Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-27
HITS At ROOSEVELT
THROUGH GEN. WOOD
Secretary Garrison's~ Rebuke
to Army Officer Stirs Poll
ticians Here.
FIRES ANOTHER BLAST
IN ANECDOTE TODAY
Former President Takes Up Cudgel
on Behalf of Friend in Army.
Criticises War Minister.

wal UAlu1SICAs
Washington was stirred up today po
litically as it has not been for some
time by what many regard as the be-
ginning of q controversy between the
administration and former President
Roosevelt over the question of the mill
itary prepa redness of the United States
following the rebuke to Maj. Gen. Leon
ard Wood, L. S. A.. publicly admins
tered yesterday afternoon by Secretary
Garrison. in language that friends of
the former President took to mean
rebuke to him as we'll as to Gen. Wood
Following the publication today of a
statement by former President Roose-
welt, defending Cen Wood as well as
himself, Secretary Garrison made pub
lie Gen. Woods reply to the Secre-
tary's telegram Of yesterday. directing
that no repetition be permitted of the
incident at the Plattsburg, n. Y, en-
campment of business and professional
men, when the former President deliv-
cred an address to the men in training
which criticised the policy of the ad-
ministration as to military prepared
ness.
Gen. Woods reply said: your tele-
gram received and policy laid down
will be rigidly adhered to-.
Replies to Col. Roosevelt.
Mr.. Garrison's attention was called to
Col. Roosevelt's comment on the tele
gram to Gen. Wood sent by him yester-
day. Mr.. Roosevelt declaring that Sec
retary Garrison had knowledge that
the former President was to speak
more than two weeks before the speech
was delivered.
II have just read Mr. Roosevelts
statement" Secretary Garrison said. II
see he blames the whole thing on me.
Gus that he has the habit of making in
discreet speeches and that it therefore
was my duty to find out if he intended
to go to Plsttsburg and II so to head
him off and save him from himself.
Well, maybe that's SO. but 1t is a
rather large order. He is very active
man and / am a very busy one and it's
going to be pretty hard job for me to
keep my eye on him all the time
The colonel's attitude toward him
self reminds me of the story of the
Maine farmer who was on his way to
the railroad station one morning when
he met friend.
Where you going said the friend
He replied, Tn going down to Ban
do dread IT.
6k6DuhoS zen. WOOQ.
The rebuke to Gen. Wood consisted of
telegram sent yesterday by Secretary
Garrison. in which he deprecated the
fact that Col Roosevelt had been al
lowed to make the speech published in
yesterdays papers The telegram was
as follows:
Il have Just seen the report in the
newspapers of the speech made by for
m a a1t ont b. Tl1-k
burg camp. 1t is difficult to conceive
of anything which could have a more
detrimental effect upon the real value
Of this experiment than such an incl
dent.
This camp, held under government
auspices, was successfully demonstrat-
ing many things of great moment. It's
virtue consisted in the fact that it con-
veyed Its own impressive lessons in its
practical and successful operation and
results.
Criticises Speech.
mo opportunity should have been
furnished to any one to present to the
men any matter excepting that which
was essential to the necessary train<
ing they were there to receive. Any
thing else could only have the effect of
distracting attention from the real ma
ture of the experiment. diverting con-
troversy, antagonism and ill feeling,
and thereby impairing, if not destroy
ing. what otherwise would have been
so effective.
There must not be any opportunity
given at Plattsburg or at any other
similar camp for any such unfortunate
consequences.
Col. Roosevelt's Attitude.
NEW YORK. August 27.-Col Theodore
Roosevelt, advised of Secretary Garri-
sons telegram to Maj. Gen. Leonard
Wood, said that he was entirely re-
sponsible for his own remarks at
Plattsburg. He also said he considered
the Secretary had no right to criticise
Gen. Wood.
Col. RooSevelts remarks were con-
tanned in a statement. 1t read as fol-
lows:
Nearly three weeks ago it was an
nounced in the public press. the state
ment being carried prominently in
every big newspaper, that in addition
to President Wilson and Secretary Gar
rison some scores of private citizens
had been asked to go to the Plattts-
burg camp. where it was expected they
would speak to the men.
Publicly Invited to Speak.
among the names mentioned, in
addition to my own, were those of
former President Taft, Samuel Com
pers and John Purroy Mitchell. 1t is,
Of course. impossible that Secretary
Garrison can have been ignorant that
we were asked, and if he desired Gen.
Wood to notify us in advance what we
were expected to say or leave unsaid
IL was clearly his duty to direct the
general accordingly.
When the War Department. after
three weeks public notice, made no