New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-09-30
NOT EASY TASK
FOR GEN.. WOOD
ADMINISTRATION OF THE PHIL
iPPINES WILL REQUIRE HIS
EMINENT ABILITIES.
AMERICAN RULE TO CONTINUE
Governor General Must Reconcile the
islanders to This-Some Political
Gossip Started in Washington By
the Appointment.
BY EDWARD 8. CLARK.

general Of the United States army, has
accepted the presidential appointment
AS governor general of the Philippine
Islands.
Wood will have 10 easy job in the
Philippines. There are many Filipinos
who hold that Uncle Sam should give
instant freedom to the islands. The
feeling In Washington among the ad-
herents of the present administration
is that the islands are not yet ready
for self-rule. IN of General Woods
tasks will be to reconcile the islanders
to Il continuation of government by
Uncle Sam, although the Filipino to-
day has a large share in the work OF
governing the land in which he lives.
General Wood has been an army
officer for t~hirty-tive years., but a large
part of his work has been administra-
tive. He is credited generally with
having resurrected Cuba from the vir-
tually dead state to which Spain had
reduced her. He also did what all
Americans have conceded was highly
constructive work in the Philippine
islands, where at one time he was gov
provinces. He was compelled ut that
time to meet many difficult situations,
one of which, the most difficult Of all,
had arisen through necessary attempts
Il adjust religious differences and es'
p~ecially some of the religious customs
of the MOhammedan inhabitants.
Arouses Political Gossip.
There Is some political gossip In
Washington about this appointment OF
General Wood to the Philippines post
Some men think the American people
designedly were led to believe that
the general had solicited the place. II
Is charged by some Of the critics OF
the administration that this was done
in order that no one might think that,
with an eye to the future, the admin.
istration was willing that Wood should
he stationed for some time In "A faI
distant land.
Friends Of the administration den,
there was any intention to make II
appear that the general had solicited
the appointment, and of course there
is denial of any political significance
The facts in the ease seem to be thai
the general did not want to take the
post. but that when he reached the
islands and made a study of condition,
he thought II was his duty TO take tn,
place If the administration SHOULD
offer Il to him. In other words, HI
was willing to do his duty by his cOun
try. and 10 forego his personal prefer
ence which led him to desire to com
back to the United States to take tn,
position of provost Of the U~niversit,
Of Pennsylvania.
The general has asked the War de
partment to assign to him as assist
ants several army officers who lahore,
with him in other administrative po
sitions and Of whose capabilities h,
has satisfied himself. II is probabl,
that the War department will tempo
rprily detach from active militar.
duty the officers asked for by the gen
eral, and therefore there will be II
the governor generals Office In tn,
Philippines n staff of men who befor,
this have done administrative work 81
a somewhat like kind.
No Danger Of Insurrection.
Some general information has CON,
TO Washington from the Philippine,
concerning conditions there. Ii seem,
that there no longer is any likelihood
Of troubles which might lead to a re-
sort TO arms. One Of the most recen'
pictures which has come from tn,
Philippines showed General Wood ant
Aguinaldo. the leader OF the Filipin'
insurrection Of some years ago, II
amicable conversation Washington
has heard that the Wood appointment
Is acceptable to all elements in ID,
islands. and there are many racial arc
religious groups within this eastern
island jurisdiction Of the UnItcS
States.
The writer Of this. II happens, hal
known General Wood personally an,
closely for some time. The general 7,
the proverbial glutton for work. DE
spite a slight lameness he probably Il
physically the most powerful man u
the United Stntes army. and he cal
undergo any moun OF fatigue. Wher
he was campaigning for the Republic
an nomination for the presidency h
spent day after day and night aftel
night on railroad trains. stopping here
there and everywhere to MAKE
speeches. Sometimes he made n
many as Is speeches n day. but dur
ing all the time Of the strenuous III,
his voice never gave out for a mo
ment. and he never showed the slight
est signs " physical fatigue. Wher
he had q chance he would go to sleeI
and il did not make much difference
where he slept or what time IL was
Politics Lively In Washington.
Washington today is politically n
well as leg~islatively active. The fac
that congress j. on recess has no
stoned some Of the legislative proc
esSpS for several crpimmittees are a
work paving the way for proposed
legislation. Politics j. unusually livel,
for n hot season.
The Democratic national committee