Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1916-02-18
NEW WAR SECRETARY
NOT YET APPOINTED
MANY PROMINENT MEN MEN.
TONED TO SUCCEED LINDLEY
M. GARRISON.

M. GARRISON.
Colonel Goethals, builder of thu
Panama canal, Secretary of the Inte-
rior Lane, Newton d. Baker, former
mayor Of Cleveland, Ohio, Judsou
Harmon, former governor of Ohio.
H. M. Pindell Of Illinois. Ambassador
Morganthau. Counsellor Polk of tho
state department and Carter Har-
rison. former mayor of Chicago, are
among the prominent persons who
have been mentioned this week as
successors to Lindley M. Garrison,
who resigned the. portfolio Of secre-
tary of war in President Wilson'S
cabinet the latter part of last week.
No intimation has yet been given
by the president as to the appointee,
though it had been expected Gar
rison's successor would have been
chosen by this time. It is reported
from Washington that the president
lis considering the qualifications OF
all likely candidates with the view Of
selecting one familiar with the duties
of the department, and that the ap-
pointment will be made on the basis
of fitness and not of politics.
The resignation of Garrison and
Breckenridge was announced the lat
ter part of last week and came as q
complete surprise to official WASH
ington generally. Upon the conten-
ton by Garrison that the continental
army or eventually universal service
was the nations only reliance, and
the position taken by the president
that no one plan could be enforced
upon congress, President Wilson and
his secretary Of war parted ohicial
company.
Far from putting the administra-
ton "in the hole" Garrison's resigna-
ton has had far-reaching results on
Congress. When the excitement fol-
lowing the unexpected development
subsided It was apparent that It had
clarified the atmosphere with regard
to national defense and Philippine
independence and had served to bring
congress and the president closer to-
gether than they had been for many
months.
Evidence Of the fact that Garrison'o
withdrawal had served to cement tho
bonds Of sympathy between congress-
and the president came In the adop-
ton by the house military affairs
committee Of resolution, proposed
by the ranking Republican member.
Representative Kahn of California.
thanking the president for his ex-
preston of confidence in congress
disclosed in his correspondence with
Garrison. It also was demonstrated
in comments of many senators and
representatives, who declared they
saw in President Wilson's determina-
ton not to stand irrevocably for any
one plan Of creating an army reserve
a purpose to place more reliance in
the judgment of the legislative
branch Of the government than he
had in the past.
It is known that one of Secretary
Garrison's principal reasons for his
conviction that only federal conti-
mental army. instead Of reorganized
national guard, could be the main
military dependence of the nation
was his belief that some day the
United States may be called upon to
defend the Monroe doctrine. and In
that event he foresaw the national
guard might not be available for use
outside of the United States before q
declaration of war. Members Of con-
gress, however, believe that body has
the constitutional authority to feder-
alize the national guard In such
way that 1t viii be Immediately avail
able. and both houses Of congress are
now working on such a plan.
The difference Of opinion which led
to the break between the president
and Garrison began early in the year
when opposition to the continental
army plan began developing In con-
gress. The circumstances which led
up to the resignation are detailed in
the secretary's correspondence with
the president. which was made public
recently by the White House. The
president. the letters disclose, be-
lieves that the training, organization
and control Of a military reserve
should be under immediate federal
direction, but is not "irrevocably or
dogmatically committed to any one
plan" He wrote Mr.. Garrison that
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