The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-02-15
CAUSED BY FIGHT
ON CONTlNENTALS
SECRETARY OF WAR RESIGNS
FROM CABINET.
Presidents Refusal to Declare Irre-
vOcably for Plan Leads
to Breach.

~~NS
support the continental army plan
and because the secretary of war op-
poses the administrations program
of setting a definite time for Philip
pine independence. President Wilson
accepted the resignation and has not
selected a successor. The president
himself probably will take personal
charge of the administration nation
al defense plans in congress.
Assistant Secretary Breckenridge
also resigned as a mark of loyalty to
his chief, whose views he shares. The
president accepted his resignation.
Both take effect Immediately. Maj
Gen. Scott, chief of staff of the army,
automatically becomes secretary OF
war ad interim.
1t is known that one of Secretary
Garrison's principal reasons for his
conviction that only a federal contin-
entail army, instead of reorganlzed
national guard, could be the main mil
itary dependence of the nation was the
belief that some day the United States
may be called upon TO defend the Mon
roe doctrine and in that event ne
foresaw that the National Guard might
not be available for use outside the
United States before declaration OF
war.
The Breaking Point.
Upon that contention, on the one
hand, that the continental army or
ultimately universal service was the
nations only reliance, and the plan
could be enforced upon congress,
President Wilson and his secretary OF
war parted official company.
Mr.. Garrisons resignation was a
complete surprise to Official Washing
son generally. He made no personal
explanation. Several hours before the
official announcement he had boarded
a train with his wife for New York
and word had been passed at the war
denartment that he had gone for an
indefinite stay.
The acute differences of opinion
which led 10 the break began early
in the year when opposition to the
continental army plan began develop
ing in congress. There had been in
definite rumors of the possibility OF
the secretary leaving the cabinet, but
Sbey never were countenanced in Of
fetal quarters. The secretary every
where was regarded as one OF the
strong men of the administration upon
whom the president leaned in the DIFF
fcult situations both domestic and In
ternationaI which have marked his
administration. The circumstances
which led up to the resignation are
detailed in the secretary's correspond
ence with the president, which was
made public tonight by the White
House. asS
Not Committed to Plan.
The president, the letters disclosed,
belieyed that the training, organlza-
tion ard control of military reserve
should be under immediate federal di'
rection, but was not ''irrevocably
or dramatically committed to any one
plan" He wrote Mr.. Garrison that
he could not orce any specivc plan
on congress and added:
81 must welcome frank inter
change of views and a patient ana
thorough comparison of all the meth
DDS proposed for obtaining the object
we all have in view
Mr.. Garrison's contention that only
the plans of the war department could
he considered seemed to the president
"wholly unjustifable Mr.. Garrison
considered reliance upon the militia
for national defense as unjustifiable
and imperiling of the nations safe
ty."
In resigning ne wrote the presi-
dent:
1T is evident tat We hopelessly
disagree gron wbaJ conceive to be
fundamental principles"
NJ. ..-I-a, .cter.zed the
C ka hi-ippiGe
bill providing aec, .d...9ua. ' ior the
il rJs within
f Of duty
of this ratio CT trust