Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1906-02-07
WOOD WILL GET
NO MORE FAVOR
ROOSEVELT TO DO NOTHING
MORE FOR HIM
Explains to His Friend That He Has
Settled His Obligations--BelI
Jumped Over Head of
Grant
speciel to The Herald.

0ptClHl W lHe IleIdlu
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.--Presideut
Roosevelt has, in effect. served notice
on Gen. Leonard Wood that everything
that this administration will do for him
in his army career has been done, AMI
that his future is in his own hands and,
perhaps, in those of the next president
of the United States. This is under
stood to have been an incident of the
visit during the last summer of Gen.
Wood to this country. 1t becomes
known now in connection with the APP
pointment of Gen. j. Franklin Bell as
chief of the staff, to succeed Cen Bates
when he retires as the head of the army
establishment
1t is apparent that the president has
weighed his obligation to Wood, and
what he has already done to discharge
it. and decided that accounts are settled.
Gen. Bell will not retire from the army
until 1914, and by that time Mr.. Roose-
welt will, in all human probability, be in
private life. The visit of Gen. Wood
was much specialized upon last sum-
mer. There is no question that he came
to this country to have slight surgical
operation performed, but he also came
to learn of his own future in the army.
ne WIS uOuDlLul VI the outcome OF the
changes which would follow the retire
ment of Gen. Chaffee. There were sew
eral things he had in mind. One of
these was good berth in command of
| a division or department in this coun-
try. Another event ually was the place
| as chief of stoff. The president turned
| him down on one proposition after an
other until. he narrowed his future to
the prospect of succeeding Gen. Henry
G. Corbin as the ranking officer in COM
mand of the troops in the Philippines.
When the president decided to appoint
Gen. Bell as the chief of staff and
lieutenant general in command of the
army he ended Woods chances because
of Bells comparative youth.
Also Disappoints Gen. Grant
Another feature of the action of the
president in deciding upon Gen. Bell is
the disappointment to Gen Fred d.
| Grant, son of Gen. u. S. Grant. the
| great general of Civil War fame.
| Friends of Gen. Grant believe that the
| president was induced to pass over
| Gen. Grants seniority and fitness for
! the place and select Gen. Bell because
| of a feeling which developed between
! Gen. Grant and himself when they
| served together in New York city as
I-police commissioners. At that time, it
is said, Cen Grant made it apparent
that he did not approve of some of the
"yellow" methods of Mr.. Roosevelt,
! and continually counseled more conser-
vatism, until Mr.. Roosevelt became i'm
patient of his advice. No one has sug
gested that Gen. Grant is not fit to fill
| the highest place in the army. He is
| a West Point graduate, with an en-
viable service in the Philippines. He
was out of the army but a short time
when he applied for commission in
the Spanish war, and since his return
| to the regular establishment he has
won friends who are almost numbered
| as the officers of the army are num-
| bered. At the recent army maneuVerS
he surprised some of the older officers
by the genius displayed in the handling
and maneurerng of troops. He has
| never been a gusher, and in his quiet,
| thorough conservatism he has been
| modelled closely after his illustrious
father. The announced decision to ape
point Gen. Bell ends any chance of Gen.
Grant rising above his present rank be-
fore his retirement for age.
Bell Well Equipped and Popular
The appointment of Gen. Bell prom
Uses to be well received in the army.
While he is younger in years and in
service than Gen. Grant and some
others, he Is personally popular. His
soldierly qualities and his personal
courage have been put to the test and
are known wherever the service of the
army of the United States is known.
While in charge of the information di-
vision Of Gen. MacArthur's army he
led scouting parties and exposed him
self to personal dangers which brought
him many hairbreadth escapes. Some
OF his personal adventures while in the
!, Philippines would read like the adven-
lures OF the typical yellow back
, heroes of callow youths. Since being
in charge of the infantry and cavalry
school at Fort Leavenworth he has
| raised the grade of the service and re-
! quirement considerably. Indeed, what,
ever criticism has come to him has
: arisen over the rigid requirements
, which he has insisted upon and en-,
forced. Some of the officers who have
been ordered TO take the course at the
school have complained that the bool
, work and study required by Gen. Bel
have made II one of the most difficult
, schools in the world for a military mar
to set through. Last year two of tn,
graduates suffered nervous prostra tioI
: shortly after passing.