Background
Garrison was born on November 28, 1864 in Camden, New Jersey, the son of the Rev. Joseph Fithian and Elizabeth Vanarsdale (Grant) Garrison.
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Lindley Miller Garrison
Edit ProfileEducation
After attending public schools in Philadelphia and the Protestant Episcopal Academy of that city, Garrison spent a year, 1884, at Phillips Exeter Academy and another at Harvard University as a special student. In 1885 he received the degree of LL. B. from the University of Pennsylvania, and the following year was admitted to the bar. He had studied in the office of Redding, Jones & Carson of Philadelphia and he practised with them until 1888.
Career
From 1888 to 1898 Garrison followed his profession at Camden but in 1899 became a partner of the law firm of Garrison, McManus & Enright of Jersey City. He was appointed to the bench as vice-chancellor of New Jersey on June 15, 1904. While governor of the state, Woodrow Wilson became familiar with Garrison's excellent record as vice-chancellor and with his earlier reputation as the recognized leader of the state bar. Following his election to the presidency, he offered Garrison a place in the cabinet as secretary of war. The latter accepted and on March 5, 1913, the day after Wilson's inauguration, he took the oath of office. Following the outbreak of the First World War, public attention was directed, in increasing measure, to the unpreparedness of the United States. Though Garrison had had no military training, he early evidenced an intelligent understanding of the problems of national defense. The authorized strength of the regular army at that time was 100, 000 men. With a large part of the world in arms, Garrison believed that the military establishment of the United States was far too small, and he repeatedly stressed the need for a larger standing army, trained reserves, and an increase in the militia. In his second annual message, delivered before a joint session of the Sixty-third Congress on December 8, 1914, Wilson, however, declared that "we have not been negligent of national defense, " but expressed his opposition to a large standing army. As the country moved nearer a break with Germany, Wilson soon changed his views on preparedness and on July 21, 1915, requested Garrison to prepare recommendations for strengthening the military establishment. On August 12 the latter submitted the outline of the plan desired by the War Department and suggested that it be made public at once. The program called for a large regular army and militia, and a "continental army" of 400, 000, whose members would be enlisted for a six-year period, with short training periods with the colors annually. Wilson declined to make the plan public, and on its resubmission, later, suggested that more use be made of the existing militia. In a speech in New York on November 4, 1915, before the Manhattan Club, he nevertheless gave his general endorsement to the continental army plan and stressed the need for national preparedness. Many congressmen felt that the public would not support the plan, however, and as an alternative rallied around the Hay Bill, which called for an expansion of the partly federalized state militia. Garrison warned them that the enactment of this legislation would not accomplish the national defense objectives of Wilson, but the latter indicated that he was ready to consider alternative proposals. The breach between the President and his secretary of war over military policy progressively widened. In a letter to Wilson on January 12, 1916, Garrison declared that the issue was one between two absolutely different systems. He also took sharp issue with Wilson on pending legislation to set a definite time for the granting of Philippine independence. Such action Garrison strongly opposed as "a breach of trust" to the people of the Philippines. Regarding Wilson's refusal to condemn the Hay Bill as, in effect, a repudiation of the continental army plan, on February 10, 1916, he resigned. Wilson promptly accepted his resignation and appointed Newton D. Baker in his place. Following his retirement from the cabinet, Garrison returned to the practice of law as a member of the firm of Hornblower, Miller & Garrison. On December 31, 1918, he took over the receivership of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company, by order of Judge Julius M. Mayer. During the course of this receivership, which terminated on June 14, 1923, he reported that $31, 000, 000 had been expended for new construction and betterments. After being in ill health for several years, he died at his home in Seabright, N. J. ; he left no children. As secretary of war, Garrison did much to revitalize the military establishment. The clash with Wilson which led to his resignation focused public attention on the unpreparedness of the country, and thus contributed to early enactment of the national defense act of June 1916, which provided the basis for the organization of the United States army in the First World War.
Achievements
Personality
With marked talents as an administrator, Garrison was a man of forceful personality and a spirit of independence that at times did not easily accept compromise.
Connections
On June 3, 1900, Garrison married Margaret Hildeburn of Philadelphia. They had no children.
References
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Born
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Died
January 19, 1932 (aged 67) -
Nationality
American -
Religion
Protestant -
Political Party
Democratic