Return of Wood

To the President at the State Lodge last week came Governor General of the Philippine Islands Leonard Wood. No other U. S. citizen has had so long or so distinguished a colonial career as General Wood, whom four Presidents (McKinley, Roosevelt, Harding, Coolidge) have placed to take charge of U. S. colonies.* Yet last week it was generally felt that the Governor General had come home to stay. For General Wood returned a sick man, his future career depending upon the decision of doctors whom he will later consult in the East. They will be called upon to consider the following disabilities :

Many years ago in Cuba a heavy chandelier fell on the Governor General's head. It was said that the effects of this accident never entirely wore off.

As far back as 1920 General Wood walked with a slight limp, the result of a paralysis in his left side.

Within the past year the General has twice been operated on for hernia.

While on the boat bringing him back to the U. S., General Wood was thrown to the deck by a sudden lurch of the boat; refractured three ribs which he had broken in a recent automobile accident near Manila.

The eastern doctors may also be told that when General Wood left the train that brought him to Custer, S. Dak., and entered the motor car that took him to the State Lodge, he had to be assisted by his aides. At the Lodge, attempting to show that he was still active, vigorous, the General rose from a chair, toppled suddenly, was prevented from falling when his two Filipino servants grasped and steadied him.

*Cuba, to be sure, is no U. S. colony; but in the days following the Spanish War it was virtually on a colonial basis.