The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1916-02-16
GARRISON QUITS
CABINET PLACE
And Resigns As Secretary
Of War.
DISAGREES WITH PRESIDENT
On the Policy OF Increasing the
Army-He Will Quit
Politics.
BRECKINRIDGE ALSO RESIGNS

Washington, Feb. 11.-Secretary
Garrison has resigned from the Cab
met because President Wilson de-
clined to insist without compromise
upon the adoption of the continent
al army plan by Congress. The res
ignation was rendered and accepted
yesterday, and with Mr.. Garrison,
the Assistant Secretary of War, Hen
ry S. Breckenridge, also left the SER
vice OF the Government.
- To-day the President finds himself
personally in charge of the Admins
tration's plans for strengthening the
army and working out a definite
military policy. He has not select
ed a successor to Mr.. Garrison, and
it is regarded as probable that even
after the new head of the War De-
partment is named, the President,
who had made careful study of tho
problem, will continue to handle the
preparedness plans to a great extent
himself.
The reasons for Secretary Garri-
sons resignation and it's acceptance
by the President are disclosed in
lengthy correspondence made public
between them. The correspondence
revealed that while the Secretary left
the Cabinet principally because the
President would not ''irrevocably"
support the continental army plan,
his opposition to the Administra-
tons program for settling a definite
time for Filipino independence, as
outlined in Senator Clarke's amend
ment to the Philippine bill, was an
important factor. The Secretary
characterized the amendment as ian
abandonment of the duty of this ma
tion and a breach of trust for the
Filipinos.
Secretary Garrison contended that
only Federal continental army, in
stead of recognized NationalGuard,
could be the main military depend
ence of the country, while the Pres
ident contended that no one plar
could be forced upon Congress. 1t
was upon these two contentious that
the break between the President and
Secretary of War came. Mr.. Garri-
hn
militia for national defense an Gun
justifiable imperiling of the nations
safety"
Assistant Secretary Breckenridge,
who shared Secretary Garrison's
views, resigned because of loyalty to
his chief. His resignation also was
accepted.
" Although the resignation of Sec
rotary of War Garrison came as a
surprise to those outside the Admin
istration's inner circle, it was not
unlocked for by those intimately ac-
quainted with White House and War
Department affairs. The correspond
ence that has passed between Secre-
tary Garrison and President Wilson
in the last few weeks clearly indi-
Gates that Mr.. Garrison has been dis
contented with his berth for some
time.
Mr.. Garrison told friends here
that he was out of politics for good
and ALL" and 1t was his intention to
return to private life and take up his
business duties where he left off be-
fore he was appointed to the Presi-
dents Cabinet.
Those close to the President say
that this was not the first time Mr..
Garrison had planned to surrender
his portfolio. They say that on at
least three other occasions the Sec
rotary Of War clashed with the Pres
ident on administrative questions,
and that break had been regarded
as inevitable.
The resignation of Henry s.
Breckenridge. of Kentucky, as As
sistant Secretary of War caused lit
tie comment here. He has followed
the policies of Secretary Garrison
consistently, and when his chief Of
fered his resignation Mr.. Breckin-
ridge lost no time in taking similar
action. q.
Speculation IL rife here regarding
the probable successor Of Secretary
Garrison. wsll-informed persons