The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-02-18
GARRISON QUITS
WILSON CABINET;
FIGHT ON DEFENSE
Secretary of War Resigns After
Break With President on Pre-
paredness and Philippines
CONTINENTAL PLAN CAUSE
Assistant Secretary 6reckinridge Also
Hands in His Resignation. Which 10
Promptly Accepted - Apparent
Switch From Continental Army.

Washington NJ. Garrison
| OF New Jersey the Secretary of War
resigned from President Wilson's Cab
met. The resignation has been ac-
| cepted.
Differences between the President
and the Secretary over the question OF
preparedness aud the Philippine indie
pendence legislation were response
BILE for the break.
At the same time that he accepted
the Garrison resignation the President
| received and accepted the resignation
Of Henry Breckenridge OF Kentucky.
Assistant Secretary of War Mr. Breck-
inridge gave as his reason for retiring
the fact that he indorses absolutely
the position assumed by Mr.. Garrison.
and. like the latter regarded the diff
ferences as being irrecOnciable.
Secretary Garrison s letter OF resg.
nation follows:
Washington, February 10. 1916
My dear Mr. President | am just
in receipt OF yours ot February 10th
in reply 10 mine OF February 9th. IT
is evident that we hopelessly disagree
upon what ! conceive to be fundamen'
tai principles. This makes manifest
the improperly Of my longer remain.
ing your seeming representative with
respect to those matters.
hereby tender my resignation as
L..
your convenience.
Sincerely YOURS.
LINDLEY M GARRISON.
The Presidents reply to Mr.. Garri.
sons letter OF resignation follows:
My dear Mr.. Secretary: must
confess a very great surprise at your
letter of today offering your resigna.
tion as secretary of war. There has
either of the matters to which your
letter OF yesterday referred. The
whole matter is under debate. and all
the influences that work for clarity
and judgment ought TO be available at
this very time.
But since you have felt obliged 10
take this action. and since II is evi.
dent that your feeling in the matter
is very great indeed. feel that would
be only imposing a burden upon you
should | urge you TO retain the secre.
taryship OF war while I am endeavor.
ing to find a successor. ought to
relieve you at once. and do hereby
accept your resignation. because It is
so evidently your desire that ! should
do so.
I cannot take this important step,
however. without expressing TO you
my very warm appreciation OF the dis.
tinguished service you have rendered
as secretary OF war and | am sure that
in expressing this appreciation am
only putting into words the judgment
Of our fellow-citizens far and wide.
With sincere regret at the action
you have felt constrained to take.
Sincerely yours.
WOODROW WILSON.
This break in the Cabinet has much
political significance. The President
now stands for what General Wood
and Colonel Roosevelt advocate in
army reform. though perhaps not for
80 large an army as the Colonel wants.
II will widen the rift between the
President and Mr. Bryan. but II will
strengthen his hold on Congress be.
cause he will gain Republican support
on both the army and the Philippine
question. AS sensation, Mr.. Garri.
sons resignation surpasses Mr.. Bry.
ans withdrawal, for that was not un.
expected