Daily Kennebec journal., 1919-10-31
The Welcome to Wood
CFrom the Chicago Tribune


Wood to restore public safety first in
Omaha and a few days later in Gary
has a good deal more significance than
its surface reveals. Externally it is the
usual recourse to the power Of the Fed
eral Government and TO its agent. the
Regular Army, in cases where the
feebler strength of city or State has
fallen short of necessity Whoever
commanded the Central Department. U.
8. A. would be called in such emer-
sencies arising in this region.
But the fact that it was Leonard WOOD
brought with It considerably larger
percentage of assurance of restored
stability than II the Federal agency had
teen someone else. 1t brought assur-
ance not only OF vigorous but OF intell:-
gent action in situations where intelli-
gence is as much in requisition as cour-
ageous frmness.
An exceptional character and re-
markable career lies back of that public
confidence. career Of exceptional and
remarka bic accomplishment in Cuta. IN
the Philippines. in the military devei-
opnent preceding and accompanying
the war.
Very few soldiers Of mark in any
country possess the combination Of
qualities which achieved the results %
Inc American occupation of Cuba,
qualities of craftsmanship and diplo-
macy in very distinguished degree.
which added a chapter to our history
bet er appreciated and therefore more
mighty regarded abroad than by this
generation of Americans
Following this service as pro-consul
came military contributions Of the high
est order-the conception Of esta blish-
ment of the military trainin: camps
hesinning with the fruitful Plattsburg
experiment, and most telling cham
Eionship of the universal military train
ing idea. BY reason of these two out
standing services far more than any
other, the rapid development of ou-
m ifary strength at the crisis of the
world war was made possible With
out them it would have been impossi-
lie. and these contributions 10 modern
democratic defense were not only of
permanent value and worldwide note.
outof most urgent and immediate ne
cessity. When. in addition TO this gen.
eIal creative achievement General
Wood turned out by way of concrete
application one OF the most perfect diyi-
sicns in the citizen Army. a unit re-
markab!e for its efficiency and espri,
de corps. and maintained a centre Of
raining which was placed easily firsr
by foreign experts. it is not astonish-
ing that General Woods reputation
both al home and abroad survived the
very obvious and pusillanimous efforts
10 obscure or discredit it.
In fact. it is a clear credit to public
intuition and judgment that although
General Wood, regarded abroad univer-
sally and at home pretty generally. as
the foremost American soldier of his
time, was not permitted to exercise his
great gifts and exceptional fund of ex-
peIience. while in contrast France ani
Germany. at least. were employing
their frst-rate men in first rate respon-
sibilities, General Wood has emerged
with all his influence and a position
still virtually unique.
Indeed. the public' opinion Of him is
now edgeI sharply by the conviction
running deep. especially among the men
OF the A. E. F.. that because Leonard
Wood was left at home thousands OF
American soldiers never came home.
And while only the impartiality OF his
tory can pronounce upon the exact JUS
tice OF that opinion. its existence today
in the very blush of our pride in the
success of our arms is one of the mos.
remarkable tributes to personality
and . career our annals can show
So there are very few. If any. men in
this period of widespread and profound
disquietude and danger to whom in
emergency the American people are
more likely to turn for understanding
strength than to the man whom official
resentment or jealousy tried to discard
from the nations service What is
needed in such crisis as the Omaha riot
and Gary disturbance is unshaka ble de-
termination in the enforcement of law.
with exact respect for private righ.
and sane, good-tempered confidence in
American character. 1t is a deserved
tribute to General Woods public SER
vice that no ones presence at Gary
could give better assurance Of order
and justice than his.