Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-02-11

resignation announced last night, how
ever, was the elimination of a strained
situation which has existed for nearly
year, or ever since Mr.. Garrison
formulated his program for the eXpan-
sion of the army.
Garrison States Position
Following an interview between the
President and Mr.. Garrison on the
army plans the Secretary wrote the
President specifically stating his po-
sition. The President informed him
that Mr.. Hay had told him federal
volunteer system could not be obtained
and that the same end could be
achieved by utilizing the State troops
and making appropriations to pay to
the States on condition that the fed
eral government control the militia.
Mr.. Garrison then replied that the
continental army plan absolutely dis
carded a military system based upon
State troops and that the two systems
were diametrically opposed to each
other and are irreconcilable. I'VE are
challenged" he wrote, 'by the exist
| ing situation to 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 embarrass-
ment and would withdraw if it would
relieve the situation.
| The President wrote in reply that he
and the Secretary agreed that the chief
| thing necessary for the army was that
we should have a trained citizen re-
| serve and that the training, organ
| ization and control of that reserve
| should be under immediate federal
direction" He declined, however, to
take an irrevocable stand on the
ground that it would not be proper for
] fn tn a Of
| that it would have to take his plan or
none. He declared he did not believe
members of the House dealing with
military affairs was ignorant of the
military necessities of the nation, but
! had found them well informed.
He said he would welcome q frank
! interchange of views, but added. mo
one will expect me to acquiesce in any
proposal that I regard as inadequate
or illusory."
Should bill be presented to him
which he could not accept as accom-
plishing the essential thing sought, he
said, it would be his duty TO veto it
and go to the country on the merits.
The views of the President and Mr..
! Garrison were reviewed in other let
| ters. which eliminated in the Offering
and acceptance of the Secretarys resig-
! nation.
Continental Army Plan
President Wilson has supported the
| continental army scheme and continues
to believe that it is the best plan for
strengthening the army. He has made
| 1t plain, however, in speeches and in
! talks with congressional leaders, that
| the main thing is to get a large re-
serve for the United States army and
that the details must be worked out
| through common counsel
The President and Secretary Garri-
son have been close personal friends
since the administration came into
office and have stood together on prac-
! tically every question.
i Secretary Garrison has been q lead
/ ing figure in President Wilson's official
! family ever since the administration
began. To his urging has been as
cribed in part Mr.. Wilson's determi-
nation to carry to the country his plea
! for adequate national defense.
Mr.. Garrison began close study of
/ the military situation nearly two years
! ago. He has devoted days and nights
| to the subject, beginning his inquiry,
| he has himself declared, with only t.
vague knowledge of the military his
| tory of the nation or of the problems
/ presented in planning for defense
/ against any possible enemy. For
months it has been q common sight at
/ the War Department when he has
| been in the city to see the lights in
his office blazing far into the night.
! Surrounded by his bureau chiefs and
officers on STAFF duty, the Secretary
went into every aspect of the case with
all the concentration he developed as a
lawyer and member of the New Jer-
sey judiciary.
Out of that study came the plan for
/ the continental army and the correlated
! increases in the regular army and pro-
posals for coast defenses and a huge
reserve of war material which con-
stitutes the administration prepared
ness, so far as the army is concerned.
Behind that plan the President has
stood.
Mr.. Garrison recently declared for
universal military training as a doc
trine of democracy, although he said
he thought the nation not ready for
such a proposal at this time. He has
repeatedly said both publicly and pri-
vately that he was so full of the sub
ject of preparedness and of the need
for it as a result of his studies that he
dreamed of it at night and it was with
him every waking moment
The only organized opposition to Mr.