Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-02-26

L
should be under Immediate federal di-
rections ~ -.
But apparently have not succeeded
in making my own position equally
clear To you, though feel sure that |
have made il perfectly clear to Mr..
! Hay. 1t is that am not irrevocably
or dogmaticaIly committed to any one
plan of providing the nation with such
reserve and am cordially willing to
discuss alternative proposals. .
Defends Members of
House Committee.
Any other position on my part
would indicate an attitude toward the
common military affairs of the house
of representatives which | should In
/ no circumstances feel at liberty to as
sumo. 1t would never be proper or
| possible for me TO say TO any commit
tee of the house Of Representatives
| that so far as my participation in leg,
islation was concerned, they would
have to take my plan or none.
| do not share your opinion that the
| members of the house who are charged
with the duty of dealing with military
! affairs are ignorant of them or of the
military necessities of the nation.
On the contrary, have found them
well informed and actuated by a most
intelligent appreciation of the grave
responsibilities imposed upon them. |
am sure that Mr.. Hay and his COL
leagues are ready to act with full
sense of all that is involved in this
great matter both for the country and
| for the national parties which they
represent
My own duty toward them is per-
fectly plain. must welcome a frank
interchange of views and patient and
thorough comparison of all the meth
DDS proposed for obtaining the objects
we all have in view. ..-- '...E..
Promises to Veto Weak Measure.
So far as my own participation in
| final legislative action is concerned, no
one will expect me to aequiesce in any
proposition that l regard inadequate
or illusory. If as the outcome of
free interchange Of views my own
| judgment and that of the committee
should prove to be irreconcilably diff
ferent and a bill should be presented
to me which / could not accept as ac.
complisi1ing the essential things
sought, ii would manifestly be my duty
to veto it and go 70 the country on
But there is nc reason to anticipate
or fear such G result. unless we
should ourselves take at the ontset
the position that only the plans OF the
department are to be considered, and
that position, Ii seems. to me, would
be wholly uHiustifiable. The commit.
-,
be as frank with them as hope they
will BE- with me, and will OF course
hold me justified, in fighting for my
own natured opini0ni . :s.'< '.s = =.
| have had delightfully."- frank con
ference with Mr.. Hay. have said To
him that ] was perfectly willing to
consider any plan that would give US
national reserve under unmistak
able national control, and would sup.
port any such scheme, II convinced Of
its adequacy and wise policy. More
he has not asked or desired.
Cordially and sincerely yours.
WOODROW WILSON.
Declines to Remain in Cabinet Unless
Wilson Agrees With Him.
Secretary Garrison's next letter fol.
lows: :. $3.50. il
Ny Dear MIR. President: Three
matters within the jurisdiction Of this
department are now of immediate and
pressing importance, and | am con.
strained to declare my position defin
itely and Enthusiastically thereon. l re,
fer, of course, to the Philippine ques.
tion and the matter Of national de.
Tense. You know my convictions with
respect to each of them. -
l consider the principle embodied
in the Clark amendment an abandon
ment of the duty Of this nation and \
breach of trust toward the Filipinos;
so believing, cannot accept it or &C.
quiesce in it's acceptance. s..
I consider the reliance upon the
militia for national defense an unjus.
tifiable importing of the nations safe
ty. 1t would not only be a sham in
itself, but it's enactment into law
would prevent, if not destroy, the op
portunity to procure measures of real
genuine national defense. could MOI
accept it or acquiesce in its accept.
ance.~ -" ..
| am obliged to make my position
known Immediately upon each OF
these questions in speech on Thurs
day afternoon on the national defense
question and in a communication to
the house. committee having charge
of the Philippine question.
II with respect to either matter we
are not in agreement upon these fun.
damental principles. then could not,
with propriety, remain your seeming
representative in respect thereto. Our
convictions would be manifestfy not
only divergent but utterly irrecon-
ciliable.
You will appreciate the necessity OF
timely knowledge upon my part of the
determination reached by you with
respect to each of these matters, so
that may act advisedly in the prem
Uses. Sincerely yours, -...
... LINDLEY NJ. GARRISON.
Speak As You Wish, Says Wilson,
But Don't Involve Rest Of Us.
President Wilson replied:
+, February 10, 1916.
Ny Dear Mr.. Secretary:
In reply to your letter Of today. let
me say: ...