New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-04-18
Whitney, War
Aid of Hoover.
Endorses Wood
Sportsman and Explorer,
i'm Statement, Tells Why
General Pre-cminently Is
the Man for President
Issue Needs Fair Survey
Asserts Food Directors Task
Child's Play Compared to
Soldiers Cuban Work

Caspar Whitney, internationally
known sportsman, explorer and CORE
spondent. who studied General Leon
ard Wood and his work at close range
In the Southwest and in Cuba, and who
served year on the Commission for
Relief in Belgium under Herbert
Hoover, in q statement under the text
els Wood the Man? ?" says General Wood
prominently is the man for President.
Mr.. Whitney gives it as his opinion
that the reconstruction work in Cuba
under General W God was much harder
task, all things considered, than the
task directed by Herbert Hoover in
Belgium. Mr.. Whitney's article fol-
lows:
"My activities in behalf Of General
repeated requests, even challenges in
two instances, to say why l, almost
alone among those that served on the
Commission for Relief in Belgium
now espouse his cause rather than that
Of my former chief, Herbert Hoover
"Briefy, l reply that l likewise pre-.
sent the unique figure among the mem
hers of the Belgian Commission of hav-
ing been also in Cuba before, during and
after the reconstruction period under
General Wood, and it is because of
first hand knowledge of the relative
complexities of the two undertakings,
the requisite qualities of leadership,
temperament and vision, gained during
perience, that l believe Leonard Wood
the man above all other candidates best
equipped for the White House at this
troublous and anxious time.
~ have hesitated, indeed I still am
reluctant, to take up this challenge
lest what l say be misinterpreted either
as unfriendly in spirit or as belittle
ment of the opportune and efficient
work Of Mr.. Hoover, or of the difficult
mirable energy and as chief of the
G. r. B. carried through so competently.
Such reading of my reply would
utterly misrepresent both my intelli-
gence and my personal feeling toward
Mr.. Hoover, whom l esteem as a very
capable and clean, public-spirited Amer
lean and hope to see in the next Cab
met.
Issue Requires Searching Survey
"And yet the issue before the people
demands a fair and searching and
knowing survey, uninf1uenced by the
emotional waves we are so prone to
loose around a romantic incident, I'M
colored by personal attachment or ap-
peal to our quick response to spectacu-
lar service.
"Beset by contentious with the
shifty, exasperating Germans inside,
by the transportation problems and
conflicting sentiment outside (there
was sluggish response from America
and loudly voiced feeling by minor
ity and shallow thinking group in Eng
land and France that feeding the peo-
pie Of the German occupied Belgium
and France was 'prolonging the war;,
the G. R. B. job was a thoroughly
vexatious and exacting one-especially
for those inside the German lines. To
raise the necessary money, to handle
the exchange and shipping problems,
to maintain an adequate and uninter-
rupted inflow and distribution of sup
plies, required first-rate skill, patience
and devoted, untiring, unselfsh serv-
Ice; and this it had in generous guam
tity and prime quality not only from
Mr.. Hoover, but as we'll and as freely
from his ssociates-English, French.
Belglans, Americans especially Bel
glans, without whose efficient organiza-
tion, already going concern when the
Americans entered upon their mission.
the c. R. B. could not have functioned
80 far as distribution of foodstuffs ia
concerned.
Even among a cooperating people.
aided by the highest intelligence of
america A and Europe, such as Mr..
all the world friendly. the task was a
big one, but, in my deliberate if hum
bic opinion, it was chi1d's play by
comparison with the constructive work
IN Cuba, where out of chaos and in
lat first) an unfriendly atmosphere
General Wood evolved rehabilitation
OF industry and Of municipalities. the
organization OF government in the
provinces, the reimbursement Of taxation
ana OF the courts, the establishment OF
banking system, school system, g
system of sanitation, the building Of
railroads and the opening of Highways
"a job disclosing the highest type Of
constructive civil work, brilliant adj
minlstrative ability and sound bushes,
judgment. ''o''
Carried On" Despite Affronts
1T is because ofathese revelations o,
Ieneral Woods character and oualit,
IN Cuba and the Philippines, where hi
also established civil government or
Mindanao Island = his administrative,
genius combined with tact and practi
cal common sense, his knowledge o,
men early acquired during seyere an
prentice years in the Southwest. hi
foresight as evidenced by his efforts I.
arouse to preparedness the Wilson
1noculated America of 1914-16. hi,
quiet, purposeful Carrying on desn;t'
repeated and amazing affronts fron
Washington-it is because Of ali thea,
0emonstrations, l say, that I am fo
Leonard Wood for our next Pres;den
before Herbert Hoover or anv otha
man now Or likely to come un fo
popular approval. "p ~
Because the greater part Of NJ,
Hoover's business life has been anan
away from America and in associate;
with English enterprises there ~.
been puny attempt BY some iII~adv; 10
partIsans to make political capital ou
OF his alleged pro British tendcncv
wnicn has called some of hia fr;anJ
70 the defense of his Americanism
welcome this opportunity to add M,
voice TO these friends. and to char"c
ter'ze such chatter as absurd. knos
no man more thoroughly America
tnan Mr.. Hoover, az any one having th
sngntest acquaintance with him vii
agree- 1t - not his Americanism ~.
my one OF intelligence doubts. vet
true the question has been ra;se
whether any man can keep close n ~
+ processes Of q country. know the wi
OF IT'S people through occasional Visit