The Washington times., 1917-05-11
T.R. QUITS LEAGUE
In ROW WITHLEITER
Says Latter Used Society to
Oppose His Division Plan.
RECEIVES A SHARP REPLY
Accuses Colonel Of Personal and
Political Aggrandizement.


The resignation OF Col. Theodore
Roosevelt as honorary vice president
OF the Army League is now in the
hands OF Joseph Letter, president Of
the league. and will be acted upon
at the next meeting OF the executive
council. the Colonies withdrawal
being the direct result Of Mr.. Letters
outspoken objection to his plan TO
take a volunteer army to France.
Two letters have been made public
by the league, one being that written
by Colonel Roosevelt to Mr.. Letter
May 8, Offering his resignation, and
the other a reply sent by Mr.. Letter.
Colonel RO0seVeIt's Letter
Following Is the Roosevelt letter:
your letter Is indefinite; as far as
its statements can be understood they
apparently indicate that you disbe-
lieNe in the Harding amendment
The proposition for the selective draft
has now been adopted. 50. therefore.
there can be no further pretense that
the Harding amendment in any way
antagonizes the Administrations
draft measure
"All that it does is to add TO the
army of the United States q force Of
men admirably calculated to do good
work. ready to be sent abroad imme-
ditely. who will not otherwise be used
at all.
by reading Senator Stones speech
in opposition to the amendment you will
see that he puts 1t frankly on political
TnAA 70 10. -
ton is not due to mere puzzle headed
ness. II can only be due to politics. and
politics Of a very unwise and improper
kind.
You are. therefore. as its president,
using the Army League OF the United
States to the detriment Of the army and
to the detriment OF the United States. in
the attitude you assume in this matter.
Accordingly l herewith resign as honor
airy vice president Of the organization"
Letter Sends sharp Reply.
Mr.. Letters answer follows:
''Your letter of May 8. resigning
your office in this organization, in
reply to mine Of May 2. have re-
eeived. The executive council at its
next meeting will take action upon II.
While you seem to think my letter
indefinite, you have grasped the point
which l wanted to convey. 1 am
opposed to the Harding amendment.
THE charge that I am using the
Army League to the detriment Of the
army and the country Is personal. To
this charge let me reply as an indi-
vidual. Because / do not agree with
you you can see nothing in my atti-
tude but the betrayal Of a trust Do
you think that you alone can think
correctly Did the Almighty consti-
tute you the sole arbiter OF what Il
right or wrong? Has no one else the
right to an opinion? I can imagine
such q state OF affairs in Germany
alone.
do you think that you are the
most competent person in the United
States to head the first expeditionary
force sent to Europef
"Candidly, do you think you have
had sufficient military experiences to
in any way qualify you for this posi-:
tion7'
Questions CVIoners Competency.
"Why not leave the hnsineas &c
competent people who have been
trained to il, instead of injecting
yourself into the situation without
the desire of any OF the authorities
who must be responsible for the sue
cess or failure OF the conduct Of the
war
II thought at nrst that your inten-
lions were inspired by patriotism. I
am now constrained to believe that
your own schemes OF political and
personal aggrandizement lie at the
bottom OF your agitation.
THE early disasters OF the civil
war came from those who had receive
ed military rank as the result Of pos
sessing the political influence to put
them in commands for which they
were not fitted. Let us hope that in
this war this can be avoided. Do
your part to this end. Make q sacrifice
of your personal ambitions on the
altar OF efficiency, and as an act Of
real patriotism put an end to the
political storm which has been caused
by the Harding amendment"