Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-02-23
HONOR FOR FEDERAL UNIFORM
Naval League Would Increase Re-
apect for SoIdiern and SniInrn

Naval League Would Increase Re-
spect for Soldiers and Sailors.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 22.-Respect for the
uniforms of the army and navy in all pub
lie places formed the principal topic of
discussion at the opening session of the
Navy League of the United States, which
met today in second annual convention. Its
membership numbers about 5000. General
Horace Porter, former ambassador to
France, presided. About $50 delegates were
in attendance. The convention unanimously
voted recommendation that the govern
ing board place the league on record as IA
voring the settlement of all international
disputes by arbitration. A resolution was
adopted calling upon the secretary of the
navy to consider in the plans OF the vessels
to be built the desirability of including
some space where enlisted men may read
undisturbed and that some such space be
assigned on ships already in commission.
The following resolution was adopted:
Resolved, That the Navy League OF the
United States is in favor Of the passage of
law by congress which will enforce re-
spect for the uniform of petty officers and
enlisted men OF the army, navy and marine
corps at every time and place, and also the
passage of laws by legislatures of the vari-
GUS states making IL a misdemeanor for
any keeper OF public house. restaurant
theater or other place OF entertainment or
amusement to discriminate against citizens
wearing such uniform.
In the afternoon the delegates were te-
ceived by the president, who addressed
them as follows:
l take a peculiar pleasure in greeting
you here, because IL Is eminently true in
democracy that what is everyone's bust
ness is apt to be no ones business, and
you are here on everybody's business
There Is plenty of pressure of local in
terests Tor public buildings, plenty CT
pressure Tor local improvements In the
rivers and harbors biil,, but there is no
special interest that is seeking to bring
pressure TO bear as II ought to be brought
70 Dear Tor matters OF great national con-
cern-pre-eminently the navy Persons
engaged in the hurly-burly of active poll
| teal life most naturally tend 10 INV
| special heed to the requests that are in
! sistent; and IL behooVes our people Il
| encourage patriotic societies like this
which shall be insistent upon the needs
or America as whole. The president and
congress both need to be reminded that
| II Is necessary for the sake of America
| tenance Of the United States navy. / am
| happy TO say that whereas last year we
| failed to get a battleship, this year we
l nave two. We have made good the loss
| we met last year. Now, I want all OF
| you in your respective homes, through the
| organs or public opinion, by your influence
upon your representatives In every branch
J az Washington TO see that the needs OF
| the navy are not forgotten in the future.
| The navy has no one to speak for IL save
] those who speak for Il because of their
| devotion to the honor and the interest Of
| the United States; and 1 ask that you and
| those like you make your voices heard
for the general welfare amid the din OF
voices that speak only for special in
| terestB.