presidents Preferment of a Physician Over Real
 Army Veterans.


 Washington, January 11.-senator Scott of the senate committee on military af- fairs has submitted in executive session of the senate review of the evidence inc troduced by the committee in the hearing on the nomination of Brigadler 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 A1ai company, gambling institution of Havana, and was guilty in compllcity with Major James F. Runcie in the preparation and publication of an ar- ficle refecting discreditahly on Major General John R. Brooke. his ranking officer.
 The Associated Press recently carried the greater portion of such extracts as they appeared in a brief giving the views of the minority members of the military committee Senator Scott makes strong personal argument to the senate In oppo- sition to the appointment of General Wood to be a major general.
 He prefaces his remarks with the state ment that confirmation to so high a posi- ton as that of major general should be made with due deliberation, and the per son to be confirmed should be highly quail flied and In every way worthy and above suspicion Concerning nominations of this character, Senator Scott said:
 President Has Appointlve Power.
 "The President, the appointive power is the commander in-ehief of the army and navy of the United States, and appoint ments in either of those 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 part are really acts of irsuscrdina tion, hence, to us alone, this great body of Americans who make up the army of the UAited States, loyal. true and faithful as they have ever proven themselves to be. can look for justice and right should the eSs- ecutive, their commander-in-chief, either innocenty or capriciously make a mistake affecting their welfare.
 Commenting on a 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 it of marble; SO. perchance. may General Wood lay claim to the boast that he found Cuba den of filth and disease and left 1t with sewerage system. This. how ever goes to his credit as a physician and off In sense show his fitness to command body of troops
 Appointment Was Probably Regretted.
 "The evidence in this case quite clearly establishes the fact that he was appoint ed because of his supposed capacity as a civil governor, and there is much to throw doubt upon the question whether even his appointment as brigader general was not regretted by the President and no one will believe that Mckinley would ever have thought that necessitated pre- noting him to major generalship, certain ly not in the light of the present devel- opments"
 "The statement of General Wilson shows clearly the natural resentment that will exist if this great wrong is perpetBatsd upon the army of the United States by the confirmation of General Wood. and ltG lllJullpuS tllttt HtttSSdiil9 DC very great, affecting as 1t does the ann bitions of scores of young men, which must be nlpped in the bud because of the youth of the general. and because of the long time he may remain at the head of the army"
 Conviction Would Result.
 He says the circumstances so strongly support the charge and exclude the the ory of innocence of General Wood, that if he were being tried by jury of his countrymen for a crime upon like evil dence, and under like circumstances, his conviction would result beyond question.
 Senator Scott adds:
 Tt must be borne in mind that dur ing the whole time General Brooke and General Wood were serving In Cuba, General Wood was considered by his su- perior officer, General Brooke. if not en- gagged in conduct of insubordlnation. as at least not performing his duty as a loyal soldier should to his superior off cer."
 In reference to the support given by General Wood to gambling games played in 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, especial ly spending Sundays there, on which days the betting reached as high as $5o.Oo0
 In closing his review Senator Scott says:
 Claimed He Was Self-Vndicated.
 At the conclusion of the evidence of General Wilson, the junior senator from Ohio. MT Hanna asked that General Wood be brought before the committee of this body having his investigation in charge9to the end that he might answer the allegations and accusations made against him, and relieve himself of the unjust (as his friends claim to be the case) imputations and criticisms made against his character, and quite a col loquy 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 word. that he was self-vindicated.
 This I submit. was to me, and must be to every one perfectly monstrous. When did it come about that this lndi- viduaL doctor Tn civil life and d blood less soldier Tn battle. if he ever saw a battle. has reached the exalted position that he is unlike other people and Is not