Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-05-07
HOW WILSON kept
WOOD out OF War
Transferred From Pillar to Post
Away From Front-Steel
and Coal Strikes.
BY JOHN G. HOLME,
Author of "The Life of Leonard Wood"
VIII

BY JOHN G. HOLME,
Author of "The Life of Leonard Wood"
VIII
The attitude taken by the admins
tration in Washington toward Leonard
Woods preparedness campaign is a
familiar subject to all Americans to-
day The administration did not ap-
prove of Wood, nor of his work. No
one knew this better than the General
himself, and he pursued his course
with open eyes, knowing full well that
the Commander in Chief of the Army
and Navy, President Wilson, frowned
on his efforts. Wood deliberately jeo-
pardized his own career, his chances
for whatever glory their might be gain
ed in the great war toward which the
nation was heading. Therefore, no
motive could have been ascribed for
his noble efforts except the one Of
intense patriotism.
In August, 1915, Lindley M. Gar
rison, then Secretary of War, savagely
rebuked Wood for inviting the late
Theodore Roosevelt to speak before
the Plattsburgh officers camp. Roose-
welt said nothing in his address before
the officers in criticism of the admins
tratiOn, but later in the day he issued
a statement criticising Wilson's note
writing. This he did at the Platts-
burg railway station way outside
the camp. The whole press OF the
70 oil
denouncing Garrison for his action.
Immediately after the war was de-
clared, Wood wrote and personally de-
Hvered two letters, one to the Adjutant
General of the Army and the other to
the Chief of Staff, asking for service
abroad He never received reply
from either official, but few days lat
er, the Department of the East, which
be commanded, was divided into three
small departments, Wood Was relieved
Of his office and transferred to Charles
ton, S. c., headquarters of the new
Southeastern Department.
While in Charleston, Wood laid out
plans for eleven large National Army
Camps, and three officers training
camps. He was then transferred to
Camp Funston, Kansas, where he train
ed the Eighty-ninth and the Tenth
Divisions.
This kicking of Wood from pillar to
post had a double effect it brought on
the administration an avalanche of
criticism and it enhanced Woods pop
ularity. The State of Kansas made
/ him an honorary citizen through a
proclamation by Governor Capper.
! In November, 1917, General Wood
was sent to France to observe military
| operations at the front as were all
| general officers in charge of training
| camps. While watching French artil-
lery at work on January q, 1918, he
! was severely wounded by shell which
! burst inside French gun, the whole
gun crew being killed. General Wood
recovered rapidly and returned to the
! United States, where he passed the
severe physical examination for army
officers destined for overseas service
General Wood accompanied the
Eighty-ninth Division, which he had
trained, to New York for embarka
ton, expecting to command it II
France On arriving in New York
May 25, 1918, he received telegram
from Secretary of War Baker, re
lieying him of his command. The
, press unsparingly fayed the admins
tration for this display of meannes'
of spirit. However, Wood was sen
back to Funston No one has eve
heard him speak one word of prOtes
against this shameful treatment. HI
continued to work night and day TO
victory, training troops, aiding th'
country in every way he could. In hi
campaign speeches of late, he has tim
, and again stated his refusal to CRITICS
the Democratic administration. Let tn
Republicans do better than the Demo
Gratis is his slogan He had the Tent
Division ready for overseas servic
when the armistice was signed
After the armistice, Wood was as
signed to the command of the Centra
Department with headquarters in Ch
cago where he still is. Of late severe
8 notable events have taken place illu:
h trating his strong capability for pull
lie service.
About a year ago he organized th
Chicago bureau for finding emplo.
. ment for returning soldiers. This O
ganization became the model for tn
h Federal bureau
He was called upon to quell the rae
riot in Omaha, and to restore and mail
tain law and order in Gary, Indians
V and in the West Virginia coal fields du
= ing the steel and coal strikes. Th
n Wood did without firing a shot. Nor
over, his attitude toward the striker
in Gary and in the coal fields was 8
fair and impartial as to win the cor
y mendation of the labor leaders. TT
strikers were allowed to strike al
picket in orderly fashion, and Il
workers were allowed to work. Woo
took no sides. He merely kept orde
He, said he found nearly one hu
le dred per cent of the strikers 10y
p, Americans, who earnestly believe
lie they were fighting for their rights.
did not compromise with the Reds
Gary. He arrested them.
= There are few men in this land vi
- can point to life of more distinguis
ed public service than Leonard Woo
II as doctor, soldier, administrator al
business executive. man of fe
words and big deeds, he typifies t
best this nation has to offer. Roos
> welt once said of him: His rise
- been astounding, and it has been d
purely to his own striking qualifiC
s. tions and striking achievements"