Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-02-11
its adequacy and wise policy. More
he has not asked or desired.
Cordially and sincerely yours.
WOODROW WILSON"
Letter Of Feb. 9

Cordially and sincerely yours.
WOODROW WILSON"
Letter Of Feb. 9
Secretary Garrisou's next letter follows:
Feb. s, 1876
My Dear President:
Two matters within the Jurisdiction
of this department, are now Of immediate
and pressing importance and / am con-
strained to declare my position definitely
and unmistakably thereon I refer, Of
course. TO the Philippine question and the
matter of national defence. You know
my convictions with respect TO each OF
them.
Il consider the principle embodied in
the Clarke amendment an abandonment
of the duty OF this nation and breac:,
OF trust toward the Fiiipinos; so believ-
ing. I'cannot accept it or acquiesce in its
acceptance.
Il consider the reliance upon the mill
tia for national defence an unjustfabie
imperiling of the nations safety. II
would not only be a sham in itself, but
its enactment into law would prevent. If
not destroy. the opportunity TO procure
measures of real. genuine national de-
fence. ! could not accept it or acQuiesce
in its acceptance.
II am obliged TO make my position
known Immediately upon each of these
questions in speech on Thursday after
noon upon the national defence question
and in communication to the House
committee having charge Of the Philip
pine question.
If. with respect to either matter, we
are not in agreement upon these funda-
mental principles. could no, with pro-
priety. remain your seeming representa-
tive in respect thereto. Our convictions
would be manifestly not only divergent,
but utterly irreconcilanle.
You will appreciate the necessity OF
timely knowledge upon my part Of the de-
termination reached by you with respect
10 each of these matters, SO that I may
act advisedlE in the premises.
Sincerely yours.
'LINDLEY II. GARRISON"
The Answer
President Wilson replied:
February lc, 1916.
My Dear Mr.. Secretary:
In reply 10 your letter Of today,
let me say:
First, that it is my own judgment
that th- action embodied in the Clarke
amendment 70 the bill extending fur
ther self government to the Philip
p!res is unwise at this time. but it
would clearly BE most inadvisable for
me 10 take the position that / must
dissent from that action should both
houses Of Congress concur upon
which l must. of course, withhold
judgment until TIE joint action of the
t"o houses reaches me in definite
form. What the final action Of the
Houses will be. no one can at this
time certainly forecast. l am now, Of
course, engaged IN. conference with Mr
Jones and others with regard TO rh<
probable action Of the House of Rep
rrseHlatiVes IN this matter and do not
YET know what il is likely TO De- The
one obvious thing. il seems 10 me, IS
the necessity for calm and deliberate
action on our part at this time, when
matters Of such gravity are 10 be
determined. and not only calm and de-
liberate action, but action which takes
into consideration views differing from
our own
Second. as l have occasion to say
to you. l am not yet convinced that
The measure Of preparation for ma
tional defense which we deem neces-
sary can be obtained through the in
strumentality of the National Guard
under federal control and training, but
| fee! in duty bound TO keep my mind
open to conviction on that side and
think that it would be most unwise
and most unfair to the committee Of
the House, which has such a plan in
mind, to say that it cannot be. The
dill in which il will be embodied has
not Yet been drawn, as l learned to-
day from Mr.. Hay. / should deem IT
a very serious mistake to shut the
door against this attempt on the part
of the committee in perfect good faith
to meet the essentials of the program
set forth in my message, but in a way
Of their own choosing.
"As you know, I do not at all agree
with you in favoring compulsory enlist
ment for training and fear the advocacy
Of compulsion before the committee Of
the House on the part of representatives
of the department of war has greatly
prejudiced the House against a proposal
for continental army little necessary
connection as there is between the plan
and the opinion of the chief of the STAFF
in favor of compulsory enlistment
Il owe you this frank repetition of my
views and policy in this matter which
We have discussed on previous occasions,
in the letters which we have EXCHANGED
and in conversation. l am very much
obliged to YOU for your own frank avow-
al OF your convictions. l trust that you
will feel no hesitation about expressing
your personal views on both these SUBJ
jects on the two occasions to which YOU
refer, but 1 hope that you will be kind
enough to draw very carefully the dis
tinction between your own individual
views and the views of the administra-
ton.
You will. Of course, understand that I
am devoting my energy and attention un-
sparingly in conference with members of
the various committees Of Congress in
an effort to procure an agreement upon
workable and practicable program This
is time when it seems to me patience
on the part Of all of us is the essence in