The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-02-11

lfssinr presentations Oh tho regular
army. the entire ac&ndonmsnt OF the
ldea Of Federal force Of national
volunteers. and the pA1sawe OF = bill
granting direct Federal pay to the an
listed men and officers Of the state
/ trocp4
ii my Judgment. tho sftect Of the
| enactment OF Mr.. Hays program
would 10 to set back the whole cause
OF legitimate. honest national defense
] IN ~ entirely un3ustiflAbie and mex
! cusahie Way II would he, Ia my
| Judgment, betrayal OF the trust OF
the people in this regard. IL would bc
iiiusory and apparent without any
reality or substance.
There II, unfortunately. very little
knowledge. and very little intense per-
sonal interest in any OF tho members
Of the House concerning military at
fairs Apart from the power that al
ways resides In every chairman OF
| committee, Mr. Hay has the additional
I power of dealing with "a subject con-
corning which the rest Of the House
! has no knowledge and about which II
| has never concerned itself. In this
I particular instance his proposal OF set
/ Ting this matter by voting money to
1 t4ft EUUEtE0 tittu kAttU pbtNEsB w tttV
State troops appeals to the direct per-
4 sonaI, political interest of the MEM
bers In these circumstances IL seems
! 10 me 10 be perfectly clear that uri-
I less you anterpose your position as
4 leader of the country on this great
subject, the result will be the lament
able one which / have just described,
/ IL the public obtains the impression
! that Mr.. Hays solution is merely an
y nfh pF r,1ioIfnR the
same end as your proposed policy,
/ they will accept the same and rest
Z content that their desires have been
properly met If, on the other hand.
they are clearly and unmistakabiy adj
vised that 10 adopt the policy sng-
gcsted by Mr.. Hay Is to make q mock
cry of all that was worthy and vtr-
tuous in the proposal Of a proper mill
itary policy and that ID IL a deiusion
TO consider such a solution as q real
reliance or security, then there IL
hope that we can obtain results COM
mensurate with the necessities of the
case and with self-respecting con-
sideration and treatment thereof,
Il ] cannot. therefore. too strongly
urge upon YOU my view Of the -impera-
tive necessity of your seeking an oc-
casiou at the earliest possible moment
to declare yourself with respect to
the matter. and in doing so, to make II
clear beyond psradventure that moth
1 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.
Sincerely yours,
LINDLEY NJ. GARRISON.
4 The President.
Following this there was evidently
, n conversation between Secretary Gar
, rison and the President, after which
I the Secretary wrote.
II War Department,
4 Washington, January II, 1915.
My bear Air. President.--What YOU
= said today by way of response to my
/ letter of the i2th requires me TO maks
my position perfectly clear to you
You stated that Mr.. Hay told you
that your proposal of Federal volun-
teers could not be procured and thai
the same end for which you were striv-
ing could be procured by other means
by utilizing the State troops as this
basis Of the policy and making appro.
priationa of pay 10 the States condi-
, toned on Federal control of the State
: troops.
You stated to him that you were moi
. interested in any particular program
. or means of accomplishing the pur.
. pose OF securing the men. and would
|, ACCEPT his proposal Il II accomplished
/ that purpose.
|, since the policy that was recon-
mended TO you and adopted by yot
discarded AZ absolutely impossible q
|. military system based upon State
troops, and asserted that the only pos
, sibie basis for a military policy was
: ! national forces, IL In entirely clear
: that the proposals are diametricalis
!, opposed to each other and are ir'
: reconcilabIe.
Those who are conscientiously con
: WINGED that nothing. but national forces
can properly be the basis of policy
Of national defense cannot possibly
q sseesps d policy bAaed upon state forces
, 1t not only does not in itself offei
an acceptable solution. but acts t.
prevent any proper solution.
No Possibility Of Cemprcmise.
y IL those who are thus convinced arr
faced with the necessity of deciar'
ting their positions on the matter. they
can only show their sincerity and good
faith by declining to admit the pos
s.bility OF compromise with respect
to this essential, fundamental prin-
ciple.
j am thus convinced.
feel that we are challenged by the
existing situation to declare ourselves
promptly openly anu uneQuiVocahs
or be charged properly with lack OF
sincerity and good faiths
we cannot hope to see our program
based on this essential principle. sue.
coed If we admit the possibility OF
compromise with respect to 1t,
Yours Ia the ultimate responsibility
yours Is the final determination a.
to the manner in which the situation
shall be faced and treated. / fully
realize this and do not desire to cause
: YOU the slightest embarrassment on
: my account: II. therefore, my with
drawal from the situation would re-
lieve you. you should not hesitate for
a moment on that account
sincerely yours.
! IINDLEY M. GARRISON.
The President.
II The Presidents Reply.
The President replied az follows:
II The White House.
washington, Jan. IT, 1915.