Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-02-17


Wilson would not 'irrevocably" support
| the continental army plan and because
he opposes the administrators program
| Of setting a definite timo for Philippine
| independence.
President Wilson accepted the resigna-
ton and has not selected a successor.
| Tho President himself probably Will take
personal charge OF the administration
| national defense plans in Congress.
Assistant Secretary Breckinridge also
resigned as q mark Of loyalty to his
chief. whose vlows he shared. The Pres
| dcnt accepted his resignation Both
take effect Immediately. Maior-General
Scott. chief Of staff Of the army. auto
matically becomes secretary of war ad
interim.
! It is known that one Of Secretary
Garrison's principal reasons for his con-
viction that only a federal continental
army, instead OF a reorganized national
guard. could lie the main military de-
| pendcnce 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
| that the national guard might not be
( available FOR use outside the United
!
! Upon the contention, on the one hand
that the continental army or ultimately
universal service was the nations only
reliance and the position on the other
! that no plan could be enforced upon
Congress. President Wilson and his sec
rotary of war parted official company.
RESIGNATION A SURPRISE.
Mr. Garrison's resignation was a COM
plete surprise to official Washington
! generally. lie made no personal ex-
PLANTATION. Several hours before the Off
cial announcement he had boarded q
train with his wife for New York, and
| word had been passed at the department
that he had gone for an indefinite stay.
The acute differences of opinion which
led to the break began early in the
year when opposition to the continental
army plan began developing in Congress
There had been indefinite rumors OF the
possibility Of the secretary of war leav-
ing the cabinet, but they were never
countenanced in official quarters. The
secretary everywhere was regarded as
one Of the strong men Of the administra'
ton upon whom the President leaned
in the difficult situations. both domestic
and international, which have marked
his administration.
The circumstances which led up to th'
resignation are detailed in the secretary!
correspondence with the President which
was made public tonight by the White
House. The President, the letters dis
close. believes that the training. organ
izatlon and control of a military reserve
should be under immediate federal di
roction, but is not 'irrevocably or dog
matically committed to any one plan
He wrote Mr.. Garrison that he could
not force any specific plan on Congress!
and added:
81 must welcome frank Interchange
of views, and a patient and thorough
comparison of all the methods proposed
for obtaining the objects We all have II
view"
Mr.. Garrison's contention that onl!
the plans OF the war department coul'
be considered seemed to the Presiden
wholly unjustifabe' Mr.. Garrison
considered reliance upon the militis
for national defense an unjustiable i'm
periling of the nations safety"
HOPELESS DISAGREEMENT.
In resigning he wrote the President
at is evident that we hopelessly dis
agree upon what ! conceive to be fun
damental principles"
Mr.. Garrison characterized the Clark
amendment to the Philippine bill provid
ing condtionally for the independents
of the islands within four years "a
abandonment of the duty of this natio
and breach of trust for the Filipinos.
The President replied it was his jude
ment that the Clarke amendment wa
"unwise at this time but added. !
would clearly be most inadvisable for m
to take tho position that l must dissen
from that action should both Houses G
Congress concur in a bill embody1n
2 that amendment" He said he mus
T withhold Judgment until the final actio
= was before him I'm definite form
THE CORREsPONDENCE.
. The correspondence between Secrctar
: Garrison and the President began Januar
= IL, with IA long letter written by tn
secretary. The latter, after calling tn
Presidents attention to the fact ths
there was no dissent from the militar
standpoint from the conclusion that Tn
only measure of national defense this
possesses any virtue is one whic
produces national forces, writes:
THE policy recommended to you an
d adopted by you squarely placed TIL
(, nation upon the sure foundation OF ma
n tional forces. IF that policy is mad
f. effective by legislation there will b
d secured to the country for the frs
IT time a real. stable foundation for tn
e military part OF its national defens
J. IT, however instead thereof polio
ID is adopted based upon the State troor
= as the main reliance of this countr
al for it's military arm, not only has II
So advance been made from the deplorabl
and inexcusable situation in which "
have SO long been, but an effectiN
, block has been placed across the patti
way toward proper settlement. TT
adoption of such a policy would serN
" to delude the people into believing tn;
the subject had been settled and ther'
- fore required no further considerable
~ upon their part 1t would therefore,
s. my judgment, be infinitely worse tina
l. an entire failure Of all legislative ei
VI actment upon the subject Tho latt'
would at least leave 1t open for futu
settlement.
II, OF course, am not advised as to Il
IN statements OF intention made by Mr.. Ht
IS to you I'm the conversations held with "
r, prior to your message to Congress at Il
S opening of the present session. l have a
a ways felt, and have so expressed myse
n to you, that the situation in the Congre
n was such that uness you personally o.
p erted the power of your leadership. yo
3, would not obtain any worthy results