Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-04-20
TO CHRISTEN NEW MAINE
SELECTION OF SPONSOR RESTS WITH
THE GOVERNOR.
Course Usually Followed With Big
Warships-Names of Ladies' Sug-
gcsted for the Honor.

Secretary Long said today that the selec-
| tion of a lady to christen the battle ship
Maine will devolve upon the governor OF
Maine, in accordance with the custom In
such matters. Battle ships are named af-
ter states, and the practice has grown up
of having the governors of the states so
honored select the lady to perform the
simple but distinguished service of chris
tening the vessel as she starts down the
ways to take her first dip into her native
element. This course was followed in the
case of the Indiana, Oregon, Massachu-
sets and other battle ships now in COM
mission, and has been adopted in the case
of the battle ship Ohio to be launched at
San Francisco early next month in the
presence of the President and his cabinet.
A Matter of Courtesy.
AS a matter of fact the Navy Depart
ment really has no authority in the matter,
as it's control over a vessel built by con-
tract does not begin until the vessel has
been completed and turned over to the
representatives of the government. All
questions relating to the launching in
Guiding the important incident of chris
tening, are under the control Of the con-
tractors. The contractors usually confer
with the Navy Department officials in
regard to the christening, and invaria bly,
sonality of the sponsor. This is done, how
ever as mere courtesy and without any
claim of right on the part of the Navy
Department, and applies more particularly
to the smaller warships such as are named
after persons who have been distinguished
in the naval history of the country. In
those cases a near relative or descendant
of the namesake is usually selected to
break the traditional bottle of champagne
on the prov of the ship. The case is diff
ferent, however with battle ships. In such
cases the arrangements are concluded by
the contractors and the governor of the
state after which the ship is named, and
the Navy Department usually has no voice
whatever in the matter.
Launching of the Maine
1t has been arranged that the Maine,
which is building at Cramps ship yard,
Philadelphia, shall be launched on Memoir
ial day, May 80, next. So far no one has
yet been selected to perform the act of
christening. The governor of Maine will
be notified, however, of the date of launch
ing, and that the selection of a sponsor
has been left to him. Although the
chances are that he will select some rep
resentative lady of Maine. it is possible
outside. Many suggestions have been
made to the Navy Department on this sub
ject, and the correspondents will be in
formed of the facts in the case. Among
the ladies suggested for the christening
are the daughter of Captain Sigsbee who
commanded the original Maine when she
was destroyed in Havana harbor: the
daughter Of Lieut.. Blundin who was Off
Ger Of the deck IN that occasion, and ladies
of the families of other officers who were
attached to the Inflated vessel including
some of those who lost their lives In the
explosion. More than ordinary attention
Is being paid to this matter, and the action
of the governor of Maine is awaited with
general interest.