El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-02-11

word had been passed at the war de-
partment that he had gone for an in
definite stay.
Differences Began Early in Year.
The acute differences Of opinion
which led to the break, began early in
q the year, when opposition to the CONT
mental army plan began developing in
congress There had been indefinite
rumors Of the possibility OF the secre-
tary of war leaving the cabinet, but
they never were cOuntenanced in Of
fetal quarters. The secretary every
where was regarded as one of the
strong men Of the administration. upon
, whom the president leaned in the diff
ficult situations, both domestic and in
ternational, which have marked his
administration.
Correspondence Reveals Attitude.
The circumstances which led up 10
the resignation are detailed I'm the sec
retary's correspondence with the presi-
'dent, which was made public by the
white house. The president the let
tiers disclose, believes that the training,
organization and control OF a military
reserve should be under immediate fed
eral direction, but is not "irreVOcably
or dogmatically committed 10 any one
plan" He wrote Mr.. Garrison that ne
could not force any specific plan on
congress- and added:
7 must welcome frank interchange
of views and a patient and thorough
comparison of all the methods pro-
all have in view
GarrisOn's Position Unjustifiable.
Mr.. Garrison's contentious that only
the plans of the war department could
be considered. seemed 10 the president
wholly unjustifiable." Mr. Garrison
considered reliance upon the militia
for national defence as unJustifiable
and imperiling the nations safety"
In resigning he wrote the president
1T is evident that we hOpelessly dis
agree upon what conceive TO be fun
damental principles"
Opposed philippine Bill.
Mr.. Garrison characterized the Clark
amendment to the Philippine bill,
providing conditiOnally for the indie
pendence of the islands within four
years. IAN abandonment Of the duty Of
this nation and breach of trust for
the Filipinos." The president replied
it was his Judgment that the Clark
amendment was unwise at this time,
but added "it would be clearly most
inadvisable for me to take the position
that I must dissent from that action
should both houses Of congress concur
in a bill embOdying that amendment"
He said he must withhold judgment
until the final action was before him In
definite form.
Prompt Action Needed.
On January y. secretary Garrison
wrote the president: I'VE are facing
critical juncture with respect to the
military part Of the national defence
program" and declared he felt that
unless the situation is dealt with
promptly and effectively, We can In.
dulge in no reasonable expectation Of
any acceptable result"
He insisted that there could be no
substantial solution which did not re-
suit in national forces under the eX-
elusive control and authority of the !
national government The secretary as !
serted that from the beginning of the
government the acknowledged weak |
ness of the situation arose out Of lack |
of any system producing federal forces. /
The situation was rendered worse" !
he added, by the presence Of state /
troops, raised differed trained and |
governed by the states"
There is a distinct line Of cleavage, |
Mr.. Garrison held between reliance |
upon the system of state troops and |
reliance upon national forces
Calls situation DePIOrabIe.
He declared that il a policy based /
upon the reliance on state troops was !
adopted. mot only had no advance been 1
made from the deplorable and ineXcus- /
able situation in which we have so !,
long been, but an effective block had I
been placed across the pathway to-
ward a proper settlement"
Crlticlses Hays Plan.
The secretary severely criticised the |
national guard plans of chairman Hay,
of the house military committee.
In my judgment the effect Of the 4
enactment Of Mr.. Hays program [
would be to set back the whole cause
of legitimate honest national defence in
an entirely unjustifiable and inexcusa-
bic way. 1t would be, in my judgment !
a betrayal Of a trust OF the people in /
this regard 1t would be illusory, and i
apparently without any reality or sub
stance.
There is, unfortunately, very little
knowledge and very little intense per-
sonal interest in any of the members
OF. the house concerning military af-
fairs"
Plan Appeals to COngressmen.
Mr. Garrison declared further that /
Mr.. Hay had the power of dealing with
a subject concerning which the resi-
Of the house has no knowledge and
about which it has never concerned
ITSELF" and suggested that Mr.. Hays
of settling this matter by
voting money to the members of the
state troops appealed to the direct
political interest of the mem
Ders."
Mr.. Hays proposal to include a draft
provision so that at the outbreak OF !
war the national guard could be
brought under control of the national
government was characterized by Mr.
Garrison as utterly failing to meet the
essential objections to the perpetual
ion of q militia system
Following an interview between the
PRESIDENT and Mr.. Garrison on the
lrmy plans, the secretary again wrote
he president specifically stating his
position. The president informed him
nat MI. HAY ndO lOlu MIN ItutIdl !
system could not be obtained
nd that the same end could be
chieved by utilizing the state troops
nd making appropriations to pay TO
he state on condition that the federal
government control the militia.
Two Plans IrrecOncilable.
Mr. Garrison then replied that the 7
ontinental army plan absolutely dis
arded a military system based upon ,
tate troops and that the two systems
yere diametrically opposed to each ,
Their and are irreconcilable. I'VE are
ituation to declare ourselves prompt
roperly with lack of sincerity and i
God faith" He added that since Mr.
Wilson's word was final. he did not :
fish to cause any embarrassment an1 ,,
-ould withdraw if it would relieve the
ituatiOn. =
resident Declines IrrevOcabIe Stand
The president wrote i'm reply that he
nd the secretary agreed that the chief
eed of the army was that we should
ave a trained citizen reserve and that 4
he training, organization and control
Z that reserve should be under imme- II
late federal direction" He declined. II
oweVer, to take an irrevOcable stand II
n the ground that il would not be II
roper for him to say to a committee / II
{ congress that it would have to take Il
is plan or none. He declared he did II
OF believe members Of the house deal II
II with military affairs were ignorant II
f the military necessities of the ma II
ion.
He said he would welcome n frank /