Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1913-06-07
SURPRISED TO FIND
NO SILVER SERVICE
In Fleet Review on Hudson "Arkan-
sas' Enjoyed inevitable
Distinction.


yesterday addressed to the Battleship
Arkansas Silver Service Commission
The author is not known, but from
the postmark and the familiarity with
naval affairs there is every reason to
believe it was written by naval Of
ficer-possibly attached to the Arkan-
sas.
That part of IL That teiis of 5000
people visiting the Arkansas during
the fleet review and asking for the
silver service, CONSPICUOUS by it's alb
sence, as it was the only ship in the
fleet not provided with one, is espec-
cially worthy of notice. The letter
follows:
The Letter.
"Why should l contribute to the
purchase of silver service?
In the ordinary routine of Ameri-
can life the average citizen is so en-
possed in the pursuit of dollars that
he loses sight of great many things
that go to make his life worth living.
His horizon, which should compass
his whole country, gradually closes in
upon him until it is with a great deal
of difficulty that he sees scyonl the
confines of his office or Of his hcme.
ut is true that he appreciates the
fact that there are things which affect
him beyond his horizon. There is the
national government with its arious
branches .sthe army and navy, the rev.
enue cutter service, the Agricultural
Department, etc. Our average citi-
zen, and particularly is this the case
with the one who is situated remote
from the sea coast, let us say, in Ar
Kansas looks upon these institutions
as necessary, in all probability, but
figures that they are running along
fairly we'll so why bother ones self
with them?
"And then he almost forgets that
there is such a thing, say. as navy,
when he is unexpectedly confronted
with a request to subscribe for a sill
yer service for the battleship named
after his state.
Immediately the question con
fronts him, Why should | contribute
for such thing? Why indeed? What
have / to do with battleships who
have never seen one? He has ever
forgotten that his is a free country
and that he, as citizen, has an abso
lutely equal say with all the others
that the battleship is part of hi:
own. and that when it sails abroad
upon a peaceful mission. it is his OWL
representative and that in time o
war. when the enemy is headed TO
his shore, or attempts to harm hi
for action and stands guard to keel
the peace.
Why Vessels Are Named for States
I'm order to- increase the popular
ity of the navy an dto meet the Gle
mands of representatives in Congress
twas decided to call the battleship
of the navy after the various states
There is no doubt that this tended t
quicken the interest of the people o
the states and to develop specia
regard for their own ship in the cit
liens of the state after which II wa
named. To show their appreciatio
of the honor thus conferred upo
them it became customary for tn
states to present gift, usually i'll tn
form of a silver service. TO thei
namesal1%.
.The gifts are received on boar
with appropriate ceremony and az
placed, we'll guarded, in conspicu
GUS place The idea that some have
that the silver service is used con
stantly by the captain and officers 0
ship is most erroneous, the servic