Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-02-11
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EA1. contenfion that only
thA plans of the War department
could be considered seemed to the
President, wholly unjustilabie." Mr..
,Gaxrison considered reliance upon
the militia for national defense as
IunJusttdable and imperiliing the ma
aioa's safety.
In redgning. he wrote the Presi-
dent:
1t is evident that we hopelessiy
disagree upon what conceive to BE-
fundamental principles"
Mr.. Garrison characterized the
Clarke amendment To the Philippine
bin providing conditionally for the in
dependence Of the islands within four
years "an abandonment, Of the duty
of this nation and a breach Of trust
for the Ffiipinos.
On Jan Il Secretary Garrison wrote the
President: We are facing a critical
iuncture with respect 0 the military part
Of the national defence program. and
declared he felt that unless the sltua-
ton il dealt with promptly and eHec-
lively We can indulge in no reasonable
expectation Of any acceptaple result" He
insisted that there could be no substaH-
tisi solution which DID not result II
forces under the exclusive control and au-
,hority Of the national government. Ad-
rnitt:ng tha, there could he legitimate
discussion over the means q obtaining
these national forces the secretary as
serted that from the beginning Of the
l-r.1.
Of the situation arose OF. of the lack ot
any System producing federal forces.
The situation was rendered worse" ne
added. by the presence of state tEoopa
raised. oracered. trained and governed by
the states.
There is a distinct line Of cleavage. NJ
Garrison held. between reliance upon &
sys.ern Of state troops and reliance upon
national forces. Upon ,hig subject he
raid in his letter TO the President. there
does not exist, and there cannot legi:i-
ma.ely exist. any difference Of opinion
among these who are unbiased and who
believe in real national security and de-
fence" He declared that II 4 policy bas-
ed upon the reliance Of state troops was
adopted not only rot had any advance
been made from the deplorable and mex
cussbie situation in which We have 50
long been. but an effective block rad been
placed acr'<s the pathway 20 a rrope-
settlement"
Crtieizes Hays Plans
TIE Eecre.ary severely criticized the
National Guard plans Of Chairman Hay
of the House military committee. .sa y,ne:
In my judgment the effect o. the
enactment of Mr. Hays program woulG
be TO set back the whole cause 4: legiti-
mate. honest. national defence in an en-
tireiy unjustlAabI. and inexcu.a ole way
would be. in my judgment. a betrayal
OF trust of the. people in this regar rd
It would be El'asory and apparent without
any reality or substance
There is, unfortunately verv N,.ie
knowledge and very little intense person
sl interest in any members Of the House
concerning nilltar: affairs"
Mr. Garrison declared further that sfr
Hay had the power ot dealing with a
subject concerning which the reg, Of the
House had no Knowledge and about which
II has never concerned i.self" and sug-
gested To the members Of state troop.
appealed 20 "the direct personal, political
interest OF the members"
Mr.. HAYS proposal TO include a
0rdft provision 50 that ar the out
break Of war the National Guarj could
be brought under control of the ma
tional government was characterized
by Nr. Garrison az utterly failing 10
meet the essential objections Of the
perpetuation Of military system He
insisted the difficulty did not arise out
of the government not being able 10
take over these troops but out Of it's
inability, under the Constitution. to
nave the essential unity If reapon-
sibiiity, authority and control in the
raising, differing, training and gov
erning Of its military forces'
Following an interview between the
President and Mr.. Garrison on the
army plans. the secretary again wrote
tie President, specifically stating his
position. The President informed him
that Mr.. Hay had told him 4 federal
volunteer system could not be OBJ
tanned, and that the same end could
be achieved by utilizing the sta.-
troops and making appropriations 70
pay TO the states on condition that
the federal government control the
militia.
Mr.. Garrison then replied that the
continental army plan absolutely dis
carded military system based upon
state troops and that the two systems
were diametrically opposed to each
other and irreconciliable. We are
challenged" he wrote, by the exist
ing situation 20 declare ourselves
promptly, openly and unequivocally or
be charged properly with lack Of sin
Cerity and good faith.
He added that since Mr. Wilson's
word was final he did not wish to
cause any embarrassment and would
withdraw II 1t would relieve the sit
uation. The President wrote in reply
that he and the secretary agreed that
the chief thing necessary for the army
was that we should have trained
citizen reserve and that the training,
organization and control of that re-
serve should be under the immediate
federal direction" He declined, how
ever, to.stake an irrevocable stand on
he ground that it would have to take
his plan or none. He declared he did
not believe the members of the House
dealing with military affairs were ig