Evening star., 1927-08-14

ton may Republican institutions be
made to work in Turkey.
Japan.--A general political shake-up
in Japan seems in prospect. Until
recently the three main parties were
the Kenseikai, the Seiyukai, and the
Seiyuhonto. 1t will be recalled that
in connection with the financial
crisis few months ago the Kenseikai
government headed by Premier Waka-
tsuki fell and was succeeded by a
Seiyukai government headed by Gen.
Baron Tanaka.
General elections, the first follow
ing the recent very great extension
of the suffrage, are to be held in the
coming May. Against that event a
new party-the Minseito or Democra-
tic party-has been formed. 1t repre-
sents a fusion of the old Kenseikai
and Seiyuhonto parties. It's head is
Hamaguchi, formerly home minister.
his chief lieutenants being Wakatsuki,
late prime minister, and Tokonami,
president of the old Seiyuhonto party.
It's chiefs claim 226 seats in the lower
house as against the Seiyukafs III.
The population of Japan increased
by more than $4,000 in 1925. No
wonder the government. is worried.
The substitution of potatoes for rice
as the main element of the popular
diet is under serious consideration,
but enforcement of such substitution
would be delicate proposition.
u X x
United States of America.--Leonard
Wood, major general, u. S. A, retired,
and Governor General of the Philip
pines, aged 67, died early last Sunday
morning in a Boston hospital, death
resulting from an operation on a
brain tumor.
Few American careers may COM
pare with Gen. Woods for interest,
distinction or usefulness. The young
Wood joined the Army in 1885 as
contract surgeon, becoming assistant
surgeon the next year. He served In
the famous expedition under Capt.
Clater Gen.) Lawton. which Qn 1856
resulted in the capture of the re-
doubtable Apache chief Geronimo.
Because of death of line officers, he
was assigned to combatant duty,
wherein he exhibited extraordinary
natural military aptitude. his bravery,
moreover. winning for him the coveted
Congressional Medal for Valor. AS a
medical officer (captain) he was White
House aide to Mckinley and, so serv-
ing, he met Roosevelt, Assistant Secre-
tary of the Navy. whence one of the
most famous of friendships. When in
1898 Roosevelt organized the 1st
United States Volunteer Cavalry,
! popularly known as the Rough
, Riders" for the Spanish American
War, he wisely procured that Capt.
Wood should he colonel thereof, con-
tenting himself with the lieutenant
colonelcy. Col. Wood emphatically
| made good and within the year had
risen to be major general of Volun-
teers, so remaining until his discharge
from that service in June, 1901.
Meantime in March. 1901. he had
been appointed brigadier general in
! the Regular establishment. After the
, surrender of Santiago he became. in
turn, military governor of Santiago
and commander of the Department of
Santiago and Puerto Principe. and in
| 1899 he was appointed military gov
| ernor of Cuba.
No doubt Gen. Woods services as
military governor Of Cuba constitute
| his chief title to fame, emitting him
| to rank with the greatest colonial
administrators of all time; with
Cromer, with Lyantey and with the
most notable of the Roman pro-consuls
and Of the British Viceroys of India.
His work of sanitation, of education,
of organization of the island for self.
government. was indeed an achieve
ment of the very highest order. In
| 1902 ne turned over the island to the
| first President of Cuba and rejoined
our Regular Army in the capacity of
| brigadier general. 1t should never be
| forgotten that 1t was under his aus
pices that the glorious experiment was
conducted which resulted in absolute