New-York tribune., 1920-06-06
Why General Wood?

Men show the stun OF their char-
scter by their bearing in crisis
b7 decisions reached when many arc
confused and hesitating As Tom
Paine said in Revolutionary days.
These are the times which try
mems souls.
General Woods answer to the
visionless and immoral edict tha.
this country should be neutral "even
in thought" was to proclaim the need
Of preparedness and to establish the
Plattsburg camp. Except for this
notable action, taken against the
frouns Of the bat-blind Of Washing
ton. it is improbable that our soldiers
would have been in Europe in time.
Many American homes are sadly
vacant. Many more would be except
for Gener7l Wood. his courage, his
putting allegiance to cause above
selfish advantage.
In spite Of angry efforts to sup
press him. General Wood persisted
and became the avakoner of the ma
ton. When an official order placed
a paddock ON his lips he made signs
al understood. Ultimately the Pres
ident was led to seek to put his feet
il the generals footsteps. But in
stead of the apology so justly due
then there came an astonishing
series If humiliations. the only
plausible explanation of which is
that the rise of a political rival was
reanly feared
Immediately war was declared
General Wood wrote two letters,
ore 20 the adjutant general and the
other TO the chief of staff, asking
for service abroad. The writer was
then ffty-six years old, exception
ally sound ard vigorous in mind and
body, and the ranking general Of
The service. No reply came. In
stead, the general was relieved of
command Of the Department Of the
East and offered service in the Phil
ippines, in Hawaii or at Charleston.
The reward for conspicuous service
vas demotion.
But in his corner General Wood
dil his wor. so we'll that soon he
was popular in the South. He was
hurried Of 20 the West. Again he
Won golden opinions-became 50
admired taa. Governor Capper Of
Kansas declared in formal proclama-
Ton thai Leonard Wood "has shown
by MS dali lfe, BY his devotion TO
dlty, ~ rs high IDEALS and his
love Of country that he is a high
minded man after our own hearts.
four-square 20 the world. one good
70 know. So I declare him TO be
% al 'ntents and purposes a citizen
Of ths state, and as such entitled
% speak The Kansas language, 20
follow Kansas customs and to be
known as C5tl1en egtraordsnary.
The mex. scene Of the sorry farce,
after the press had been filed with
hauendoes, was 70 hale the general
oe'ore medical examination board
bu. the doctors refused 20 do the
BUSINESS expected # tnem-instead,
reported rim altogether st for mill
ary ducy anywhere. But the cabal
continued q. WORK
Iae curtain came down when Gen
era WOOD division, the 89th, vas
orcered abroad His baggage was
packed and on board when an order
cane relieving him~of command and
'end!ng hln back 10 camp. HIS fare
vel 70 Ms men deeply moved his
hearers. He told them TO think not
q him but 70 concentrate on one
'ning-or always reaching their OBJ
Jec.@Fez. 50 far "a known no one
Nas ever heard from the victim one
*ord n criticism Of mis- treatment
i's ohly comment vas 10 remark
''yiy y qucssioner that he kne"
"n' kep. hin on. of rar.
"h'ie a candidate. from another
i'afeef have come other attempts t
''~strng. The whispers concern
''.R Ms physical condition were re
''7ed. When these were refuted b.
''s appearance on the stump The
''ilan zoldier ~aa assailcd az an
'''ec'i'naole militarist. This fail
T. ne ~as then fallen on occaugc ar
'@"hoed primary campa IN costs
money Tne "Old Guard has sud
""niy '<eefne Alarmed oYcr,the ~
q noonsy in politics.
1nsss later attempts 10 discredi'