Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-09-18

interests OF The navy assumed an UNI
friendly attitude toward the EXposi-
ton - It's clry stages. They init
mated that our warships were being
used to promote an enterprise With
which the navy ought not to be assO-
clatcd. This suggestion was unjust.
iinwarrantod, unpatriOtic. II was on
~ natural that the officials Of the
Exposition should have resented it,.
although ii is probable that the SER
vice publications did not reflect the
sentiments OF naval officers general
~ II would be ungracious for the
navy To refuse TO cooperate in the
celebration of the most interesting
anniversary in American history This
cooperation has not been withheld.
The navy has done all that was ex-
pected OF It, and Admiral Evans. there
is every reason to believe, has con
tributcd to the lost of his ability to
make the naval features of the E,x-
position II success.
But 1t Is true nevertheless. that in
certain quarters there has been "A sur
prising degree OF hostility To the
jamestown Exposition. Why should
naval publications have objected to
the presence of warships i'll Hampton
Roads? The navy belongs to the pco-
pie of the United States. Ii is main
tanned by the taxpayers. II the crca
ton of Il mighty navy is To be the
policy of this republic. the most ef-
fectivc way TO promote that policy is
To popularizc the nayy-to get the
people into touch with ii. The James
town Exposition afforded the oppor-
tunity for I'm exhibition of the ma.
TONS naval strength, and there IS
good reason for The belief that ma.
tional interest in the navy has been
stimulated ty the imposing naval
demonstration at the Jane stown Eek
position.
The United States Is steadily nd
vancing TO place among the first
naval powers of the world British
experts assign this country second
place among the maritime powers.
Public sentiment apparently ravors
the development of the navy on the
strength, All conditions are favOra-
BILE to the expansion of the navy on
a great scale. II would be fatal
mistake, however. for the naval ser
vice to hold aloof from the people
W uSSulllt dll dllliuuS WHICH WOulu
dctract from its popularity The PEG.
pie ought TO have every opportunity |
to see their warships. and the officers |
of the naval service should give the
people every facility to keep in\touch |
with the service Officers should |
bear in mind always that the people |
are taxed to maintain the navy. and |
that the question OF naval expansion
rests with the taxpayers. The most |
and most practical policy |
which our statesmen and our naval |
officers can pursue is to identify the |
navy with the people. Il
1t is not probable that those naval |
service publications. which adopted an
tone toward the James /
town Exposition reflected the scnti-
ments of the navy 1t is not likely !
that Admiral Evans shared the views
OF those organs of naval opinion. The !
Admiral is gallant, impetnous, and !
perhaps, nj times an irascible sea |
fighter He was nettlcd, no doubt. |
by the publication OF letter which |
the author. an official of the James !
town Exposition Company. did not in
tend to be published. On the other !
hand. the friends of the jamestown
Exposition had abundant reasons to
object to shc hostile publications OF
certain naval organs. Tho American
people do not like to think that their
navy ever adopts an attitude of con-
dcscension in it's relations with the
public. On the contrary. the people
prefer to look upon the navy as their
possession, as something which they
maintain. part OF the nations rs.
sets. In all probability this is Adj
miral Evans view for he is as level
headed man as there is in the ma
val service, even If his Feasibility
does get the better of his discretion
Sun