Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-02-12
RESIGNATION HITS
CAPITAL LIKE BOMB
All Political Washington Astounded
by Gsrrison's Quitting War
Office.
CABINET DIsNTEGRAT1oE ON
prOm a staff cOrrespOndent)


WASHINGTON, Feb. 11.-(spe-
cial Telegram. THE resignation OF
Secretary Of War Garrison and As
sistant Secretary Breckenridge from
the Wilson cabinet came like q
thunderclap. All political Washing
ton Is astounded.
Army machinery is shot into
smithereens and tnv pfans Of Mr..
Garrison for a real vital first defense
force in the line OF preparedness is
knocked into a cooked hat.
What is behind this resignation
will be the first question. first the
opposition OF the thinking people in
the army TO grant freedom 70 the
Philippines in given number OF
years and known as the Clarke
amendment.
one Of AbIest Of Cabinet.
Secretary Garrison. one Of the abiest
" not the abiest member OF the Wilson
cabinet. had made study Of the Philip
pines and could not 80 as far as his
party IN giving the Filipinos independence
Al any given time. OF course. Il was
written In the party platform and that
perforcc must govern. But Secretary
Garrison could not see Independence for
tho Filipinos as the Statesmen on the hill
saw IL and he fretted because his chief
could not see the wisdom Of postponing
the communication until later.
Then the secretary discovered that the
president bad changed a bit In regard to
a continental army" or national
army coniradlstinRuIshed from an army
Of forsy-eight states as the National
Guard is now constituted. and 10 the
break came.
Difference arose between Secretary Gar
Iison and President Wilson and the dis
inteeration OF the Wilson cabinet has
begun.
The resignation came az a surprise 10
members OF the cabinet. one cabinet Of
ficcr said tonight while he knew there
was n difference OF opinion between the
president and Mr.. Garrison over handling
he army plans he had not the slightest
suspicion that an actual break was Inn
sending.
Although Mr.. Garrison first suggested
hat he leave the cabinet last month Mr..
wilson aid not formally accept hia
estimation until late this afternoon when
Informed that Mr. Garrison had left for
New York and that rumors OF his reslg.
nation we're current The president then
dictated the letter OF acceptance and dis
patched u immediately
Il was not until 5 o'clock tonight thai
fpfmaifunnouncenicn OF the Garrison and
Brccklnrldae designations was msde Al
the wh.te House.
70 tExpresn ReGrst.
Expressions OF regret over the turn Of
affairs were general In administration
,lrelos, Tho president thinks highly Of
Mr. Garrison'a abilities and his name wal
saflmfAIy considered when the appoint
mont OF nncceSaof % Mr. Lamar on sh'
sipfeme court bench was under CON
sidefatfon.
SIR. Garrison has been the warm friend
OF most Of the other cabinet members
slthoufh no and former Secretary BryaF
Uttered radically on many subjects.
When The president went into tho mid.
die west recently to speak on natlona
defense Il was understood that he under.
took the trip partially az the suggestion
n MIR. GARRISON During the tour tn,
president spoke at every meeting In ia
For OF the Garrison army plan, hut sale
hat he was not particular about details
IS long ~ reserve OF appr0ximRtcl,
oeo0o trained men was secured. IL wal
aid tonight that Mr, Wilson's failure /,
efuse any compromise on the subject II
iis speeches was The direct cause OF Kf
ssrrison's resignation. ..,-f,.. s....
AZ office Early. ....
Mr. oarrison.s last day as. member. o
The cabingt almost passed without an,
outward evidence OF the step he was con
sempiauhg. He wsn at his office eari
and throughout this morning husily occu
pied with ordinary routine affairs. Late
he dictated speech which he had prom
Used 20 deliver hi the afternoon befof
the annual meeting OF the Chamber o
commcroe Of the United states In defens
OF HID contlslentel army plan.
II was not until ne announced suddeni
late In the afternoon that he was leavin
the city and would not deliver the ad
dress that there was the slightest aus
pieion that anything unusual had haI
pened.
The secretary left the state. war an
navy building with Assistant sooretar
hreckinridge. Inquiry as 70 where /
was going and how long he would RENAL
hrought only the reply that he would
s.ouf Of town for an tndaffntt. .t.,,u