Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-31
THRONG GOES W|LD|F0R ADEQUATE navy
Rooseves Followers Cheer Taft and Meyer Advocate Two
HIN for Forty.TWo Mnutes. Battleshlps Year.
BEDlAM OF ENTHUSIASM FOR INSURANCE OF PEACE
Cones Speech Since the At Address Men Of the Navy Yard Who
tempt n His Life. Built the New York
VAST HALL Is CROWDED CHEERS GREET THE PRESIDENT
rbounds Turned Awav From Navy Department
Maa,.on Garden
Rights More Large-oaliber Ships
FOR INSURANCE OF PEACE
Address Men Of the Navy Yard Who
Built the New York.
CHEERS GREET THE PRESIDENT
Head Of Navy Department Points
Out to Hearers Duty Of Demanding
More Large aliber Ships.

NEW YORK, october 0l.-TwO battle.
ships yearly as a program necessary to
keep the American navy In adequate con-
dition were urged. by President Taft In
the Thirteenth Regiment armory. in
Brooklyn. last night. addressing hundreds
Of officials and employees Of the Brooklyn
navy yard.
The President and Secretary Meyer were
guests at dinner given by the men of
the navy yard. who built the battleship
New York, which was launched yester-
day.
The President was greeted with several
minutes OF. cheering when he entered the
armory. The noise and confusion were SO
great that he climbed unassisted to a
chair and thence upon the table.
Navy Yard Workers Congratulated
lyn navy yard In making and launching
this great battleship. which is to add 80
much to the prestige and prowess of our
country" the President said. II congrat-
ulate you on the beauty Of the launching.
Nothing occurred today that interfered
with the good luck which will follow that
ship through all her life.
I'VE all hope the New York will never
be used in war. Her use to the country
tions of the world will see that we are
ready to defend ourselves If the occasion
should arise.
Il believe public opinion in this country
warrants those in authority in Washing
ton to continue the policy of building two
most formidable battleships every year,
as this is necessary to keep our navy in
adequate condition"
Secretary Meyer also urged greater
navy.
Duty of Laboring Man.
Secretary Meyer. after he had review
| ed the building of war vessels under gov
ernment supervision. urged that 1t was
| the duty of American labordng raen to
| insist upon an adequate navy. He de-
] clared that employees should realize that
| when forces were decreased in the gov
| eminent yards the fault was not with
| the Secretary OF the Navy, but with the
body that holds the strings OF the public
| purse
AS Americans, even before workmen,
| he said 1T is your duty to insist with
your congressman upon an adequate
| Maya navy for the prevention Of war
and the maintenance OF an honorable
peace. but, above all. an adequate navy.
I'VE want. you and I. q fleet Of forty
one battleships-twenty-on In an active
fleet and twenty In reserve-and OF these
we want twenty-ore New Yorks or better
caliber ships rests the defense Of the
| country Given an adequate navy, the
prosperity of the navy yards follows as
sure as dawn follows darkness. You,
then. as Americans. have duty and L
have pointed the way. Do your utmost,
that never again shall We have to discuss
the question of battleships and be con-
fronted with the positive danger of secur-
ing only one for year.
Part Of National Defense.
Consider that you. too, are an essen
tial part of the national defense. With
every rivet you fasten you are defending
the flag, and upon your doing your work
we'll may depend the safety OF the ship
that carries your nag. II you do your
work well you have done your share In
| the national defense as well as he who
| must fire your guns and nsht your Dat
"The American 1aborer is the most hon.
| ored man in the world: we have proved
| in this great land OF ours over and over
| again throughout our history that aaoor
| conuuers all things. We honor labor as
does no other country on earth we want
| the navy yard laborer to be the most
honored among American workmen Let
patriotism and loyalty De your Mancn
words. / appeal to you, master workmen,
keep alive in your men that esprit de
corps without which no cause can sue
coed Make the teamwork which mas
brought our nghtlng SHIPS 10 their present
state of efficiency also your guide.
Taft for Efficient Navy.
"Some days ago there were assembled
in the North river battleships. cruisers.
destroyers. submarines and auxiliaries.
the very flower of our feet, gathered to-
eether in review before the commander
| in-chief of the army and navy, the Presi-
dent of the United States. who during his
| term of Office has stood firmly for an en-
| Gent navy and a building program OF not
| less than two battleships a year.
| II will not indulge in comparative 1g-
ures or tabulated data, but. individually
| and collectively. the vessels OF this Meet
and the one then modified at Manila, to-
| gether with such other vessels as were at
sea following their lawful vocation, were
in a state of readiness never before ex-