The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-08-27
GEN. WOOD REBUKED BY WAR SECRETARY FOR PERMITTING
 SPEECH BY COL. ROOSEVELT

V not given out. and when General Wood was asked to indicate the na- ture of its contents he said it was inn possible for him to- comply with the request. He refused to discuss the matter in any way.
 The news that Washington had taken official cognizance of what the ex-Presid ent said while here was re- ceived at the camp late yesterday af- ternoon in a telegram from New York to one of the members of the business and professional mems regiment to which organization Colonel Roosevelt directed his remarks. The statement subsequently authorized, by Colonel Roosevelt, in which he said it was the duty of all citizens to stand by the President 'so long as the President stands by the country was issued to the newspaper correspondents through the Secretary of the Plattsburg Chamber of Comm merce, and General Wood did not know until yesterday morning that such a statement had been issued It is known that Col onel Roosevelt purposely kept from General Wood the knowledge of the statement being issued
 In the camp the feeling as to the wisdom of the remarks of Colonel Roosevelt is divided. A great many indorse every word the Colonel said. and they do not hesitate to say so. Others think that Colonel Roosevelt lshould have left unsaid many things particularly his criticism of the policy of the Administration with reference to the violation of the neutrality of Belgium by the Germans and the sink ing of the Lusitania and the Arabic.
 1 knew when I heard that speech that we should hear from it,'' said an officer of the army, 'bnt how General Wood cam be held responsible for what Colonel Roosevelt said is pug z1ing. General Wood had nothing to do with the preparation of the speech, and some of the things which the Colonel said were just as muchllof a surprise to him as to any of the rest of us. As for the statement subse- quently issued by Colonel Roosevelt, that had nothing to do with his visit to the Business Mems Regiment ''s
 The remarks quoted express the general view of the camp, so far as General Wood is concerned. In the regiment Colonel Roosevelt has hun dreds of warm personal friends, and these generally indOrse every word he l aaid. But many others dQ nat4hesi-E tate to say that Colonel RooseveIt went entirely too far. He should have remembered, they said, that he was on a Federal reservation, that he was whom wore the uniform of the army, and that those mens especially thosel of the Regular Army, had sworn to uphold in every way possible their .Commandef in Chief, the President.
 Dudley Field Malone, Collector of the Port of New York and a corporal in Company G. said:
 s'The doctrine advanced by Colonel Roosevelt is both novel and treason ab1e-that in great national emer-1 gency any citizen should support the President in his onerous duties only SD a q 6af fif aod h f n Presidents views. Colonel Roosevelt is entitled to his views on public mat ters, but at the last national election. the American people chose woodrow ton. and they chose him despite the fact that they had an opportunity to select Theodore Roosevelt.
 When Colonel Roosevelt was President he was given the undivided support of the nation on every great was always right, but because the people believed he was sincerely try ing to perform for them the duties l of his office. He might now at least maintain silence when he cannot be | generous or American enough to give l loyal support to the President in com mon with the great mass of other Americans. I
 His speech was very interesting and parts of it thoroughly American. 1 but, taken in Connection with his statement issued afterward. I believe 1t has meritedl the condemnation of all | thoughtful Americans. The ques- ton of adequate preparation for the | protection of the country is not a party question, except Historically, and even Colonel Roosevelt, with all his skill as ardent politician, cannot by insinuation or innuendo put the blame for the present size of the army or navy on President Wilson or his administration. When he says that nothing has been done in a year and a half to increase the efficiency of the army and navy he is inaccur- ate and mistaken. and, in addition, he knows too we'll that when na- ton like ours is in the midst of deli cate negotiations with England and E Germany, it is very difficult if not impossible, for our government to ad- vocate g. program of warli1e prepara- tion.''
 Scores of other prominent members of the regiment commented on the E speech, but not for publication.
 Whether the present situation will cause Secretary Garrison to cancel his proposed visit to Plattsburg to re- view the regiment is a. question asked on all sides.
 RESENTED BY ROOSEVELT.