Daily Kennebec journal., 1904-08-16
PLENTY OF SPONSORS.
Willing to christen the Gunboat Du.
buque, Today.

Washington, Aug. 15.-Mayor Berg
''of Dubuque, Iowa, made a perplexing
mistake when he informed the Navy
Department few days ago that there
was no lady in Dubuque willing to un-
dertake the trip to New York to chris
ten the gunboat Dubuque, which is to
be launched at the shipyard of the Gas
Engine and Power Co, Morris Heights,
n. T., Monday. at 1890 o'clock. Since
then it has developed that there are
any number OF ladies in Dubuque and
elsewhere willing and anxious for the
honor of acting as sponsor Of the new
warship. In fact, there is an embar-
rassment of riches in this matter and
the department is perplexed as to the
proper course of action.
On receiving thl original letter from
Mayor Berg, the TRACTORS were noti.
fled and asked to supply the deficiency.
Owing to the fact that the launch IL
fixed for an early date there was very
little time to spare. Yesterday, Secre-
tary Morton received a telegram from
Mayor Berg saying he had selected
Miss Margaret Treadway, daughter OF
the president of the Dubuque Club, as
sponsor for the vessel This was salts
factory to the navy department and
was supposed to settle the matter.
That it did not is shown by letter re-
ceived, this morning. by Secretary Nor
ton from Clayton Mayo, secretary and
treasurer of the Gas Engine and Power
Co., contractors for the Dubuque an
nouncing that Miss Annette Hull,
daughter of Representative j. A. T.
Hull of Des Muines, Iowa, had been se-
lected as sponsor for the vessel Mr.
Mayo said that Immediately on receipt
OF word from the navy department OF
Mayor Berg's failure to nominate, the
ofhcers OF the company telephoned ex-
Speaker D. b. Henderson of Iowa, ask
ing IL his daughter would not act an
sponsor for the Dubuque but they were
Informed htat the young lady is In bad
health and could not serve. The sug-
gestion was made, however, that the
communicate with Repre-.
Hull, who Is in New York
with his family. That was done ana
Miss Hull accepted the invitation. In
extending the invitation to Mr.. Hull.
the company said that they would "ap-
preciate it very much if your daughter
would do us the honor and we are sure
the navy department will heartily in
dorse our choice"
CONSERVATION followed the receipt OF
TINS letter, and the officials were in a
dllemina as to what should be done. IL
was finally concluded to telegraph the
contractors that Mayor Berg had al
ready selected a sponsor for the Du-
pl1ue and that as Miss Treadway Is q
resident of Dubuque it was regarded as
httlnS that she should serve as spop-
sor, especially as Miss Hull is n resi-.
deht OF Des Moines. In accordance with
the practice of the department the de-
termination of questions of this kind
rests with the contractors and. while
they are usually governed by the
wishes of the navy department. II ;s
not known what will be done in Tho
present complicated case, which is nm
pieceoehted In the history of the navy.
Meanwhile other names have been
presented to the department for consid-
Grafton in the selection of the Du-
puques sponsor Miss Jessie Nav
elch, who describes herself as
nurse at the Presbyterian hospital
New York City. said she would like to
De the lucky girl to christcn the new
sunboat. Another letter was received
rom lady in Philadelphia. suggesting
he selection of one OF her two daugh-
ers, Myra and Edna Wybraat Smith
o christen the warship She cxcla:ned
hat the young ladies were born in I'm
aud that -;
n old resident of that CITY.