Evening star., 1927-08-14

though he was not aware of 1t until
more than a year after. In 1900, when
he was military governor of Cuba. he
was called to Canton, Ohio, for con-
ference with President Mckinley and
Senator Mark Hanna, then conceded
to be leader of the national Republic
can party.
Wanted Soldier Candidate.
At the time Senator Tom Platt. in
order to get Theodore Roosevelt out
of New York State politics, was urg-
ing him to run for Vice President with
Mckinley. There had been no break
between Hanna and Roosevelt at the
time. but the former did not take
kindly to the idea of having Senator
Platt unload so unruly member of
the party on his shoulders as national
leader.
AS they were seated around the
table in William McKinley's modest
home at Canton. Senator Hanna out
lined his plan for giving President
Mckinley a soldier running mate
without injection of the Roosevelt per-
sonality into the national situation.
He went on to explain that circum-
stances demanded the recognition of
the soldiers who had won the Spanish
American War so brilliantly. He be-
lieved that this could be done by
launching a vice presidential boom for
Wood, whose administrative qualities
in Cuba, as well as his fighting record
on the island, the Senator thought,
would appeal to the country.
AS Gen. Wood knew that Theodore
Roosevelt. his close intimate in Army
and civil life. was fully alive to Platt's
strategy and was at the time protest
fvv x-tnla f,ct hn Of
name in this connection, he felt that
he would be truly serving his friend
IL he agreed to Hanna's proposition.
He returned to Havana with the un-
derstanding that Mckinley would
name his successor and that he would
at once resign and plunge into the
campaign.
But political complications arose
over the selection of the new Cuban
executive which delayed the matter so
long that Senator. Platt was given
time to force the nomination of Roose-
welt, much against the latter's incli
nations. If Wood had been in posi-
ton to enter the campaign, with the
backing of Hanna, he would have been
nomina ted to the second place on the
Republican ticket and have become
President with the death of Mckinley
in September, 1901.
Was Friend of Cleveland.
In relating this incident to me sew
eral years ago Gen. Wood unused: 1T
was too bad that we could not get
along together e. ...t., -
to was President Mckinley, President
Roosevelt, Senator Hanna and him.
self. Despite all that happened after
ward, there was q time previous to
the Spanish-American War when Nc
Kinley, Roosevelt. Hanna and Wood
were the closest of political and per-
sonal friends. They were running the
affairs. of the Nation in a big way and
just coming into the fullness of their
power. 81,
Gen. Wood had been a close friend
and confident of Grover Cleveland.
He was more than a personal ply
sician to- the Democratic President,
who often discussed important admin
istration policies with him. On fish.
ing and hunting trips Cleveland often
took counsel with the then Capt.
Wood. In some quarters it is be.
leved that Cleveland's disposition to
favor national defense and a strong
foreign policy was due in great
measure to the influence of Wood.
When he turned the White House
over to Mckinley, President Cleveland
asked just one favor of his successor
that he would retain Capt. Wood.
AS the new executive was already
favorably impressed, he assured Mr.
Cleveland that he would gladly COM
ply with the request.
The greatest disappointment, how
ever. in Gen. Woods life, was the
refusal of those in authority to send
him overseas in the World War. He
had built up a great organization in
the S9th Division, afterward: known
as Woods Orphans" He had in.
jected the Rough Rider spirit into
the 89th. The regard in which he
was held by both officers and men was
akin 70 worship. Just as he was
about 10 step on the ship for France,
ne was relieved by an order from the
war department In anything but
a perfectly disciplined organization
there would have been mutiny.
Despite documentary evidence to
the contrary. Gen. Wood did no. place
the blame of his relief from command
upon Gen. Pershing. At least he did
not when / saw him in Washington
When he made his final appeal to
president Wilson to rescind the order
Immediately after it had been re-
ceiVed. l met him at the Union Sta
ton on his arrival and went to the
White House with him. We discussed
the cause for his relief and he ex.
pressed the opinion that it came from
outside the Army. He was the recoc
nized leader Of what is known as the
progressive element" in the Regular
Army and his relations with Gen
Pershing had always been cordial
While he was chief of staff he had
onered Pershing the superintendency
Of West Point
Wood Feared as Candidate.
Without outside interference there
could have been no friction between
Gen. Pershing and Gen. Wood Thele
was big national politics involved
Leaders Of both parties, in Congres:
and outside, feared Gen. Wood as Z
presidential certainty in the event ht
was given an opportunity to distin
guish himself at the front Even a,
81 successful commander, as he proved
to be. they thought Gen. Pershine
would not have the popular appea
that Woods personality and previous
record insured him. Without this
overseas service Gen. Wood prove.
himself power in the 1920 conven
ton, where as hero of two wars ht
would have been irresistible.
Coming into the service as a con
tract doctor, Gen. Wood became lead
er of military thought In the United
States Army. What is known as tn,
amended national defense act, Great
ing the Army of the United States
with it's three components, the Regu
lar Army, the National Guard and Re