Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-02-18
Resignation of Garrison
Causes Regret in Washington

the bonds that linked politics with the
Army. II anybody outside the Army
usually a politician or member OF
Copgress-attempted to influence a
promotion or an appointment, the
mere fact was to the detriment OF the
officer sought to be benefited. If a
letter was written in behalf Of an off,
Ger, 1t was up to the latter to prove to
Mr.. G%arrison's satisfaction that it had
been done without his solicit alton. II
az off eer knowingly permitted such a
letter to be written, it was sufficient to
damage or destroy his chances OF pre-
ferment.
Instead of listening to the voices of
the politicians in such matters, Secre-
tary Garrison substituted the advice of
the general officers of the Army. When
vacancies were in prospect he took a
referendum of these officers, calling
upon them to suggest names for pro-
motion and to give their reasons for
the same. Very generally, Mr.. Garri-
son followed the consensus of opinion
in such matters, so that it soor became
known throughout the Army that the
Secretary was advising with it rather
than with the politicians.
His Relations with Newspaper
Men Were Cordial.
In his relations with the newspaper
men of Washington and with others
who had daily business at the War
Department, Mr.. Garrison was singu-
larly happy. He was brisk, informal
aud genial. He talked with much free
dom and usually had no objection to
being quoted. He often illuminated
his i1eas with stories, and he possessed
a strong sense of humor. There was
no solemn air of dignity in the Secre-
tary's office when he occupied 1t.
AS a member of the Presidents Cab
met, Mr.. Garrison was popularity re-
garded az one of the ''strong" secre-
taries. This conception was doubtless
fostered TO a large extent by the we'll
known fact that Mr.. Garrison was
frequently opposed to the views of Mr..
Bryan. He was against Bryan policies
with respect to the European war and
with regard to Mexico. He was, per-
the original preparedness" man
in the official family of Mr.. Wilson
He was planning for the Army a good
while before national defense became
a live issue.
The ex-Secretary of War has his
side. He is fond of argu-
.ent and quick to be drawn into it,
although his preference Is for an
tagonists of large size. He never con-
suited anybody as to whether he
should lock horns with Colonel Roose-
welt over the Plattsburg camp speech.
He simply waded into the argument
and enjoyed it. Likewise, neither did
Mr.. Garrison wait for White House
advice or admonition before he entered
INTO a wordy battle with Mr.. Taft over
the condition of the Philippines. He
after Taft with the same enthusi-
that he displayed in the case of
Supported Policies of
Administration
Generally speaking, Mr.. Garrison
Imported the policies of the Admins
consistently. He was with the
President on the tariff, on the cur
'ency bill and on other big measures
during the first half of Mr..
Wilson's term. He made numerous
political speeches in the the fall of 1914,
when the Congressional fight was on.
He was, however, in no sense a poll
ician. He had had no previous ex-
oerience with politics and no par
ocular taste for it. He was never
'lassed as a political adviser of the
resident. Patronage was an unknown
to him, and he had no need to
earn it, so far as running the War
was concerned.
In fact, when it came right down to
politics, Mr.. Garrison was recogniz I'd
as a different type of Democrat from
The President. Mr.. Wilson is classed
as a progressive Democrat, sometimes