The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-29
CAUSED
ATTACK ON WOOD
Criticism of General S Moro Cam
palgn Arose from Envy of
Disgruntled Officers.
Bx ". w. Jermane.


Washington, March pa good deal
of the talk that has been heard of late
about the iendishness of American SOL
diers in the battle of Mount Dajo is
undoubtedly due to the fact that Gen
eral Leonard Wood is IN charge of the
troops in the Philippines. The name Of
that officer, for some occult reason, eX-
ercises strange influence on certain
people and newspapers, who seem will
ing to go ort of their way to accept
and advance any sort of charge against
he was in command Of the American
troops in Cuba he was accused of Sc
rious misdemeanors-of being jealous of
his superiors, Of claiming credit for
acts not his own, and Of accepting pres
ents from those with whom he had of
fetal relations. His enemies at that
time were very aggressive. but IN the
stick. The confidence of the president
and of the country was mistaken, and
in due. time Wood was promoted and
sent to the Philippines. 49,.
Jealousy Caused Criticism.
The favorite charge against General
Woodland it has had its birth in the
ranks of Jealous officers, over whom he
has climbed to a lieutenant general
Sn1p-lS Cndt NE Is lluG u SOlUlcI dC oil,
but only "pill doctor.'' His prefer
ment, it is alleged, has come about en-
tirelv because of The gross and unfair
favoritism of President Roosevelt. 1t
is quite the thing in certain quarters to
refer to Wood as "Dr.' Wood, and to
follow with the suggestion that he is
more at home with the plllbox and Ian
Get than in a generals uniform. OBJ
viously, this being the case, as the pres
1pnOraSSoI
heard to the effect that it was surgeon
and not soldier who ordered heroic
treatment for the Moros anu decided
that determination was the proper rem
edv. But the campaign of abuse against
Wood will fail, just as it has failed
heretofore. 1t must run it's course,
however, and the country will have to
A good deal is being heard to the eff
feet that the Moros died because they
hpf t6eV ana
of their wives and children Ito the de-
tense of their homes and their free
dom - The public should be careful not
to be misled by such statements. This
| particular band of Moros was made up
| of desperate outlaws and fugitives
! from justice, men and women entirely
without the pale of the law, who for
years had been terrorizing the COM
munity which they infested. All efforts
for their subjugation by peaceful meth
DDS had failed. The conflict between
them and the American troops was nee
essary in the interest Of the peace and
quiet and the security Of the lawabid-
ing natives and of the integrity of
American authority. 800,
Moros Like Jesse James Gang.
| 1t, would be just as truthful to say
that the members Of the Jesse James
gang ''preferred death to conquest
and. that they devoted their lives ant
| the; lives Of their wives and children
ito. the defenseT of their homes ant
their freedom. -" Or it would be jus
as truthful to make similar assertions
regarding the Molly Maguires. who one,
infested Pennsylvania. These Moro
were professional marauders, knowing n,
law, and having no respect for any au
thorlty. It was their habit to stea
from and to murder, in cold blood, thei
fellow countrymen, and as the result O
this course Of action, wide territor,
was laid waste and thousands of limo
cent natives terrorized. Obviously, i
=, was not-a pleasant task to deal witt
them Neither was it pleasant to con
duct campaigns against the redskins Q
the Bad Lands and the Lava Beds. Blu
1t was necessary work. ..,. 49,.
| President Roosevelt has been advise
OF the facts, and the country may talk
1T for granted that his cablegrams O
congratulations were not written am ~
sent until he had satisfied himself tina
: the Dajo incident was necessary oar
OF the government s work for the Fill
DinOS