The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1916-02-11
NEW SECRETARY
TO BE NAMED
CONTINUED from page ID

|
| The former secretary refused to dis
cuss politics In any way.
! He said he talked with Assistant
Secretary Breckenridge before sub
mitting his resignation, but declared
| he consulted no one else and knew
| nothing of any one else contemplating
| retirement.
Asked whether his decision to re-
sign was reached sud- emily or had
been contemplated for some time,
Garrison said:
THAT hinges on policy. You must
get your impression from the pub
lished correspondence"
i have no plans except to resume
my profession" he continued. 81 re-
fuse to think on any subject what
ever pertaining to the administra-
ton. have retired from politics abso-
lutely."
Garrison refused to discuss interna-
tional affairs in any way He said
he might remain in New York
throughout today and tomorrow.
The Views Of Breckenridge.
WASHINGTON, Feb. lin state
ment prepared for the United Press,
Henry S. Breckenridge, who resigned
as assistant secretary Of war, today
outlined his views on army plans now
before congress. which led to his re-
tirement as well as that of Secretary
Garrison, whose policy Breckenridge
supported. The statement follows:
at is advisable to build a military
policy for the nation upon the state
militia, because to rest the defense OF
the nation upon forty-eight littls
armies over which the national gov
nrr onpf hos ~ >hf L.,
control, is to tamper with the coun-
try's safety.
false claims are made that the
militia can be made federal force.
The constitution gives the state full
authority over the militia. The state
authorities can. without reference to
the wants or needs OF the nation, dis
band the militia or keep 100, 1000 or
100000 militiamen. as they desire.
ut is impossible for the federal
government, by passing militia pay
bill to bride away from the state a
Jurisdiction given by the constitution.
This is as impossible as 1t would be
for the government to appropriate $5.-
100000 for good roads In Kentucky
provided Kentucky send John Jones
and James Smith to the United
States senate.
THE effort to confuse the public
mind and make 1t believe the militia
can be made federal force, is pre-
posterous effort wilfully to fool the
American people.
Most Of the pernicious opposition
to the creation Of real national
force of citizen soldiers, comes from
persons purporting to represent the
rank and file of the militia, but most
Of them are persons having selfish
interest, by reason Of their employ
ment in life IN seeing that the mi
litia is the only recipient OF support
rendered By the national government
to citizen soldiers
my condemnation Of the militia as
a national dependence is a condemna-
ton of the system and not OF the per-
sonnet.
Nearly every disaster Of the revo-
luton and the war.of 1872 was largely
due to dependence upon the militia
system. George Washington's main
dependence was the continental army,
absolutely controlled by the federal
government.
'If man thinks the army should
be split into forty-eight parts separ-
ately governed. he must think the
navy should be divided into forty
eight parts, each part governed by a
separate state. He must also believe
that foreign affairs Of the nation
should be managed by the forty-eight
different states. each according to its
own interests and its own views; that
the postofhCe department manage
ment be parcelled out TO each Of the
forty-eight states.
"If there is any one sphere Of gov
ornamental activity where the nation
should stand united, It is in the prep
aratIon for and the conduct of, the
defense of the nation. which may in
volve the very life Of the nation. The
issue is fundamental and uncompro-
missing.
In Seciusion in New York.
NEW YORK, Feb. 11.-Lindley NJ
Garrison whose resignation as secre-
tary of war was announced last night,
was in "seclusion" in New York to-
day. The former secretary was met
at the Pennsylvania station here by
Geo. Leary, dredging contractor. and
entering the contractors automobile
was whisked away to the Leary Fifth
avenue home.
Garrison steadfastly refused to dis
cuss the reasons for his resignation.
He said all information must come
from the white house. Garrison was
in high good humor when he reached
here, but parried all questions. Asked
just why he resigned. Garrison re"
Piled:
There will be ffty-seven varieties
Of explanations by the men who
write the stories from Washington. l
have nothing to say as to Luat."
Garrison would not say how long
he expected TO be in New York.