The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-02-11
LETTERS GIVEN
TO The PUBLIC
White House Offers Core
spondcnce in Garrison
Retirement.
HOW THEY DISAGREED

Retirement.
HOW THEY DISAGREED
WASHINGTON, d. C..
Feb. li.-Corrcspondenee
between the president and
Secretary Garrison prelim-
mary to the latter's resig-
nation shows clearly the
differences that led up 10
Garrison's retirement.
The letters were made
public by the White
House last night, after the
secretary's resignation had
been accepted in a note
dictated by the president.
Garrisos's letter OF resignation
read as follows:
February 10.
am just IN receipt OF yours Of
February 10 IN answer 10 mine
Of February Q. II In evident
that we hopelesnly disagree on
what | believe 10 be fundamen.
tai principles. This makes
manifest the improperly Of my
longer remaining your seeming
representative with respect To
these matters.
II hereby tender my reaig.
nation ms secretary Of war. 10
take effect at your convenience.
sincerely yours.
"T.fNnLEY NJ. GARRISON"
Tho president replied;
February 10.
MY Dear Mr.. Secretary;
munt confess to feeling a very
great surprise at your letter OF
today offering your resigna-
tion. There has been no
definite action taken yet In re-
gard TO either OF tho matters
TO which your letter OF yesier.
day referred. Tho whole mat
ter IL under debate. and all tho
influences that work for clarity
and judgment ought 10 be avail.
able At ,his very time.
But since you have felt
Obliged 10 TAX. this action.
aud since IL Is evident that
your feeling In the matter Ia
very great indeed. | feel that
would DO only imposing bur.
den upon you should urge you
TO retain the sccr~taryship OF
war while | am endeayorinE 90
find successor. ought 90
relieve you at once. and do
hereby accept your resignation
because II IL 40 evidently your
desire that I should do 80.
Il cannot take this important
step. however. without express
Ing TO you my very warm ap.
probation OF the distinguished
service you have rendered n
secretary OF war. and ] am
sure that In expressing this APP
probation I am only putting
into words tho Judgment OF our
fellow citizens far and wide.
with SINGER. regret nj tho
action you have felt con.
strained 90 take.
Sincerely yours.
WOODROW WILSON"
In announcing his objections
liberalization OF the militia. Ca
rison wrote the president on ia
uAry IL:
ANY other solution than the
continental pianl 10 iilusory
and not real: 10 apparent ard
not substantial. There
10. unfortunately. very little
knowledge and sery little In.
tense personal interest In any
Of the members OF tho house
concerning military affairs.
In these circumstances
IL seems 10 me perfectly clear
that. unless you Interpose your
position a. leader OF the eoun.
try on this great subject. the
result will be the ianensable
one have described"
Tho letter referred 10 a lack
untfication In time OF need nj
tendency toward politics In q
militia
Answering Garrison. wills.
wrote that II am not irrevoesbly
dogmstiesliy committed 20 any Of
plan OF providing the nation vi
such reserve. and am cordial
willing 10 discuss alternate ~
posais."
On the Philippine question Gar
son wrote February ..
~ consider tho principle q
bodied In the Clarke smendre
an abandonment Of the duty Of m
nation and a breach OF trust iowa
the Flllpinos: 90 believing I cam
accept or aequIesce In H."