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


ton OF his intention. He announces that
he does not intend to press for the enact
mont Of the military policy advocated in
your message. With respect to the rcgu-
lar army. he does not purpose giving us
the organizations asked for, and impera-
ltively necessary n the federal volunteers
(so-called continental army are to beprop
erly trained; he purposes adding a few
thousand to the enlisted strength of the
army In Its present organization. the add
ing Of a few regiments of field artillery to
the existing organizations of the regular
army, the entire abandonment of the idea
of a federal force OF national volunteers
and the passing of a bill granting direct
federal pay to the enlisted men and OFF,
}cers of the State troops.
In conclusion. the letter reads:
II cannot, therefore, too strongly
urge upon you my view of the impera-
tive necessity of your seeking an oc-
casion at the earliest possible moment
to declare yourself with respect to the
matter, and in doing so to make it
clear beyond peradventure that moth
ing excepting national forces raised
by the nation and subject to its ex-
elusive authority. responsibility and
control, is any real settlement of this
issue"
RESPONSIBILITY THE PRESIDENTS,
Washington, Feb. 10.-The CORE
, spodence shows that a conversation be-
tween the President and the secretary
followed this letter and on January IA
Mr.. Garrison wrote another letter in
the course of which he said to the
: President:
yours is the ultimate responsibility;
yours is the final determination as to
the manner in which the situation shall
be faced and treated l fully realize
this and do not desire to cause you
the slightest embarrassment on my ac-
count. if, therefore my withdrawal from
the situation would relieve you, you
. should not hesitate for a moment on
i that account"
PRESIDENTS POSITION.
The President in his reply stated among
r other things:
e II do not share your opinion that the
3 members OF the House who are charged
= with the duty Of dealing with military
d affairs are ignorant of them or of the
G military necessities Of the nation. On the
d contrary, have found them well in
formed and actuated by a most intelligent
q appreciation of the grave responsibilities
a imposed upon them. | am sure that Mr..
II Hay and his colleagues are ready to act
@ with full sense of all that is involved
J. in this great matter both for the country
: and for the national parties which they
q represent.
J. ''Aly own duty towards them is perfect
: ly plain. ! must welcome a frank inter-
" change of views and patient and
d thorough comparison OF all the methods
IS proposed for obtaining the objects we all
have in view. So far as my own
g participation in final legislative action Is
h concerned, no one will expect me to
d acquiesce in any proposal that / regard
n as inadequate or llusory If. as the out
come of free interchange OF views, my
y own judgment and that of the com
d mttee should prove to he irreC onclably
It different and bill should be presented
n to me which could not accept as accom-
a plshng the essential things sought, it
l. would manfestly be my duty to veto it
and go to the country on the merits
II have had a delightfully."- frank con-
>. ference with Mr. Hay. I have said to
; him that | was perfectly willing to con-
= slider any plan that would give us a
national reserve under unmistakabe
=. national control, and would support any
v
"a and wise policy, More he has not asked
or desired"
n THE FINAL BREAK.
)" The letter which lead to the break in
3 relations were exchanged to-day. Secre-
Is tary Garrison wrote:
1t II consider the principle embodied in the
le Clarke amendment an abandonment CT
NJ the duty of this nation and a breach of
Or trust toward the Filipinos; so believing,
Is cannot accept it acquiesce in its &C.
st ceptancc.
IN II consider the reliance upon the militia
for national defense an unjustihable inn
periling of the nations safety. 1t would
~ not only be a sham In itself. but its en-
~ actment into law would precent. II not de
ne stroy. the opportunity to procure meas
no ures Of real. genuine national defense.
at could not accept 1t or acquiesce in its &C
nv ceptance.
ne II am obliged to make my position
at known Immediately upon each Of thes,
,h questions in a speech on Thursday after
noon upon the national defense question
I'd and In a communication to the HOUSE
le committee having charge OF the Philippine
A. question"
le In President Wilson's reply was EN-
,e bodied the following:
at First. that it is my own judgmen
"a that the action embodied In the Clark
ia amendment to the bill extending furthe
,v self government to the Philippines i
ns unwise at this time, but II would clear
nv ly be most inadvisable for me to tax
40 the position that ! must dissent from
la that action should both Houses OF Con
We gress concur in bill embodyinG tina
We amendment That Is a matter upOl
h which ! must, of course, withhold
he judgment until the joint action of tn
We two Houses reaches me in definit
at form.
e. Second, as | have had occasion to sa
ON to you | am not yet convinced that tn
in measure of preparation for national dc
an Tense which we deem necessary can b
n obtained through the fundamentally G
er the national guard under federal contrC
re and training, but | feel in duty boun
to Keep my mind open to conviction o
he that side and think that il would be mos
ay unwse and most unfair to the committe
on Of the House. which has such a plan /
he mind, to say that it cannot be DONE nh
al bill in which it will be embodied has nc
ELF yet been drawn, as ] learned to-day fror
SIS Mr.. Hay. | should deem 1t n very SCI
" ious mistake to shut the door agans
OIL this attempt on the part of the CON
IN mittee In perfect good faith to meet tn
essentials OF the program set forth 4