The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1916-02-17
SECRETARY OF WAR
QUITS THE CABINET

Washington, Feb. 10.-Secretary
Lindley NJ. Garrison resigned today be-
cause President Wilson would not "ir'
revocably" support the continental
army plan and because he opposed the
administration program of setting a
definite time for Philippine indepen-
dence. President Wilson accepted the
resignation, and has not selected his
successor. The president himself will
probably take personal charge of the
administration national defense plans
in congress.
Assistant Secretary Breckenridge al
so resigned as mark of loyalty to his
chief whose views he shares. The
president accepted his resignation,
both to take effect Immediately. Ma.
jor General Hugh F. Scott, chief of
staff of the army, automatically be-.
comes secretary of war ad interim.
1t is known that one Of Secretary
Garrison's principal reasons for his
conviction that only a federal continen.
tai army instead Of reorganiZed ma
tional guard could be the main military
dependence of the nation, was his be.
lief that some day the United States
may be called upon to defend the Mon
roe doctrine, and in that event he fore.
saw that the national guard might not
be available for use outside the United
States before the declaration of war.
Upon the contention on the one hand
that the continental army, or ultimate
| ly universal service, was the nations
only reliance, and the position on the
other hand that no one plan could be
forced on congress, President Wilson
and his secretary of war parted official
company.
| Mr.. Garrison's resignation was a
complete surprise to official Washing
ton generally. He made no personal
explanation. Several hours before the
official announcement he had boarded
train with his wife for New York,
and word had been passed at the de.
partment that he had gone for an in.
definite stay.
The acute differences of opinion
which led to the break began early in
the year when opposition to the CONT
mental army plan began developing in
congress. There had been indefinite
rumors of the possibility of the secre-
tary of war leaving the cabinet, but
they never were countenanced in Of
fetal quarters.
The secretary was everywhere regard
ed as one Of the strong men of the ad-
ministration on whom the president
leaned in the difficult situations, both
domestic and international, which
have marked his administration.
The circumstances which led up to
his resignation are detailed in the Sec
retarys correspondence with the pres
ident which was made public tonight
by the White House. The president,
the letters disclose, believes that the
training, organization and control of
the military reserve should be under
immediate federal direction but is not
irrovocably or dogmatically committed
to any one plan.
He wrote Mr.. Garrison that he could
not force any specific plan on congress
and added, II must welcome a frank
interchange of views and patient
and thorough comparison of all meth
DDS proposed for obtaining the object
we all have in view"
Mr.. Garrison's contention that only
the plan of the war department could
be considered seemed to the president
wholly unjustiiable." Mr.. Garrison
considered reliance on the militia for
national defense as unjust and imperil-
ing the nations safety" He wrote the
president: 1T is evident that we
hopelessly disagree on what I con-
ceive to be fundamental principles"
Mr.. Garrison characterized the
Clarke amendment to the Philippine
bill providing conditionally for the in
dependence of the islands within four
years, IAN abandonment Of the duty Of
this nation and breach Of trust for
the Filipinos."
The president replied It was his
Judgment that the Clarke amendment
was "unwise at this time" but added.