Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-05-29
POLITICS KEEPS WOOD At HOME.
Administration Seeks to Place Blame
Gpon General Fersring.

Washington, May 29.-Maj. Gen.
Leonard Wood, whom the administra
ton is bent on keeping out Of France,
called on President Wilson yesterday
afternoon and begged his commander
In chief not 10 relegate him in his
prime TO the swivel chair job of COM
manding the western department at
San Francisco, 5000 miles from the
battle front.
The conference with the president
was arranged by Secretary Of War
Baker, to whom the general had made
the same plea
For half an hour General Wood
sought to persuade the president to
rescind the order which halted and
turned him back virtually as the
Eighty-ninttt division Of the national
army, which he trained at Camp Fun
ston, was getting ready to leave fof
France.
The general pleaded that he be al
lowed to go to the firing line. or fall
ing that, to serve in some more active
ca pacity than that Of a departme t
commander.
Mr.. Wilson listened TO General
Woods appeal without committing
himself further than to say that the
request would be referred to the sec
rotary Of war. Secretary Baker said
General Woods request had been re-
ferred to Chief Of Staff March.
On leaving the White House General
Wood had no idea himself whether
the president is disposed to modify In
any degree the order OF Punishment
to the Pacific coast. He said that he
rad a pleasant talk with the presi-
dent.
Il can't say anything about my visit
to the president" Gen. Wood said to-
night. Whatever orders I get shall
obey with a cheerful heart"
The order barring one Of tho tore
most American officers in active serv.
wheze all the military skill the natior
possesses Is sorely needed, created q
sensation in the capital.
Party lines went to smash. demo.
cratic leaders were heard echoing the
comment Of the New York World, CHIEF
Journalistic defender of the administra.
ton, that "the news that Gen. Leon.
ard Wood Is to be kept In this country
while the division whose training he /:
completing Will go abroad under th%
second in command, will give ever,
fair minded man a bad taste in ths
mouth"
Il think that the order to keel
Gen. Wood out Of France" said one
influential democratic senator. "is {
serious tactical blunder. Gen Woot
is the most popular officer in the army
and if for no other reason this move /:
a blunder from a purely psychological
standpoint. 1t arouses resentment
among the people and is bad for the
general morale Of the country"
The administration sought to defend
the action by stating that the order
was inspired by Gen. Pershing. who. i
isr.alleged. had named Gen. Wood a.
one Of two prominent officers II wovlt
not be desirable to send to France. TIL,
other officer Is said to be Gen. J. Frank
lin Bell.
It was stated that General Pershiae
had forwarded a list of officers he de.
sired sent to France and that the
names Of General Wood and Genera
Bell were omitted.
1SiieIti w OCO Is d Ll9SLeTIUI man
like General Pershing and France Is
not big enough to hold two such men,
said the war department official who
gave out this version Of the affair."
This move to pass the buck" to Gen.
eral Pershing had no sooner material.
lied than General Wood appeared a.
the capitol and called on Senator War.
rem, Of Wyoming, father-in-law of Gen.
eral Pershing. Neither the general MOI
the senator would discuss the matte,
afterward.
Friends of General Wood, however
emphatically disputed the truth Of tn,
| assertion that General Pershing doe!
| not want General Wood in France.
Officers who were in France will
| General Wood a few months ago re-
| called that he and Pershing had .
! cordial exchange Of greetings in Paris
| General Pershing, recalling the fac
that he had been appointed governor O
Moro province by General Wood, whel
the latter was military commander o
the Philippines, asked Wood If h
would serve under him in France Gen
| eral Wood replied that nothing wo,.!
| give him greater honor and pleasure.
A movement Is on foot in England t,