The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-23

quet started off with champagne, perhaps.
but anyhow. the dinner was an excellent
one, and at its conclusion, in happy
speech, Gen. Horace Porter started the
toasts. He Is also president OF the Navy
League. His speech dwelt happily on
seafaring topics at first. He was sure
that most Of the guests present had
formed the sea habit and were glad 10
have sailed into such a pleasant port
He hoped that ali the guests would ieel
that they We're In eyeTybody's mess and
in nobOdy's watch and he was sure mat
nobody on the pinnacle list would be de-
prived Of his grog He referred feelingly
to the fact that IL was the birthday OF
Washington-'the best of true men, ne
fore whose reputation all others SINK
into insignifcance. Speaking OF the
navy he declared that the navy of the
United States was the most important
and commanding element in maintaining
the peace Of the world. Said he Battle
ships are less costly than battles latse
navy may be dangerous when commanded
by despOuc mOnarchs, but never when II
is but the weapon Of the sovereign people
OF the United States"
He spoke OF President Roosevelt and his
works toward peace, his work I'm South
American republics, and his efforts which
resulted so successfully In the Russo
japanese war, which he referred TO as
"the Rough Rider making smooth the
paths of peace. lie said that If We mad
had navy in 1872 we should have had
no war. He told of how we had to
knuckle down to the Barbary pirates
until We got some ships together. and he
G.F1r Of
10 the recent disaster at San Francisco,
and concluded with the words, Peace
hath her victories no less renowned than
war"
Rear Admiral Barker.
Rear Admiral A. 5. Barker spoke along
the same lines. He declared that war
was 20 be deprecated. but that until all
nations got TO living by the Golden Rule,
DO unto others as you would they should
do unto YOU, navies were necessary, and
if they were necessary, it was imperative
that the United States should have one
OF the best IN the world.
Col. Robert NJ. Thompson said that he
felt very deeply on the subject Of the
needs Of the navy; if We are 10 have
navy at all we must have a navy strong
enough, efficient enough. TO command the
respect Of the world He thought il was
taken for granted that Congress would
see what was needed and would do it,
and he urged friends Of the Navy League
70 get together and get their friends to-
gether and see that influence was brought
10 bear on Congress. He said. so soon
as Congress knows your wishes they will
supply the needs He spoke OF the
condition OF the navy at the outbreak OF
the civil war. There was period OF
expansion then. he said. but after The war
there ensued period Of stagnaton.
Speaking more particularly of the navy
personnel he declared that az the close
OF the civil war be saw that under ex-
listing regulations il would be twenty-five
years before lieutenant cOulds hope to
rise 10 the rank of "a lieutenant c0mman-
der. and so he had resigned He said
that rs ii was al present no one could
hope 90 be in real command until he was
en old man, and what the navy needed
was men OF younger age competent u
command not only ships. bat fleets.
which are the units in these days
Young Men for Fleets.
IL said that no man of dfty-hve ought
20 be called on to command fleet. He
spoke of the value of training. as exem-
plihed in the Russ1-Japanese war. and
declared that competent men could not
be trained M the hour of the country's
need. Turning 20 Representative Foss.
who sat near him, he said. Gentlemen
of the House, you will be recreant go your
duty, you viii be traitorous 70 your coun-
try. If you do not realize your country's
need and prepare for it, He limited az
the recent troubles with Japan. and said
that If out of those conditions war had
come the country would have been dis
graced and would have met with disaster.
He ended with "the day Will come when
you VIII BE- bitterly ashamed Of yourselves
If YOU don't take care Of the navy
The next speaker was Hon. @. f. F0ss.
Of Illinois. chairman Of the House Naval
Committee. who said that Congress had
already done a great deal for the navy
and was willing 10 do al that was nee
essary. but that when il was proposed 10
spend 0)5 annually on the navy
there were "a great number Of people who
thought the money might be more wisely
expended on internal improvements. As
10 the naval personnel question. he thought
that might safely be left over 20 the next
Congress. There were o number Of naval
men now at sea vino ought 10 be heard
on the subject before any such far-reach-
ing Bill was passed. Still he thought
that the expenditure ot 500 100000 a year
for the navy, which was about one-teuth
of ! per cent Of our national wealth. was
the cheapest and best insurance the
United States could buy.
Justice Harlan for Peace.
AR Tfys4foa Harlan Of the Tinted states
Supreme Court, said that he W all for
peace. but an honorable peace. He did
not think that nations could rely on
friendship as friendship was understood
between man and man. The United
States must look out for its own interest,
] and 50 far, he thought. from having