The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1916-02-16
SECRETARY GARRISON
RESIGNS FROM CABINET
President Would not "irreyocably"
Support Continental Army Plan.


Garrison resigned today because Pres
idcnt Wilson would not "irrevocably"
support the continental army plan and
because the secretary of war opposes
the administration programme of set
ting definite time for Philippine in
dependence. President Wilson accept
cd the resignation and has not selected
a successor. The president himself
probably will take personal charge of
the administrations national defense
plans in congress.
Assistant Secretary Brcckinridgc
also resigned as mark OF loyalty to
his chief, whose views he shares. The
president accepted his resignation.
Both take effect Immediately. Maj Gen
Scott. chief of staff of the army, au-
tomaticaly becomes secretary Of war
ad interim.
1t is known that one Of Secretary
GarriSonS principal reasons for his
conviction that only Il federal CON
tncntal army, instead of {; rcorgan-
lied National Guard, could be the
main military dependence OF the nation
was his belief that some day the Unit
cd States may be called upon to de-
tcnd the Monroe doctrine. and in that
event he forcSaw that the National
Guard might not be available for use
outside the United States before a de-
claration Of war.
Upon that contention, on the one
hand. that the continental army or
ultimately universal service was the
nations only reliance, and the posi-
ton on the other that no one plan
could be enforced upon congress,
President Wilson and his secretary Of
war parted official company.
Mr.. GarriSOn'S resignation was a
complete surprise to official Washing
ton generally He made no personal
explanation. Several hours before the
official announcement he had board
ed train With his wife for New York
and word had been passed at the war
department that he had gone for an i'm
definite stay.
The acute differences Of opinion
which led to the break began early
IN the year when OPPOSITION to the
continental army plan began develop
ing in congress There had been in
definite rumors OF the possibility Of
the secretary leaving the cabinet. but
they never were countenanced in Of
ficial quarters. The secretary every
where was regarded as one Of the
strong men Of the administration up
on whom the president leaned in the
difficult situations both domestic and
international which have marked his
administration. The circumstances
which led up to the resignation arc
detailed in the secrctaryS correspond
renee with the president, which was
made public tonight by the White
House
The president, the letters disclosed,
believed that the training, organiza-
ton and control of a military reserve
should be under immediate federal di-
rcction, but was not "irrcvocably or
doGmatcaly committed to any one
plan" lie wrote Mr.. Garrison that
he could not force any specific plan
on congress and added:
II must welcome a frank inter
change OF views and a patient and
thorough comparison of all the meth
nrnnncn1 ni,t
we all have in view
Mr. GarriSon's contention that only
the plans Of the war department
could be considered seemed to the
president wholly uniustifablc." Mr..
Garrison considered reliance upon
the militia for national defense as un-
justfiablc and importing OF the ma
tons safety"
In rcSigninS he wrote the presidents:
1T is evident that we hopclcssly
disagree Nupon what conceive 10 be
fundamental principlcs."
MI. Garrison characterized the
Clarke amendment TO the ihlippinc
bill providing unconditionally for the
independence of the islands within
four years IAN abandonment OF the
duty OF this nation and breach of
trust for the F'ilipinos."
The president replied il was his
Judgment that the Clarke amendment
was "unWisc at this time" but added
1T would clearly be most inadvisa bic
for me to take the position that