The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1920-03-27
Why Leonard Wood?

Why Leonard Wood?
BY his appearance in South Dakota
General Leonard Wood formally
consents to the use of his name as
Presidential candidate.
The question may thus now be
asked, why Wood?' What rasons
justify his candidacy? What claims
has he on the consideration of the
American people?
In the way of giving honoring
testimony where it seems richly due
these things may be said: He has
earned place as great national
fgureI he has shown the rare quality
called vision; he has been doer
throughout a crowded life, and his
repute rests not on words. He has
Ia character whose soundness and
beauty have endured many searching
tests.
General Wood belongs to no state
or section. 1t happens he was born
Iamid the Cape Cod folks Of Massa-
chusetts, but is at home anywhere
in America in New Mexico as much
as in New York, in South Carolina
as much as in Illinois. He is big
enough to be seen across the con-
tinent, and is not called on to ask
for support as favorite son.
General Wood has vision-that in
stinctive quality by which some men
sense the future and its problems.
/ In 1902 he attended the maneuvers
Of the German army. The Kaiser
thought his quiet, unfilatterable
visitor was dull was not aware
that his keen mind had clearly
! pierced the Kaiser's secret. A dan
ger threatened America and the world,
and General Wood saw it. He refus-
/ the Order of the Black Eagle, but sub
sequently accepted decoration from
France. Other men were blind. Let
us rejoice he was not
( The vision guided him. Two unfor-
gettable things he contributed to win
ming the war. He laid the founda-
tons of the public opinion that brought
CONSUMPTION promptly, and he was the
father Of the Plattsburg idea He en-
dured the reproach of being mill
tarist to secure the one, and pushed the
other despite the frantic threats of
the administration. Except for CON
scription and the Plattsburg prepare
ton of officers the 100000 Americans
would scarcely have arrived in time.
/ Princeton University paid merited
tribute when it conferred a degree
and said:
IN cur defeneeless state he has
sounded the revlla 10 awaken
slumboriag. bidding us rise and
: take our place like men to save
/ our freedom and help to save the
freedom of the world.
AS a doer General Wood revealed
himself when he was administrator
OF Cuba and later Of the Philip
pines His repute is International.
His achievements are compared to
those OF Crompf and Miner. Tact,
foresight, patience. business judg-
men, Imagination and sympathy
these elements were mixed in him
and won him the confidence OF proud
but backward peoples.
Touching the character of the man
only one incident need be mentioned.
~ July AD4oi hAo ulNiSlUu, tue NttI,
reached the port of debarkation
The gneraRs baggage was aboard
when an order came from Washing
ton relieving him of command.
There was almost a mutiny. He
called his officers together and said
10 them: Il am going back to Camp
Funston tomorrow, Where shall
give the best that is in me to the
training OF the new troops. Do not
concern yourselves with my case but
get your mind on the war. If you
would please me play your part
cheerfully, and well-that means
when in action never fail TO take
your objective, and never be late on
your objective"
It's the way, as Kipling has told us,
a man takes a "facer" that proves his
stuff. Should General Wood reach the
White House we may be sure there
will be a man there with ruggedness of
character equaling that Of the most
Industrious of his predecessors. New
York Tribune.