Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 58, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 March 1920 — WHY LEONARD WOOD? [ARTICLE]

WHY LEONARD WOOD?

(New York Tribune > By his appearance in South Dakota General Leonard Wood formally consents to the use of his name as a presidential candidate. The question may thus now be asked, ’’Why Wood?” What reasons justify his condidacy? What claims has he on the consideration of the American people? In the wa<y of giving honoring testimony where it seems richly due these things may be said: He has earned a place as a great national figure; he has shown the rare quality called vision; he Jias been a doer throughout a crowded life, and his repute rests not on words. He has a character whose soundness and beauty have endured many searching tests. General Wood belongs to no state or section. It happens he was born amid the Cape Cod folk of Massachusetts, but is at home anywhere in America—New Mexico as much as in New York, in South Carolina as much as in Illinois. He is big enough to be seen across the continent, and is not called on to ask for support ,as a favorite son. General Wood has vision—that instinctive quality by which some men sense the future and its problems. In 1902 he attended the maneuvers of the German army. The kaiser thought his quiet, unflatterable visitor was dull—was not aware that his keen mind had clearly pierced the kaiser’s secret. A danger threatened America and the world, and the Order of the Black Eagle, but subsequently accepted a decoration from France. Other men were blind. Let us rejoice he was not. 'The vision guided him. Two unforgettable things he contributed to winning the war. He laid the foundations of the public opinion that brought conscription promptly, and he was the father of the Plattsburg the reproach of being a militarist to secure the one, and pushed the other despite the frantic threats of the administration. Except for conscription and the Plattsburg preparation of officers the 2,000,000 Americans would scarcely have arrived in time. Princeton University paid a merited tribute when it conferred a degree and said: - In our defenseless state he has sounded the reveille to

awaken a slumbering nation from its dream of security, bidding us rise and take our place like men to save our freedom and help to save the freedom of the world. As a doer General Wood revealed himself when he was administrator of Cuba, and later of the Philippines. His repute is international. His achievements are compared to those of Cromer and Milner. Tact, foresight, patience, business judgment, imagination and sympathy-— these elements were mixed in him and won him the confidence of proud but backward peoples. Touching the character of the man only one incident need be mentioned. In July, 1918, his division, the 89th, reached the port of debarkation. The general’s baggage was aboard when an order came from Washington relieving him of command. There was almost a mutiny. He called his officers together and said to them:' I am going 'back to Camp Funston tomorrow, where I shall give the best that is in me to the training of the new troops. Do not concern yourselves with my case, but get your mind on the war. If you would please me play your part cheerfully, and well—that means when in action never fail to take your objective, and never be late on your objective. ' . .. It’s the way, as Kipling has told us, a man takes a “facer” that proves his stuff. Should General Wood reach the White House we may be sure there will be a man there with ruggedness of character equaling that of most illustrious _ of his predecessors.