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4 my humble circumstances. The last kick I will make in the matter, if the plan of militarism shall be followed, will be
a kick against militarism. It may not amount to much, but I know the California audience pretty well, and don't doubt that
I can destroy much of the favor which I have helped to build up in support of the Nat'l Park scheme. The weak points in that
scheme are well known to me, and if it is to be made a tool of a combined ring of stablemen and lieutenants I will attack
it as willingly as the old Yosemite institution. I don't doubt that you recognize the objections to the soldier business,
but I think it right to recall some of them as explanation of the course that I am now desposed to take - which is in fact
not different from that which we both have followed heretofore. I take it for granted that you and Mr. Ward (whom I know very
well by name, but do not remember to have met) informed the Secretary that your recommendation of me was not of my soliciation.
Otherwise, if it should come to his knowledge that I opposed the military idea, he might think that the opposition grew out
of personal disappointment or some other vanity of that sort. Yours Very Truly Geo. G. Mackenzie I think that the taking
the halves? of Townships 5 into the Park is a mistake. The land around the Grove is all, or nearly all, owned by private persons.
Merely calling it a Park wouldn't amount to anything except to make some owners object. But I will not for the present be
that against the bill.