The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-02-11
EX-GOV. WALSH ALSO
BEING CONSIDERED
Meanwhile Pres. Wilson Is
Himself at the Head of the
Administrations Plans for
Strengthening the Army,
and He May Retain Con-
troll

Washington, D. c., Feb. ll.--President
Wilson found himself to-day personally
in charge of the administration plans
for strengthening the army and working
out definite military policy, through
the resignation OF Secretary OF War Lind
ley Nj. Garrison late yesterday. The
president has not selected a successor to
Garrison, and it is regarded as possible
that even after new head of the war
department has been named the president
will continue to handle the preparedness
plan himself Secretary Garrison's res
| ignation, followed by that of Assistant
Secretary Breckenridge, took official
| Washington by surprise.
! While Secretary Lane is being consld-
cred in official circles as the likely choice
! for successor Of Garrison, il is understood
| that President Wilson has under consid.
Grafton the names of two or three Others.
The president already has made up his
mind to appoint a Democrat but he will
not be from New Jersey or the South.
Former Governor Walsh of Massachu
lsetts, Secretary Houston and former Gov
ernor Harmon OF Ohio are among the
names being discussed.
The cabinet met to day with vacant
chair for the first time since Bryans res
ignation. The departure OF Garrison
with its possible effects on the admin
istration's preparedness program was
thoroughly discussed Reports that there
might be other designations from the
ca binet met with general denials The
supporters of President Wilson declared
that he and Garrison agreed on the un
derlying principles OF both the military
and the Philippine bills but differed on
the methods of carrying out the policies.
1t is known that one OF Secretary Gar
risons principal reasons for his convic
tion that only federal continental
army, instead OF reorganized National
Guard, could be the main military de- |
pendence of the nation was his belief |
that some day the United States may be
called upon to defend the Monroe doc. |
trine. and in that event he foresaw that |
the National Guard might not be avail
able for use outside OF the United States
before a declaration of war.
Upon the contention. on the one hand,
that the continental army or ultimately
service was the nations only
reliance and the position on the other
that no one plan could be enforced upon
Congress President Wilson and his secre-
tary of war parted official company.
Mr.. Garrison's resignation was com
plete surprise to official Washington gen
orally. He made no personal explana-
tion. Several hours before the Official
announcement he had boarded train
With his wife for New York and word
nad been passed at the department that
ne had gone for an indefinite stay.
The acute differences of opinion which
ed to the break began early in the year
when opposition to the continental army
,lan began developing in Congress.
There had been indefinite rumors of the
of tine secretary Of war leav
ng the cabinet, but they were never |
in official quarters. The
secretary everywhere was regarded as
me of the strong men of the administra
ion upon whom the president leaned in 4
he difficult situations, both domestic and
which have marked his ad.
The circumstances which led up to the {
esignation are detailed in the secretary's c
with the president which a
vas made public last night by the White b
louise. The president, the letters dis d
lose, believes that the training, organ d
.ation and control of a military reserve b
hould be under immediate federal direc- v
ion. but is not "irrevocably or dogmati-
ally committed TO any one plan" He b
-rote Mr.. Garrison that he could not &
Drce any specific plan on Congress and p
dded: N
Il must welcome a frank interchange il
t views. and a patient and thorough -
Of all the methods proposed Il
,r obtaining the objects we all have in Il
ew." X
Mr. Garrison's contention that only the
ans Of the war department could be p
,nsidered seemed to the president w
wholly uniustiiable7 Mr.. Garrison lol
reliance upon the militia for Il
stional defense an uniustifable imper-
ing Of the nations safety" lco
In resigning he wrote the president: SC
{ is evident that We hopelessIv disagree in
lon what J conceive 10 he fundamental a
.ineiples.7 lru
Mr.. Garrison characterized the Clarke ci.
nendment to the Philippine bill provid- In
: conditionally for the independence
the islands within four years AN do
Iandonment Of the duty Of this nation an
a = breach Of trust for the Filipinos.r Ira
le president replied Il WAS his Jude In
ent that tie Clarke amendment was ire
nvise AZ this time hut addesl. 1T 'ee
fu3f clearly - most ina Hs-i1a lie far rrra hr
take tie position tist ] must dissent Pl