The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-01-15

Washington. January 1L-Senato-|
tary affairs has submitted in execu-|
tive session Of the Senate a review Of
the evidence introduced before the
committee in the hearing on the nomi-
nation of Brigadier General Wood to
be a major general.
Senator Scott gives his reason for
opposing confirmation. He quotes
many points brought put against Gen.
eral Wood, particularly those in con-
nection with charges that General
Wood accepted gifts from the Jai Alai
company, a gambling institution Of
Havana, and was guilty OF completely
with Major James E. Runcie in the
preparation and publication OF on
article rejecting ~dfscreditably on
Major General John r. Brooke, his
ranking officer. senator Scott makes
a strong personal argument to the
Senate in opposition to the appoint
ment Of General Wood to be a major
general. saying hat h person to be
confirmed should be highly qualified
and in every way worthy and above
suspicion.
Commenting on a statement in the
brief Senator Foraker, calling atten-
ton to the fact hat it vas President
Mckinley who jumped General Wood
over hundreds of officers in the army.
Senator Scot says:
I'VE are told that Augustus boosted
that he found Rome OF brick n left
it of marble and 50. per chance. may
General Wood lay claim to the boast
that he found Cuba a den Of filth and
disease and left it with a sewerage
system. This, however, goes to his
credit as a physician and as a sanitary
officer and does not in n sense, show
his fitness to command a body OF
troops. The evidence in this Case
quite clearly establishes the fact that
he was appointed because of his sup
posed capacity as a civil governor and
there is much to throw doubt upon the
question Of whether even his appoint
ment as brigadier general was not re-
GREETED by the President and no one
will believe that Mr.. Mckinley would
ever thought Of promoting him to a
major generalship, certainly not in the
light of the present developments"
Referring to the conduct Of General
Wood toward his superior officer
General Brooke. Senator Scott says
that no impartial person can review
the evidence in this matter withou!
reaching the conclusion that the
| charge Of d~isloyalty is fully establish
ed. he says Tie NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. %
strongly support the charge n Ell
clude the theory Of innocence OF Gen
| eral Wood that If he were being tr:ec
by a jury Of his countrymen fo- 4
crime upon like evidence and under
like circumstances his conviction would
| result beyond question.
In reference to the support given by
| General Wood to gambling gaines
placed in he Jai Alai company
'.fronton" Senator Scott says 1t +
| shown by the testimony that Genera
Wood was an habitual attendant a
the game. especially spending his sun
days there. on which days the betting
reached as high as $4,000.
Senator Scott comments on the cvi.
| dence introduced tending to reflect d.
| rectly upon General Woods characte'
as a man by impeaching his integrttS
and veracity and then after summing
up other charges avs
TX my mind a most grievous In
| justice has been done in the prefer.
| ment of General Wood over a hundrcd
| or more old army officers-officers who
won distinction on many a bloody bat.
tlefield where more lives We're losl
and more prisoners taken in one day
than during the entire Spanish-Amer'
/ lean war"