The Washington herald., 1916-02-12
By <. Il. JOHNS.


1t became known yesterday that 1t was
at the urgent suggestion of former Sec
retary of War Garrison that the Pres-
dent made his recent Western speaking
campaign for preparedness The Sec
retary of War was very much impressed
with the Importance of going before the
people with the question of preparedness
and even last summer he was urging
the President to take up the issue. He
wanted the President to make pubhu
the plans OF the department a month or
two before Congress convened SO that
the members of Congress would have
an opportunity TO discuss the questions
with their constituents.
When the President returned from his
vacation the Secretary was ready with
the general plans of an educational
campaign. The Secretary was of the inn
preston that only through the aggressive
action OF the President could any real
national defense legislation be put
through Congress. He showed that in
the correspondence that was made public
in connection with his resignation. But
just as the former Secretary had the
President about convinced that this was
the policy to pursue, Senator Kerp the
Democratic leader of the Senate; Rep
resentative Kitchin. the Democratic
leader of the House. and Chairman Hay,
of the Military Committee made their
appearance at the White House. 1t Is
stated that these prominent members OF
the Democratic party convinced the
President it would be better to go slow
in the advocacy of preparedness ant
wait until the Democratic leaders OF
the Senate and House had been con-
suited.
This was the first rebuff that Mr.. Garrl-
son received. from the President It will
be remembered that Mr.. Garrison lert
Washington at that time and was away
while the President was holding con-
| Cerences with the democratic leaders ano
the chairman of the Senate and Hous,
Military Committees. There were reports
current at that time of a disagreement
| between the President and the head OF
the War Department and that Mr.. Gal-
rison intended to tender his resignation.
Finally. 1t is stated that the President
called the Secretary 10 the White House
and an agreement was reached 10
publish the outline OF the administra-
tion's army program. which was given
out by the Secretary
What the former Secretary OF War
is opposed to in the way of legislation
for the militia is set forth in a memo
randum which has been submitted by
/ the Executive SouDCll VI liS
Guard to the chairman Of the Military
| Committee. 1t is virtually a draft for
the codification of militia laws and
contains most Of the essential features
of all the bills pending before Con-
gress The memorandum is written in
the form of a bill and contains ninety
three sections.
The bill starts right in to reorga nizs
part of the War Department by abol-
ishing the division of militia affairs
and the militia board. The National
Guard is placed under the control of
a National Guard section of the general
i stan of the army. This section con-
sists Of Eve National Guard officers,
who are to be appointed by the Presi-
! dent for term of Ave years and are
/ o have the same pay and allowances
! a. regular army officers, while they
ar, on duty at the department.
N attempt is made in the bill to
eoeralize the militia by requiring the
| llisted men to sign a contract to
! jerve within and without the United
, States in the event Of war. The Presi-
, dent is authorized by the bill to order
I he National Guard into the service
Of thc general government for two
; years. There is indirect compulsory
service In the bill for the militia. The
( bill sets forth that in the event .
State does not raise Its quota. thu