New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1919-08-08
GENERAL WOOD
RECEIVES STATE
GOLD MEDAL
DISTINGUISHED OFFICER
PRESENTED WITH EN-
BLEM OF APPRECIATION
PROVIDED BY LEGISLA-
TURE. MANY PROMINENT
CITIZENS ATTEND THE
CEREMONIES AND GREET
GENERAL

Major General Leonard Wood OF
the u. 5. Army was the guest OF
the state OF New Mexico yesterday
With appropriate yet simple oere-
monies General Wood was present
ed with a gold medal in apprecia-
ton Of patriotic and valued ser
vice to the state and nation. This
medal was voted to the General by
the Fourth state legislature
General Wood arrived late We'd
nesday night and during his stay
was the guest of Col Bronson NJ
Cutting. Yesterday morning a pro-
cession formed on the plaza. Ad-
jutant General James A. Baca was
the master OF ceremonies and Viii
liam Z. Griffin the marshal of the
day. The Santa Fe band led the
proces sion out College street to the
residence OF Col. Cutting The guest
of honor was escorted to the state
Capitol. where the exercises were
held
Acting Governor Benjamin F. Pan
key presided and made the address
of welcome. Major w. H. II. Lie
wellyn on the behalf of the state
presented the gold medal to Major
General Leonard Wood The Cen
eral, visibly moved, thanked the peo-
pie of New Mexico for this express
sion of their esteem
General Wood recounted briefly
his experience in New Mexico, in
suppre,sing the Apache Indians in
the eighties and his relation with
the Rough Riders" from New Mex
leo in the Spanish war. He also
touched on his experience with New
Mexico soldiers that were trained
in the 89th and 10th division and
said that they made excellent SOL
diers.
General Wood laid stress on the
point that we must not forget the
soldiers after they had finished their
task so nobly and returned home.
1t was not matter of coddling
them. 1t was simply a matter of
giving them a chance. The crippled
men that returned did not need cod
ding, but they must be trained for
new means of livelihood that they
could again become useful citizens.
But under no circumstance forget the
men that fought for civilization. The
soldiers should become a dominant
force. The emotional stage is past
and we are now in the stage of rea-
soning Many difficult problems are
before the country, but they are solu-
BILE. There must not be an autocracy
OF wealth nor an autocracy of labor,
indicating that America must not be-
come a home of classes.
General Wood newt discussed hr;af-
ly the tendency of the times and
warned against radicalism and inter-
nationalism. He urged rational arbi-
tration to- meet domestic dissension.
This applied to labor difficulties and
national problems. Rational arbitra-
tion would also meet foreign situa-
tions. He however favored being
prepared as we would inspire more
respect for just claims if we also had
the necessary force at hand. He
favors universal training rather than
maintaining a large regular army in
peace times.
General Wood is patriotic. There
is only one loyalty. There IS room
for only one flag. II is necessary
TO obliterate all class and racial diff
ferences and be Americans all.
In closing General Wood spoke
briefly and forcefully in Spanish and
again expressing his deep gratitude
for the honor shown him by the state
of New Mexico.
In the afternoon there were social
features of various kinds and a re-
ception at the Museum.
Many visitors from all parts of the
state were present Many soldiers
Of the great war, large number OF
Rough Riders" and other soldiers
of the Spanish war, and a sprinkling
Of veterans OF the civil war. were
present.
General Wood is spoken of as a
presidential possibility on the Repub-
lican ticket. He has not even in
timated that he would accept the
honor. Be that as it may, General
Wood is today one of the big men
Of the nation. He is not alone a
great soldier. but has demonstrated
executive ability of the highest order
and no one. hearing him Yesterday,
doubts that he is fully conversant
with every phase Of the affairs Of
the world today. General Wood is
the right kind of a man to make a
great president Of this great repub-