The Washington times., 1912-02-24
LEAGUE DELEGATES
GO TO ANNAPOLIS
TO SEE ACADEMY
Convention Delegates Will
See Athletic Events and
t.. Attend Reception.

Delegates to the Navy League Con-
vention went 10 Annapolis this morn
ing to see navy officers in the making.
Leaving the intersection of New York
avenue and Fifteenth street in special
cars at 9:15 O'Clock, the delegates
started for an all-day trip. They will
return as they please, folio wing a re-
ception at p. N. by Capt. ]. II. Glib
bons, superintendent of the Academy
at his residence.
This morning the delegates were met
on arrival by officers of the Academy,
and then were conducted in groups
through the grounds and various build
lnSs' and were shown the midshipmon
at work in practical exercise, including
marine engineering and seanianship.
some OF the visitors inspected two his
toric American ships, Farragut's flag
ship, the Hartford, and Admiral Dewev's
Bhip. the Olympia.
In the afternoon the delegates will at
TEND gymnasium meet between Acud-
Sny lnIt Students and a team from the
VIII watch wrestling match between
contestants representing the Academy
and Cornell University. The Gibbons
reception will follow this.
Wants Larger Navy.
Plea for larger navy made by Presi-
dent Taft yesterday afternoon at the
meeting at Continental Hall was vigor-
,ously applauded by the delegates who
mad passed a resolution to the same
effect few hours previous.
President Taft followed Admiral
wainwright, who in turn had been pre-
c:eded by General Horace Porter, presi-
dent Of the Navy League.
The President declared in favor oF
two new battleships a year, saying:
We have built the Panama canal.
= We have built it for two reasons: In
order that we may make it an avenue
of commerce for the world, and in order
that the east and west coasts of our
country may be near together and thai
We may make one navy serve them
both.
so at present, If we are to follow
the logic of the situation, we ought to
We Two navies, for the completion of
the canal will double the efficiency of
the one we have. When the canal is
finally constructed so that we can see
the navy go through without trouble,
then, we will confer with those gentle
men who are in favor of economy in the
navy and see how far we can dispense
with the present expenditures to sus-
tain our power, but for the present we
ought to keep up our construction, be-
cause battleships get out of style-not
quite so fast as automobiles, but still
they do pass away and become ancient
in decade or so; a. least a decade
and one-half-and in order to keep up
with other nations l do not think an
allowance of two new battleships a
year is any too great.
Ready to Sign Bill.
Il am partly responsible for the eX-
penditures of our Government, and I
am entirely willing to meet that re-
sponsibility by signing A til for two
more battlesnips."
Tw4. Ne n krN
TO inconsistenCe in advocating larger
navy at peace meeting. AS long as
war does occur, said the President. We
must be prepared for it. and at all
events the surest way to obtain peace
is to be able to demand it with power
back OF the demand
General Porter had said somewhat the
same thing. Our diplomats must not
be ir a position to conmand it."
Admiral Wainwright told the dele
gates that their efforts ought to be un-
tiring in behalf of n larger navy.
the Navy League to convince them
selves and then convince their friends,
that the United States really requires a
powerful and efficient fleet every ready
to enforte and preserve the peace"
Women and Suffrage.
Admiral Wainwright referred to the
presence of women at the meeting and
said that the navy needed and appre-
ciated their influence.
MANY women now have votes and
more will have the ballot in the neal
future. But every woman can influence
more than one vote. Impress upon
father, brother, son and lover, the duty
to vote for a strong fleet as an in
Surance against war.
II believe there is no better work for
q patriotic body of citizens to engage
In than to work for the fleet, and l am
sure that the Navy League can and
Will become strong body well equipped
nation"