The New York herald., 1921-08-13
u. OF P. BEING URGED
TO RELEASE WOOD
Will BE Governor-General of
Philippines if Things Can
Be Arranged.
NOW AWAITING REPORT
Nomination Will Not Go to
Senate Until Survey of ISL
ands Has Been Studied.

WASH rNGToN. Aug. 12.- Nomination
OF Major Gen. Leonard Wood as Cover
nor General of the Philippines awaited
to-day action by the University OF Penn
sylvania to release him from his promise
to become provost of the institution.
Secretary Weeks said to-day that Gen.
Wood had yielded reluctantly to urg-
ings that he accept the Governorship.
preferring to follow his original purpose
of seeking private employment. 1t
might be, Mr.. Weeks added, that should
the university authorities consent to the
change in plan, Gen. Wood would re-
main only a year in the islands. then
come home to take up his work at the
university.
Secretary Weeks said the Governor
of Pennsylvania had taken up the mat
ter with the university authorities and
that an early favorable reply was ex-
pected.
Although Gen. Woods designation to
head the island government is regarded
among War Department officials as
virtually settled, il was emphasized in
high Administration circles to-day that
no nomination would go to the Senate
until after receipt of the report of the
special investigating committee, of
which the General is chairman. This
commission was sent to the Philippines
by President Harding to make a thor
ough survey OF conditions and to recon-
mend what from of government was best
The report Is expected to reach the
President within a few days and al
though no official forecast of its tenor
has been received there have been
many indications that 1t would sug-
gest continuation of the present gov
ernmental supervision so far as they
affect selection of a Governnor-General.
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 12-Secretary of
War Weeks several days ago wrote to
Gov William c. Sproul, as president ex-
officio of the University OF Pennsylvania
board of trustees, asking him to request
that body to release Major-Gen. Leonard
Wood from his verbal promise to head
the institution this fall
mfr. Weeks sent me letter two or
three days ago, asking for the release of
Gen. Wood" the Governor said The
letter was sent to me as the ex-ofiicio
president Of the university's board of
trustees / Immediately turned it over
70 Joseph II. Penniman, acting pro-
vost, with the request that he lay the
matter before the trustees. after which
/ notified the Secretary of War OF my
action.
While Gov. Sproul refused to comment
on the contents of the letter, II was
learned from a source very close to him
that Secretary Weeks enclosed in his
letter a cablegram from Gen. Wood to
the War Department executive. In the
cablegram Gen. Wood Is quoted as hav-
ing asserted a national emergency exists
in the Philippine Islands at this time.
Jpn the basis OF this statement Sec
retary Weeks made his request for Gen.
Woods release until the fall of 1922, ac-
cordng to tho same source. Definite
action has not yet been taken BY Uni
versity of Pennsylvania authorities. but
statement is expected within few
hours
When Gen. Wood agreed, in the pres
ence of the board of trustees, to become
head of the University OF Pennsylvania
beginning this fall no told that body
only a national emergency could deter
him. The General did, however, decline
to make more than a verbal promise
until after his return from the Philip
pines because he did not think 1t would
be fitting to formally accept a civilian
position while wearing the uniform of
Government service.