Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Strrison Quits Wilson Cabinet Because of Disagreement With His Chief. VAJTTCD CONTINENTAL ARMY SCHEME PUSHED THROUGH AND PRESIDENT WOULD NOT GIVE REQUESTED SUPPORT-GEN. BOOTT ACTING AS SECRETARY OF WAR UNTIL SUCCESSOR IS APPOINTED ? PROBABLE THAT CHIEF EXECUTIVE WILL HIM ?KLT TAKE PERSONAL CHARGE OF ARMY INCREASE PLANS. Waehlngton, Feb. 10.?Secretary I -rlson restarted today because >t Wilson would not "irrevoca support tho continental army and because tho secretary of tho administration's pro? of sotting a definite Urns for 'Jfettewiae independence. President wlhes accepted the reel ma tl on and has mot selected a successor. The himself probably will take charge of the admlnlstra ftam'e aatienai defense plans in con* secretary Brecklnridge as a mark of loyalty Ma chief, whoee views he shares, president accepted his resigna . Both take effec^ Immediately. (Net. Scott, chief of staff of the antosnaucally becomes secre of war ad interim. It fj known that one of Secretary m'n principal reasons for his that only a federal con army. Instead of a reorgan MaUoaal Ouard. could be the saUrtary dependence of the na sae hie belief that some day ths ?tales may be called upon to the Monroe doctrine, and In it he foresaw that the Ne? onatal seicht not be available see outside the United States he? rn declaration of war. sea that contention, on the one that the continental army or try universal service was the I'e only reliance, and the posl aa the other that no on* plan be enforced upon congress. fbtssVeett Wilson and his secretary fi'ltr parted official company. > str. Garrison's resignation a as a Leapt* .arprtee to official Washing W* geaerally. He made no personal ition. Several hours before the announcement he ha4 Voard e train wHh hie wtfa for New York eea passed at the war <Js*t he had gone for an ay i atsTei eacee o: opinion te the break began early year when opposition to the army plan began develop - tjes B* congress. There held been In sIsssisHe rumors of the possibility of t^e secretary leaving the cabinet, but they never were countenanced in of metal quartera The eecretaiy every? where was regarded as one of the strong men of the administration ?pea whom the president leaned In the eaflcutt situations both domestic international which have marked administration. The clrcum whtch led up to the reslgna detailed in the secretary's idence with the president, made public tonight by While House. president, the letters disclosed, red that the training, organtaa and control of a military reserve be under immediate federal di? rection, but was not "irrevocably or Ideally committed to any one ." He wrote Mr. Garrison that could not force any specific plan on eongreee and added: "I saust welcome a frank Inter? change of views and a patient and thorough comparison of all the meth? ods proposed for obtaining the object we all havo In view.** Mr. Garrison's contention that only the plans of the war department eoatd be considered seemed to the president "wholly unjustifiable." Mr. Oarrison considered "reliance upon the militia for national defense as un Justlflabls and imperiling of the na? tion's safety." In resigning he wrote tho president: "It Is evident that we hopelessly dIsagrss upon what I conceive to be fundament) t prlnclploa" Mr. Garrison characterised the Clarke amendment to the Philippine Mil providing unconditionally for the independence of the islands within four yea re "an abandonment of the doty of this nation and a breach of trust for the Filipinos." The president replied It was his judgment that the Clarke amendment was "unwise at this time," but added "It would clearly be most Inadvlsablo for me to take the position that I must dissent from that action should both houses of congress unite on a Mil embody ng that amendment. He said he must withhold Judgment until congressional action. Oa January 13 Secretary Oarrison wrote the president, "We are facing a critical Juncture with respect to the military part of the national defense programme" and declared he felt that "unless the situation Is dealt with promptly and effectively we can In? dulge In no reasonable expectation of any acceptable result." He insisted that there would be no substantial so? lution which did not result in na? tional force under the exclusive con? trol and authority of the national government. This Is distinct line cleavage, Mr. Garrison held, between reliance upon a system of State troops and reliance upon national forces. "Upon this sub? ject," ho said In his letter to the president, there does not exist, and there can not legitimately exist, "any | difference of opinion among those who are unbiased and who believe In real national security and defense." He declared that If a policy based upon the reliance on State troops wsa adopted "not. only had no advance been made from the deplorable and lnexcusablo situation In which we have so long been, but an effective block had been placed across the pathway towarda a proper settle? ment." The secretary severely criticized the National Guard plans of Chairman Hay of tho house military committed. "In my Judgment the effect of the enactment cf Mr. Hay's programme would bo to set hack the whole cause of legitimtae, honest national defense In an unjustifiable and Inexcusable way. It would be In my Judgment a betrayal of a trust of the people In this regard. It would be Illusory and apparent without any reality or sub? stance. "There Is, unfortunately, very little knowledge and very little Intenue personal Interest In any of the mem? bers of the house concerning military Mr. Ganisdn declared further tniit Mr. Hay had the power of dealing I with a subject concerning whloh "the I rest of the house has no4 knowledge land about which K has never concern? ed Keetf** and suggested that Mr. Hay's proposal of settling this matter t y voting money to the members of 8tate troops appealed to "the direct personal, political Interest of the members/* Mr. Hay's proposal to Include a draft provision so that at the out? break of war the National Guard could be brotght under control of the national government was characteris? ed by Mr. Garrison as utterly failing to meet the essential objections to the perpetuation of a militia system. He Insisted the difficulty did not arise out of tho government not being able to take over thioe troops, but out of t*s inability, under the constitute, to preserve the essential unity and con? trol, in officers, training and govern? ing of Its military forces." After an interview between the president and Mr. Garrison on the army plans the secretary again wrote tho president, specifically stating his position. The president informed him that Mr. Hay had told him a federal volunteer system could not be obtain? ed and that the same end could be achieved by utilising tho State troops and making appropriation to pay the States on condition that the federal government control the militia. Mr. Garrison then replied that the continental army plan absolutely dis? carded a militia system based upon Stato troops and that tho two systems wero diametrically opposed to each other and are irreconcilable. "We are challenged," he wrote, "by tho existing situation to declare our selvos promptly, openly and uncqulv ocally or be charged properly with lack of sincerity and good faith." He added that since Mr. Wilson's word was final, he did not wish to cause any embarrassment and would with ? draw if it would relieve tho situation. Tho president wroto In reply that, he and the secretary agreed that the chief thing necessary for tho army was "that we have a trained cltizon reserve and that tho training, organi? sation and control of that reserve should bo under immediate federal direction." He declined, however, to take an irrevocable stand on the ground tlmt It would not be proper for him to say to a committee of congress that it would have to take his plan or none. He decla-ed he did not believe num? bers of tho houso dealing with mili? tary affairs were Ignorant of the mili? tary necessities of the nation but had found them well Informed. He said he would weclomc a frnnk WILL NOT REPEAT TRIP. WILSON CAN'T MAKE EXTENDED TOUR. Possible That Ho Will Make a Few Addresses in tills Section?Many in? vitations. Washington, Feb. 10.?President Wilson will not make an ex? tended Southern trip to speak for pre? paredness. He told Southern sena? tors and representatives who invited him to various cities today that he might make a few speeches but at the present time would not make a trip similar to the one ho recently took to the Middle West. Senator Shilds and a committee from the Tennessee Manufacturing association invited tho president to speak before that organization in Knoxville in April. Representatives Tribble and Hughes of Georgia presented an invitation from the officers of the University of Georgia for the president to speak at Athens. Mr. Wilson said he would make every effort to accept the invi? tation. Whenever possible the president will accept invitations to make visits to cities which will not keep him away from Washington long, it was said today. interchange of views, but added "no ono will expect me to acquiesce in any proposal that I regard as Inadequate !or illusory." Should a bill be pre? sented to him which he could not ac? cept as accomplishing the essential i 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 culminated in the offering and acceptance of the secretary's res? ignation. Although Mr. Garrison first sug? gested that ho leave the cabinet last month, Mr. Wilson did not formally I accept his resignation until late this afternoon when informed that Mr. Garrison had left for New York and I that rumors of his resignation were current. The president then dictated I the lotter of acceptance and dispatch? ed it immediately. It was not until 8 o'clock tonight that formal announcement of the Garrison and Breckinridge resigna? tions were made at the White House. Expressions of regret over the turn ofi affairs were general in administra? tion circles. The president thinks highly of Mr. Garrison's abilities and Mr. Garrison haa been the warm friend Of > most of the other cabinet members, although he and Former Secretary Bryan differed radically on many subjects. ! When the president went Into tho Middle West recently to speak on na? tional defense, it was understood that he undertook the trip partially at the suggestion of Mr. Garrison. During the tour the president spoke at every meeting in favor of tho Garrison army plan, but said that he was not particular about details as long as a reserve of approximately 600,000 trained men was obtained. It' was said tonight that Mr. Wilson's failure to refuse any compromise on the sub? ject in his speeches was the direct cause of Mr. Garrison's resignation. Mr. Garrison's last day as a mem? ber of tho cabinet passed almost with? out any outward evidence of the step ho was contemplating and his resig? nation camo as a distinct surprise not only to Washington generally but to members fit the cabinet. Secretary Garrison has been a lead? ing figure in President Wilson's official family ever since the administration began. Ho began a close study of tho military situation nearly two years ago. He has devoted days and nights to the subject. Surrounded by his bureau chiefs and officers on staff duty, the secretary went into every aspect of the case with all the con? centration he developed as a lawyer and a member of the New Jersey judiciary, Out of that study camo the plan for tho continental army and the contemplated increases in the regular army and proposal for coast defenses and a huge reserve of war material which constitutes the administration preparedness plans, so far as tho army is concerned. The only organized opposition to Mr. Garrison's proposals for the army outside of congress has come from members of tho National Guard. Mr. Garrison Is understood to have been ono of those cabinet members who have stood most firmly for decla? rations of the nation's rights in tho deliberations which resulted from the Lusltania incident and the interrup? tion of American commerce with neu? tral nations of Europe. Mr. Garrison is the third member of President Wilson's cabinet to re? sign. The first, Justice McKcynolds, resigned as attorney general to ac? cept a sort in the supremo court. The second, William J. Bryan, resigned as seerotnry of State because of dif? ferences with tho president over the conduct of the submarine warfare 10 BUILD ARMOR PLAUT. COMMITTEE PRESENTS BILL TO SENATE. Declared That Private Manufacturers Consistently Overcharge Govern? ment for Plates. Washington, Feb. 10.?The senate naval committee's recommendation for a government armor plate plant, voted despite noUce that the armor manufacturers will raise the price $200 a ton if Senator Tillman's bill goes through, was formally presented to the senate today with tho declara? tion that the government is being overcharged and that the sole remedy is a federal factory. "Should the government build a plant and lock it up and never use it," the report says, "it would be wise to erect it as a warning to private manufacturers that there Is a point beyond which the government will not be driven and where patience ceases to be a virtue." I The report characterizes the rela? tions between private manufacturers and the United States since 1887 as a continual source of dissatisfaction and "little short of scandalous." "As long as present conditions con? tinue," it says, "armor manufacturers are in a position to force the govern? ment, in the language of the high? wayman, to stand and deliver. Men in pursuit of wealth are essentially hoggish and greedy and the protective principle seems to have been prolific in producing some magnificent speci? mens." All efforts of the government to bring about competition among armor makers, the report says, have failed. The three bids in the last competition agreed to a cent, it quotes Secretary Daniels as saying.' MANY EULOGIZE) LINCOLN. Congress Spent the Day Celebrating His Birthday. Washington, Feb. 12.?Without re? gard to political creed or doctrine members of congress today paid trib? ute to the memory of Abraham Lin? coln. ^Eulogies were delivered by Representatives Roddenberg and Wheeler, of Illinois, and many oth? ers'; In accordlnce with the yearly custom the Gettysburg address was ^by Mr. Russell, of Missouri. I controversy with Germany. "Before leaving Washington late to? day Secretary Garrison's only reply as to where he was going and how [? \<?<7 long he would remain was that he Would he "out of town for an indefi? nite stay." REFUSES TO DISCUSS MATTER. Garrison Declines to Talk, Saying All Information Must Come From Washington. ? New York, Feb. 10.?Lindley M. Garrison refused absolutely to dis? cuss his resignation as secretary of war upon his arrival here from Wash? ington at 9 o'clock tonight. He de? clared all information regarding his retirement must come from Washing? ton. Asked if he had any comment to make on the retirement of his assist? ant, Henry C. Breckinridge, Mr. Gar? rison replied: "Mr. Breckinridge will have to speak for himself. I have troubles enough of my own." The retiring cabinet officer, who was accompanied by his wife, de? clined to toll where he was going or how long he was going to stay. TO NAME SUCCESSOR. Wilson Will Act as Soon as Possible. Washington, Feb. 10.?Several members of President Wilson's offi? cial family and administration lead? ers in congress were being talked of tonight as possible successors to Lindley M. Garrison as secretary of war. The president desired to choose another secretary before ac? cepting Mr. Garrison's resignation, but the socrctary requested immedi? ate action. Swager Sherley, chairman of the house fortification subcommittee, Sec? retary Lane and Assistant Secretary Roosevelt of the navy department were the three men most frequently mentioned. It was said at the White House that tho president had not yet given serious consideration to the question. It was indicated that Mr. Wilson will make an appointment as soon as possible. Ho desires if possible a man already familiar with the gen? eral military situation of the nation In order that the national defense plans may bo carried forward with? out delay. SCOTT HEADS DEPARTMENT. Executive Order of President Makes Him Secretary of War for Thirty Days. Washington. Feb. 11.?Gen. Scott, chief of staff, has been made secretary Of war "for thirty days," by executive order of tho president. UNITED STATES WARNED THAT ARMED MERCHANT SIUPS WILD BE SUNK WITH? OUT WARNING. Will be Considered as War Vessels by Central Alliance Submarines?Prob? ably Settles Question of Risk for i Neutrals on Unarmed Vessels, but Involves Standing of Allies' Vessels With Respect to Trade. Washington, Feb. 10.?Germany and Austria have formally notified the United States that beginning March 1 commanders of their sub? marines will consider armed mer? chantmen of the entente allies to be warships and will treat them accord? ingly. I Under such instruction commanders would be at liberty to sink without warning any armed vessel, whether passenger or freight carrying. The notifications were presented orally to Secretary Lansing by Count von Bernstorff and Baron Erich Zwiedinek, charge of the Austro Hungarion embassy here. .Notes from their governments are to follow. The intention of the Teutonic allies is considered in official and diplomatic circles here to be a devolpment of jthe memorandum proposing the dis? arming of merchant ships which Sec? retary Lansing recently sent to the entente powers. High officials of the I state department seemed disposed to consider the development broad enough to warrant the claim that the fundamental questions involved in the conduct of submarine warfare have been settled in accordance with the contentions of the United States. This is based on the belief that with Ger? many and Austria giving notice that they will sink without warning all i armed ships, the two governments can not legally claim the right to sink 1 unarmed vessels. That is the prin? ciple for which the United States so vigorously contended since the begin? ning of the negotiations over the con? duct of submarine warfare. In view of this situation American citizens, it is stated by high authority, now may be warned that they will take passage aboard armed merchant ships at their own risk and be entitled to no more protection from the United States than if they had em? barked upon a belligerent warship. Officials today seemed not to be able to conceive that any issue could arise in the future from a submarine war? fare conducted under these rules. It was said in Teutonic diplomatic circles that the effective date of the instruction was postponed in order to give enemy merchant ships oppor? tunity to disarm. It is also to enable belligerents to conform to the ideas suggested by the United States in its memorandum. While state department officials de? clined to discuss the notifications re? ceived it was admitted in various quar? ters that the proposition probably would receive little opposition from the state department. It was con? sidered that the immediate effect would be to cause the department to announce more quickly than had been deemed advisable, its intention to abandon the old ruling, which per? mitted merchant ships to carry arms for defensive purposes. The department is known to have hoped to get an agreement for all of the entente allies to disarm their merchant ships, and then to get a pledge from the central powers to re? frain absolutely from attacking such unarmed ships without warning. Secretary Lansing said today that none of the allies had replied to his note. In the allied embassies here it was stated that, although word had not been received from their governments, not tho slightest doubt prevailed that the suggestions of the United States would be rejected. Coincident with the ' virtual threat of the United States to classify armed merchant ships as war vessels, and therefore, not entitled to enter Amer? ican water more than once In every six months or to remain more than 24 hours, it was said at one of the embassies that if the United States in face of the desperate need of ships to carry its products abroad could af? ford to exclude from its ports allied merchantmen, the governments own jing them could afford to send in only enough to take out goods consigned to themselves. There seems reason to believe that the view obtained at that embassy fairly reflected at this time the po? sition of other allied governments. It was said at the embassy that such a course would be far reaching and disturbing to American trade in general. In connection with the American memorandum based upon the under? standing that only submarines of the central powers were at sea, a high Official was asked whether the re? ported presence in the Atlantic of the Moswe or Ponga, captor of the Ap pam, altered the view point of this government. Ho replied that it was doubtful that the presence of one WOULD TEACH AGRICULTURE. APPROPRIATION MADE FOR IN? STRUCTION IN RURAL SCHOOLS. Measure Urged by Gov. Manning In Special Message to Legislature Advocates Point to Good It Will Ac? complish. Columbia, Feb. 11.?Without op? position the house yesterday passed the Toole and LaGrone bill, provid? ing for an appropriation of $5,000 for the teaching of agriculture in the common schools of the State under certain conditions, involving the co? operation of the schools and the kind of schools. It was maintained by the authors of the bill that an early fa? miliarity with agriculture would In? culcate love for and knowledge of the soil and would inure to the benefit of the State and the young people. This is one of the measures the passage of which was urged by Gov. Manning in a special message. The bill provides that State aid to the extent of $750 will be given when three or more school districts raise a similar amount; the aggregate will provide for the teacher's salary. Any public school, however, cooperating In this work must have an enrollment of at least 75 pupils, with a regular attendance of at least 40, taree teach? ers, a term of seven months, a local tax of 8 mills, a sanitary building of at least three rooms, a plot of not less than two acres, satisfactory equip? ment and use of the adopted text* books. The bill also provides for tlie free enrollment of a pupil more than 14 years old who desires to pursue the agricultural course. The bill does not prevent school districts from receiving State aid for term extension, rural graded schools or high schools, as otherwise provided. Mr. Toole said that though Clemson college is valuable to the State, the teaching of agriculture should start earlier when the boys are young and attending a public school. He main? tained that the love of the soil, as well as its knowledge, should be Instilled early, so that the tendency to migrate from the country to the town may be stopped. He spoke of the importance of children or "future farmers" know? ing the contents of the soil. "I .am for progress," he declared, outlining the necessary advancement of the common school as a mark of such progress. Mr. Mclnnee of Darlington county told of the work done in his county through the agency of Clemson col? lege whereby agriculture la taught in common schools. "It is a success there," he declared, "and the delega? tion has provided for a half mill levy to continue the work." He said that he considered the bill the best Intro? duced at this session. LAND BANK SYSTEM PROVIDED. Measure to Create Mortgage Plan Completed by Joint Rural Credits Committee. Washington, Feb. 10.?A bill to create a land mortgage bank system was completed today by the joint congressional rural credits committee. It would provide for a loan of $6, 000,000 from the federal treasury to a chain of 12 or more regional banks, which would deal In mortgages on country property. Federal farm loan banks, proposed In the measure, would be authorized to issue and sell land mortgage bonds, and provisions would be made for the organization of joint stock loan banks by private capital subject to control of a federal farm loan board. Bonds and mortgages of these banks would be exempt from taxa? tion. The plan contemplates the organi? zation of prospective borrowers of national farm loan associations which would bear the same relation to the farm loan banks as member banks to the federal reserve banks. Loans on farm mortgages would be made for a maximum period of 36 years with privilege of liquidation after five years and mortgages would never bear a rate of interest higher than f> per cent., to be applied to expenses of the farm loan banks. Loans wculd be made on first mortgages only. SUGAR CASE SETTLED. Government Claim Compromised 't $52,185.99. Washington, Feb. 10.?Tho govern? ment's claim against the American Sugar Refining company at New Or? leans for unpaid duty on sugar has been compromised for $52,185.99, ac? cording to an announcement today by the department of justice. The compromise was effected on a basis not involving frauds and a government suit to recover unpaid duties, which charged fraud, has been dismissed. raider would make much difference. It was admitted, however, that should more German raiders make their ap peeranee consideration might be giv 'en to changed conditions.