Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1917-05-25
WILSON TURNS DOWN
R00SEvElTS PLAN
NO TIME FOR COMPLIMENT,
PRESIDENT SAYS-MUST TRAIN
EFFECTIVE ARMY.

After signing the selective con-
scription bill, issuing proclamation
designating June as Registration
Day, and ordering General John J.
Pershing to proceed to France with
a force of $4,000 regulars as soon as
possible, President Wilson gave out
a statement that, acting under ex-
pert advice from both sides of the
water, he would be unable to avail
himself at the present stage OF the
war of Theodore Roosevelt's offer to
raise volunteer divisions.
The statement in full is:
II shall not avail myself at any
rate at the present stage of the war
of the authorization conferred by the
act to organize volunteer divisions.
To do so would seriously interfere
with the carrying out Of the chief
and most important purpose contem-
plated by this legislation, the prompt
creation and early use Of an effective
army, and would contribute practi-
cally nothing to the effective strength
of the armies now engaged against
Germany.
81 understand that the section Of
this act which authorized the crea-
ton of volunteer divisions to 60 to
France was added with view to
providing an independent commanr
for Mr.. Roosevelt and giving that
military authority an opportunity to
use his fine vigor and enthusiasm In
recruiting the forces it was planned
to send tt. France.
Fine Political Effect.
ut would be very agreeable to me
to pay Mr.. Roosevelt this compli-
ment, and the allies the compliment
of sending to their aid one of our
most distinguished public men. an
ex-president who has rendered many
conspicuous public services and
proved his gallantry in many strik-
ing ways. Politically, too, it would
no doubt have a very fine effect and
make a profound impression.
"But this is not tho time or
the occasion for compliment or
for any action not calculated to
contribute to the immediate sue
cess of the war. The business in
hand now is undramatic, prac-
tical and of scientific definite
ness and precision. I shall act
with regard to 1t at every step
and in every way avail myself of
professional advice, from both
sides Of the water.
THAT advice is that the men most
needed are men Of the ages contem-
plated in the draft provision Of the
present bill. not men of the age and
sort contemplated in the section
which authorizes the formation Of
volunteer units, mad that for the pre-
liminary training of the men who are
to be drafted, we shall need all of
our experienced officers. Mr.. Roose-
welt told me. when had the pleasure
of seeing him a few weeks ago, that
he would wish to have associated
with him some of the most efficient
and effective officers of our army.
Men Needed Elsewhere.
"He named many of those whom
he would desire to have designated
for the service, and they were men
who cannot possibly be spared from
the too small force of officers at our
command for the much more pressing
and necessary duty of training regu-
lar troops to be put into the field in
France and Belgium as fast as they
can be got ready.
1.-THE first troops sent to France
will be taken from the present forces
of the regular army and will be under
the command Of trained soldiers
only.
"The responsibility of the sue
cessful conduct of our own part
In this great war rests upon me.
/ could not escape it II I would.
am too much Interested in the
cause we are fighting for to be
interested in anything but sue
cess. The issues involved are
too immense for me to take into
consideration anything whatever
except the best, most effective,
most immediate means of mill
tary action. What these means
are know from the mouths of
men who have seen war as 1t is
now conducted. who have no illu-
sions, and to whom the whole
grim matter is a matter of bust
ness. l shall center my atten-
ton upon those mea ms and let
everything else wait.
Il should be deeply to blame
should / do otherwise wha+ayar +ho