Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-02-06

lrleties of 1t than 1t has been the lot |
f many men ever to have placed up |
IN their shoulders.
Not long after this there came the
greater opportunities in Havana. 1t |
was necessary to re-write the election
laws to make them fit the habits of the
people. Production had to be stimu-
lated, for agriculture was the main
source of the islands wealth. Here
again the same measures were follow
ed and as result there were estab-
lished law and order, protection of
life and property, and liberty with
n the law.
These were the foundation stones.
Wood knew that the government must
be run by the .Cubans, and SO 80 per
cent of the officials engaged in the
great work Of reconstruction were
selected from the people Of the island.
The Cubans were taught government
while the government was being built
and thus they were able to run it when
the rule of the island was turned over
to its inhabitants.
When it became necessary to reor-
ganize the Cuban railroads Wood Sc
cured the services of Sir William Van
Horne. president of the Canadian Pa
cific. and of Granville NJ. Dodge, build
er of the Union Pacific.
f. The same general policy was fol-
lowed in dealing with the problem Of
caring for the tens of thousands Of
orphans that had been left by the war.
Homer Folks, commissioner of chari-
called to Cuba by Wood to aid in the
establishment Of system for placing
and permanently caring for these lit
tie desolates. Chief Justice White
! Of the Supreme court Of the United
States, at that time an associate JUS
tice, was consulted as to the method to
be pursued in reorganizing the courts.
Leonard Wood was in Cuba about
four years. He left there reorgan-
lied and sound banking system, a
good railroad system, no debts, nearly
100000 unincumbered money In the
treasury, sugar crop Of nearly 1,O0O,-
900 tons, sound municipal laws, fine
public works, firm agricultural
foundation and an absolute respect
among the people for life and prop.
} erty. The school system which Wood
established was founded on the laws
Of Massachusetts, and Ohio. Roads
! were built which made communication
speedy. The hospitals erected under his
supervision were of the highest type
, Lord Cromer said he wished this
American officer was available to fol
t low him in his reconstruction worI
, In Egypt. Elihu Root said this worl
t never was paralleled in colonial pos
| sessions anywhere. Theodore Roose
welt said that Leonard Wood .'ha.
J rendered services to Cuba of a kin(
which, If performed three thousand
e years ago, would have made him
: hero mixed up with the sun god in va
s rious ways"
e After the Cuban experience Woo
was for five years in the Philippine
r confronted with the difficult labor o
i establishing civil government, thi
q lime among a Mohammedan people
4 There he did the same successful
) work he did in Cuba.
This period of residence in the Phi
!. ppines gave Wood an opportunity t
i. study conditions in the British colo
! lies, Borneo, Singapore, and to kee
. n close touch with conditions +
= Japan and along the China coas
!, Wood Travelled through India, spen
some time with the Dutch in Java, an
;, with Lord Cromer in Egypt. Fl
gained and retained knowledge of a
which at that time came under his st,
1ious observation.
= Then Leonard Wood became chic
= IF the general staff Of the Unite
States army, in whose hands rest
= very largely the direction and admin
4 stration of the military establishment
3 which after all is 80 per cent a bus
'e ness matter.
d The administrative career of Leo
X ard Wood is spread upon the record
l. If his country. The work which b
e. las done is lasting. It is a state
re mans work.