New-York tribune., 1918-03-28
Another Lynching?

For several precious days General
Leonard Wood has been going up and
down the corridors and thoroughfares of
Washington like an avenging anguish.
His angry indignation has filled Off
cial complacency with uneasiness and
alarm.
His words have deeply moved those
whose ears are not stopped to any criti-
cism of the wars conduct
Strong men have wept at his recital of
American conditions in France.
One member CT the Senate Committee
on Military Affairs "a Democracy after
listening for an hour got up and walked
about the room, beating the walls with
his hands, saying:
II can't stand it any longer The peo-
pie must be told
General Wood is the man who risked
mis- uniform to preach preparedness be-
fore the war. He was the first and is so
far the only general to be wounded in the
great cause. To the Senate committee
he said: "Ill tell you the truth if you
want it. Let her go" His earnestness
IS painful. 1t is perhaps also intemper-
ate, but that is, or should be, very easy
at this time for the people at home to
bear
Yet there is danger that he will be
scrapped by the War Department when
he comes before the medical examining
board to prove his fitness for service in
France. There are rumors that "they
will do it, if they dare"
They will do it, if they dare, because
general has no military business to say
that the Secretary Of War is 1ncompe-
tent, or that the War Department ought
TO be treated with a hose
But the War Department may not dare;
at least, not SO long as people have faith
in this reckless critic within So steps
are taken beforehand to destroy that
faith. There are indications that the
lynch law, applied to the Synagogue rag
ring" to "the corporation operating at
Hog Island" and to the "aircrafters.
will be applied also to General Wood if
the official daring or camouf1age for
that job can be found.
Already one hears rumors touching
the nature Of his motives and the sound
ness of his judgment.
The attack is oblique. It's technique is
generally lnterrogativc. as Wood all
right?" as Wood to be trusted?" "Isnt
Wood playing politics."
Then there is the technique of innu-
endo.
David Lawrence, Washington corre-
spondent of "The New York Evening
POST whose stuff appears also in the
Hearst-brisbane washington Times"
opened yesterdays defence of the Ad-
ministration with the philosonhica,
statement that the "extrem;sts .n,
aiarmists are at it again." and coroes j.,
the third paragraph to General Wood
thus:
oe'erai signs Of drive against Tho
s'ghai corps and the Aircraft product;on
board are in evidence. Coinc;dou. .:.,
'ne arrival here Of Major General Wood
VINO testified before the Senate Coron,;,.oa
on Military Affairs two days ago concor,-
ing lack Of airDlanes in the Ane~,c.u
army abroad, advertisements bav. h.>.
appearing in the local newspapers advcr.
tising certain engine for airplane no.
Inc present campaign for that
kind Of machine comes at the very t;,,o
that aspersions arc being cast by Genera,
Wood and several Senators against 4bo
Liberty motor"
Sir. Lawrence does not mean to be IN
fair or scurrilous. Like every one else at
Washington, he is highly cmotionalizea
about the war. The will to believe that
it -is going we'll caugeg him to be into,-
Grant Of adverse opinion; he sits with
those who feel az Senator Williams feels
when he askz: "Why in Gods name
can't we h9d our hearts up and praise