The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-11
CITY NEWS
CAPT. HOBSON WILL COME
The Acceptance Of His Resignation
Assures His Presence Here
Next Week.

The Minneapolis public has a very di-
rect interest in the fact that since last
Saturday Captain Richmond Pearson Hob
son has ceased TO be an officer of the
American navy. The acceptance of the
captains resignation makes it certain that
he will be able to deliver here next
Wednesday, evening. in the New Century
course his lecture on THE Navy and the
Nation.
When Captain Hobson made the eneae e-
ment for this lecture he had reason to
believe that he would be retired by act
OF congress. measure to that effect hav-
ing been Endorsed a year ago by, Presi--
I dent Roosevelt. But congress failed to
pass the bin and the navy department
revoked the captain leave and ordered
him to report for duty Had he stayed
in the navy he would, of COURSE have
been compelled to cancel his Minneapolis
engagement.
Why Captain Hobson has been forced
to leave the service he loved SO well is
told by himself in an interview in the
New York World.
u worked hard during the siege of San
tiago," said the captain and my consti
tuition began to break down after 1 was
released from prison. But l worked all
summer and into the fall experimenting
! the raising of the Maria Theresa. 1t was
not pleasant work in the tropics, and the
| fierce glare of the sun the sea affected
my eyes. From Cuba 1 was sent by the
| construction bureau of the navy depart
ment to Kowloon dock. near Hongkong.
There my eyes grew worse. From kOw
| loon dock l was sent to take charge of the
work of naval construction at Cavite in
the Philippines. There my eye trouble
became acute and I was ordered home.
! After reaching the United States I had
typhoid fever. l was examined by a board
| Of retirement and asked if my eyesight
was totally gone. 1t said it was not, and
was told that unless 1 was completely
! incapa citated, my application could not
| be passed upon favOrably. ! explained
| that if 1 continued to work I should, GER
tainly go blind. My only course was to
Is get special act of. congress. My request
was approved by the construction bureau,
the secretary Of the navy and President
| Roosevelt, but in the house committee the
bill met with an unfavorable reception.
"This is where politics begins to come
in. In the eighteen years I have been in
| the navy my actions have been dictated
solely by my desire to advance the serv-
ice. Il have never done an act that was
dictated by any political influence. When
the bill to retire was about to come
before the house committee, / went to
Representative Bankhead Of the sixth
Alabama district, in which I reside, and
asked him to aid me-. To my surprise
he refused point blank, and caused his
secretary to send and have printed state
ments. the gist of which was that was
anxious to retire on a pension, and thus
lhave leisure to go into politics and seek
office on what reputation I might have
gained in the service Of my country
| Though out of the navy, Captain Hob
sons heart is in the navys growth, and
he enthusiastically urges the rapid build
| ing of a much larger fleet. His views
will be set forth in his lecture at Plymouth
| church