The Washington herald., 1916-02-12
BY Z. h. JOHNS.

1t became known yesterday that IT was
at the urgent suggestion OF former Sec
retary of War Garrison that the PreR-
dent made his recent Western speaking
campaign for preparedness. The Sec
retary of War was very much impressed
with the Importance OF going before the
people with the question of preparedness
and even last summer he was urging
the President to take up the issue He
wanted the President to make public
the plans of the department a month or
two before Congress convened so that
the members of Congress would have
an opportunity TO discuss the questions
with their constituents.
When the President returned from his
vacation the Secretary was ready with
the general plans of an educational
campaign. The Secretary was OF the i'm
preston that only through the aggressive
action OF the President could any real
national defense legislation be put
through Congress. He showed that in
the correspondence that was made public
in connection with his resignation. But
just as the former Secretary had the
| President about convinced that this was
the policy to pursue. Senator Kern the
Democratic leader of the Senate: Reb
resentative Kitchin, the Democratic
leader of the House. and Chairman Hay,
VI lHt -hllIldTS NO11IHllee Ildue AAtlf
appearance at the White House. 1t Is
stated that these prominent members oil
! the Democratic party convinced the
President it would be better to go slow
in the advocacy of preparedness ant
wait until the Democratic leaders OF
the Senate and House had been con-
suited.
This was the first rebuff that Mr.. CARR.
son received. from the President. 1t will
! be remembered that Mr.. Garrison lert
Washington at that time and was away
while the President was holding con-
| Cerences with the democratic leaders ano
! the chairman of the Senate and House
Military Committees. There were reports
current at that time of a disagreement
| between the President and the head OF
the War Department and that Mr.. Cal
| rison intended to tender his resignation.
| Finally, 1t is stated that the President
called the Secretary 10 the White House
| and an agreement was reached Z,
| publish the outline OF the administra-
tion's army program, which was given
out by the Secretary.
What the former Secretary of War
| is opposed to in the way of legislation
for the militia is set forth in n memo
| randum which has been submitted by
, the Executive Council of the National
Guard to the chairman OF the Military
| Committee. 1t is virtually a draft for
| the codification of militia laws and
! contains most of the essential features
of all the bills pending before Con.
gress The memorandum is written In
the form of bill and contains ninety
! three sections.
The bill starts right in to reorgsnizs
part of the War Department by abol.
; ishing the division of militia affairs
and the militia board. The National
| Guard is placed under the control OF
! a National Guard section of the general
/ staff Of the army. This section con-
! sists of fve National Guard officers
who are to be appointed by the Presi-
! dent for a term of Ave years and are
/ o have the same pay and allowances
! a. regular army officers, while they
ar, on duty at the department.
| N attempt is made in the bill tc
feueralize the militia by requiring the
| llisted men to sign contract tc
! .;erve within and without the United
, States in the event of war. The Presi.
; dent is authorized by the bill to order
! he National Guard into the service
Of the general government for two
; years. There Is indirect compulsor,
service in the bill for the militia. Thu
| bill sets forth that in the event ,
State does not raise its quota. thu