Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1920-01-22


varieties IL It than II has been the tot
OF many men evec Ia have placed M.
on their shoulders
Not long after this there came The
greater opportunities In Havana. II
was necessary TO re-write the election
laws 70 make them III the habits Of the
people. Production had tn he stimu.
lated, for agriculture WIS the main
source OF the islands wealth. Here
again the same measures we're follow
ed and Ms result there were estab
lished law and order, protection of
life and property, and liberty with
In the law
These were The foundation stones.
Wood knew that the government must
be run by the Cubans. and So 90 per
cent Of the officials engaged IN the
great work OF reconstruction were
selected from the people ct the island.
The Cuhans We're taught government
while the government was being built
and thus they we're able to run II when
the rule Of the island was turned over
To its inhabitants
When il became necessary to reor-
ganize the Cuban railroads Wood So
cured the services of Sir William Van
Horne, president of the Canadian Pa
cific, ana of Granville NJ Dodge, build
or OF ia" Union Pacific
The same general policy was FOL
lowed in dealing with the problem OF
caring for the teps of thousands of
orphans that had been left by the war.
Homer Folks. commissioner or chart
ties of the state of New York. was
called to Cuba bv Wood 10 aid In tine
establishment OF Il system for placing
and permanently earring for these lit
tie deSolntoS. Chief Justice White
of the supreme court of the United
States at that time an asSuciate Jus
tice. Was consulted as to the method TO
be pursued I'm rcorganizin2 the courts
Leonard Wood was I'm Cuba about
four years lie left there rcorgan.
led aud SOUND banking system, ~
good railroad system, no debts. nearly
S20o000u unin0mbercd money in the
treasury sugar crop of nearly 1000
900 tons. sound municipal laws fine
public works, a firm agricultural
foundation aud an absolute respect
among lhe people for life and prop
erty Tho school system which Wood
established was founded ON the laws
of Massachusetts and Ohio. Roads
were huif which made communication
speedy The hospitals erected under his
supervision We're of the highest type
Lord Cromer said he wished this
American officer was available to fol-
low him in his reconstruction work
in Egyp, Elihu Root said this work
never was paralleled in colonial pos
sessions anywhere Theodore ROOse-
welt said thar Leonard Wood has
rendered services to Cuba Of kind
which. II performed three thousand
years ago. would have made him a
hero uixed up with the sun god In va.
rious ways"
After The Cuban experience Wood
was FOR Eve years in the Philippines
confronted with the difficult labor OF
establishing civil government. this
time among Mohsmmedan people.
There he did the same successful
work he did in Cuba,
This period OF residence 10 The Phii.
Ippinss gave Wood an opportunity 70
study conditions In the British colo
mics, BorDe0, Singapore. and to keep
in close touch With conditions In
Japan and along the China coast.
Wood travelled through india, spent
some time with the Dutch iu Jaws. and
with Lord Cromer In Egypt. He
gained and retained knowledge OF al
which at that time came under his stu-
dieus observation.
Then Leonard Wood became chief
OF the general stan OF the United
States army. ia whose hands rests
very largely the direction and admin.
istraiion of the military establishm
which after all Is 30 per cent = bust.
ness matter.
The administrative career OF Leon.
ard Wood IS spread upon the records
OF his country. The work which he
has done Is lasting. II is q states
lna,sS