The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-08-19
devotion to duty In the national de-

Tense.
These purposes cannot be accom-
plished IL the retired officers, still a
part of the military establishment, still
relied upon to perform important du-
ties, are excluded, upon retirement,
from the wholesome and unifying ef-
feet of this subsection to a common
discipline. I am persuaded that off,
GERS upon the retired list would them
selves regard as an invidious and un-
palatable discrimination which in eff
feet excluded. them from full member
ship in the profession to which they
have devoted their lives. and Of which.
by the laws of their country. they are
still members. So long as Congress
sees At to make the retired person
mel part of the army of the United
States. the constitutionality of the
proposed exemption of such personnel
from all liability under the articles of
war is a matter of serious doubt, leav-
ing the President, as 1t does. without
any means sanctioned by statute of
exercising over the personnel thus
exempted the power of command
vested in him by the Constitution.
Convinced as l am of the unwisdom
of this provision. and of it's baneful
effect upon the discipline of the army:
doubling. as 1 do, the power of Con-
sress wholly to exempt retired officers
from the control of the President.
while declaring them to be part of
the regular army of the United States,
I am constrained to return this bill
without my approval.
WOODROW WILSON.
THE White House,
Aug IS. 1916"
The writing OF the veto OF the army
I. %-ff
Secretary Baker. OF the War Depart
ment, who had conferred freely with
officers of the general staff and other
officials of the War Department before
laying his objections to the bill be-
fore the President. The bill has been
before the War Department several
days. and has been given careful con-
sideration there.
Real Reason for Action.
The real reason, according to cur
rent gossip In the cloak rooms and
military committees OF the two houses
of Congress, was to prevent an epf-
demic of army scaldals and to keep
the muzzle on certain retired officers
who have been seeking opportunity to
attack these still on the active list.
Before his retirement Major General
Fred c. Ainsworth. former adjutant-
general OF the army. got into feud
with Major-General Leonard Wood
over departmental issues With his
influence at the Capitol Ainsworth
kept things at white heat constantly
in the War Department, but he was
still subject to military discipline He
was retired at his own request Feb
ruary 10, 1912. having served more
than thirty years In the army. Since
his retirement General Ainsworth has
written book in which he Is said to
deal at length with conditions In the
army that he strongly condemns and
which II is claimed, Is aimed particu-
larly at General Wood. Being amen
able to the Jurisdiction of military
courts General Ainsworth has been
unable to print his book. II he re-
hected upon army officers he would
be promptly tried by eourt-martial.
The revised articles OF war IN the
army bill removed all retired officers
from the jurisdiction of military courts.
The revision gave General Ainsworth
or any other retired officer. carte
blanche
II President Wilson had not vetoed the
bill today General Ainsworth could
write what he likes about army off,
GERS without being liable 20 court
martial
This new situation may delay ad-
journment. There will be considera BILE
debate In the House under the leader
ship OF Mr.. Hay, who Is at outs with
the President and the War Department.
on questions OF military policy.