New-York tribune., 1919-12-28
Proctor Back From Middle
West and He and Aids Pre-
pare to Forestall At
tack ON Generals Record
Expect No Stampede
Argue Candidates Work in
Army Camps Proves He Is
a Capable Administrator

Colonel William c. Proctor, presi-
dent of the National Leonard Wood
League, returned from Chicago and
the West yesterday, bringing with him
a report on the situation in the middle
West, including the progress of the
Wood boom in Nebraska, where a
voters petition is in circulation in
various parts of the state asking that
the name of General Wood be placed
on the Republican ballot for the pri-
maries next April 20, when the voters
will express their preference for Presi-
dental nominees. Such petitions have
been filed in Lincoln and other cities.
Under the law in Nebraska General
Wood will not have to file any accept
ance. His is the first Presidential
petition to be filed in that state. Ne
braska is the home state of General
Pershing. The friends of the latter, it
is understood, have not made any
move toward nominating him.
The Wood men both in New York and
in the West agree in saying that they
expect the "militarist" issue to be
raised against General Wood both be-
fore and at the Chicago convention
They are sedulously preparing to meet
1t whenever and whenever it presents
itself
Ready to Combat 1t
One of the Generals New York lieu
tenants yesterday, in discussing this
particular objection raised against the
candidacy of General Wood by those
who are weary of war or anything
directly or indirectly connected with
it, made this comment:
eve know that the Lowden and
Harding men at Chicago will raise the
issue of 'militarism' against the gen.
eral, not because they fear he is a
militarist, but because they will want
the best argument at hand Fore
warned is forearmed
General Wood will run on his rec
ord as an administrator of large af-
fairs rather than on his military rec
ord. He might have made military
record in the present war that would
have overshadowed that of any Of the
gallant officers who participated in the
great strtgle, but he was ordered
away from the front by the Wilson
Administration back to comparatively
peaceful pursuits.
"Wherevcr he was sent he did his
work in a wonderfully capable man
ner-so much so that the Administra-
tion at Washington became positively
alarmed at his popularity and shifted
him from one point to another He
made good at Charleston, at Camp
Funston and in Chicago, where he now
is. The generals supporters all over
the United States are confident that
fNln 70, ~pn hO tor ri ri
away from General Wood on the score
of miltarism.
Nearly All Wore Uniforms
at is an interesting fact. however,
that all of the Republican Presidents,
with the exception Of Andrew johnson,
elected as Vice-President, and William
Howard Taft, wore the uniform of the
United States army. Lincoln was a
captain in the Black Hawk war. Grant
was the successful ommander-in-chief,
Rutherford B. Hayes was a major gen
eral, and so was James A. Garfield.
Chester A. Arthur of New York. was
quartermaster general. Benjamin
Harrison was brigadier general
William Mckinley was a major of vol
unteers. Theodore Roosevelt was a
colonel of cavalry.
"The glory of the Republican party
rests quite largely on these men. Did
sucn service unfit them for high civic
service? 1t is absurd to assume that
the military service that Leonard Wood
has had has untitled him for the indus
trial and reconstruction problem
facing this country at this time As a
matter of fact, his experience in the
army has increased his efficiency, and
this fact is demonstrated by an exami-
nation of the record"
Speaker Thaddeus c.. Sweet of the
New York Assembly when asked yes
terday about General Woods military
record being a handicap had this to
say:
Doubts 1t Will lnjure Him
Il think l have been asked half a
dozen times, not in an unfriendly
spirit, whether General Woods mill
tary record is going to handicap him
IN the race for the Republican nomi-
nation. While | have not heard any
one say that it hurt General Wood in
ms estimation, it is fact that people
keep asking the question.
I'm view of the generals record as
an administrator, l doubt whether il
Will inJure him great deal. 1t is too
early to tell. Things in the United
States might be in such tanr.e by
the time the convention ia hold tho+ :,