Show VALUE OF A PULL The military career of or General Leon Leonard Leonard Leonard ard Wood contains many examples of the value of strong political influence To the kindly offices of his great and good friend President Roosevelt ho owes the fact that he Is in direct line lIn lInot of ot succession to the highest arm army position a post he will hold for a con considerably longer period of time than any of his lils immediate predecessors In many other ways thanks to Mr Roosevelt General Woods path p th to toward toward ward ard advancement has been made very pleasant In all his career though there is isha ha ly a more striking example of the value of the presidents friendship than in the tho payment by the govern government government ment of for Woods trip around the world While In Cuba the story goes General Wood struck his head against a chandelier In line of duty and sustained Injuries which nearly seven years later necessitated a sur surgical surgical operation At that time Wood was wa in Manila The surgeons there did not care to undertake the operation op so Wood at the expense of the govern government government government ment came to the United States and went to Boston where the operation was waz performed This operation according to Secre Secretary Secretary Secretary tary Taft Tart was not entirely satisfactory satisfactory satisfactory tory to the tho generals friends in ill the United States including the pros pres 1 deut deuL So the chief executive ordered Wood to return to the Philip Philippines Philippines Philippines pines by way of London in order that he might ht consult a specialist in the British metropolis With him also aiso at atthe atthe the tho expense of the government went an aide Wood rood traveled on a liner tiner in instead instead stead of on a transport and enjoyed all the tho luxuries money could The bill for certainly indicates that he overlook anything an thing And after he had told the story to the senate committee Secretary Taft asked If jf the government had ev over overpaid r paid the expenses of any other officer who lio used a n liner instead of a trans transport transport transport port The witness was so amused at atthe atthe atthe the inquiry that he laughed aloud General Corbin it later appeared had asked for fur an order of this character but It was refused Now why was Wood so well treated Simply because he was the friend of the president all Secretary r Tafts contention that an officer Is just as much on public duty dut when protecting his health as at other times applies according to the secre own admissions to Wood and to Wood only And still the president every cory so often has the effrontery to Issue bulletins to the effect that no army officer may use ue political influence In order to secure favors from the government |