The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1920-01-29
LEONARD WOOD. ADMINISTRATOR

, HUNilisIOInHI
varieties of it than 1t has been the lot
Of many men ever to have placed up
on 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
I'D 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 90 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 We're able to run 1t when
the rule of the island was turned over
to its inhabitants
When 1t 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.
The same general policy was fol-
lAUa6 In dAoIfpsr
caring for the tens of thousands of
orphans that had been left by the war.
Homer Folks, commissioner of chari-
ties of the state of New York, was
called to Cuba by Wood to aid In tlh
establishment of a 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 ms
uce, was consulted as to the method TO
be pursued In recognizing the courts.
Leonard Wood was in Cuba obout
four years. He left there reorgan-
lzed and sound banking system. a
good railroad system no debts, nearly
$2,OO0,OOO unincumbered money In the
treasury, sugar crop of nearly 1,OOO.-
OO0 tons. sound municipal laws. fine
pubic works, a firm agricultural
ioundation 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
we're built which made communication
speedy. The hospitals erected under his
supervision were of the highest type.
Lord Cromer said he wished this
officer was available to fol-
ow him in his reconstruction work
n Egypt. Elihu Root said this work
lever was paralleled in colonial DOS
essions anywhere. Theodore Roose-
'elt said that Leonard Wood has
endered services to Cuba of a kind
which, II performed three thousand
ears ago. would have made him a
zero mixed UP with the sun god In va
ious ways"
After the Cuban experience Wood
vas for five years in the Philippines
onfronted with the difficult labor Of
establishing civil government, this
line among a Mohammedan people.
here he did the same successful
york he did In Cuba.
This period OF residence In the Phil
ppines gave Wood an opportunity to
tudy conditions In the British colo
lies. Borneo. Singapore. and to keep
n close touch with conditions in
Iapan and along the China coast.
Mood travelled through India, spent
'ome time with the Dutch In Java. and
With Lord Cromer In Egypt He
gained and retained knowledge of all
which at that time came under his SIN.
iious observation.
Then Leonard Wood became CHIEF
II the general staff of the United
States army, in whose hands rests
very largely the direction and admin
stration of the military establishment.
which after all is so per cent a busi-
ness matter.
The administrative career of Leon
ira Wood is spread upon the records
u his country. The work which he
las done is lasting. 1t is a states
mans work.