Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-12
INCREASE IN NAVY
PLEAAT BANQUET
Prominent Democrats Want to
Be Shown Just What
Is Necessary.
DANIELS CITES GLORIES
OF SERVICE HE HEADS
Bryan Would Eliminate Need Of
Battleships- Marshall Shows Diff
fculties of Presidency.

| In the presence of some of the leading
members Of the new administration. Off
GERS of the Navy League of the United
States last night strongly urged big
increase in the navy, and then heard
! prominent democrats declare they are
going TO carry out their platform pledge
of giving an adequate navy, but are wait
| ing to be shown what is needed. The
| league held its annual banquet at the
New Willard last night. with Secretary
| of the Navy Daniels as the guest of
| honor.
Included among the speakers were Vice
President Marshall, Secretary Daniels,
Secretary of State Bryan, Secretary of
Labor Wilson, Representative Fitzgerald.
chairman of the House appropriations
committee: Rear Admiral B. A Fiske
and Representative Alexander, chairman
of the House committee on the merchant
marine Gen. Horace Porter. former am
bassador to France, presided; Col Rob
ert M. Thompson acted as toastma ster,
and the guests included many senators.
members of Congress and prominent navy
officers.
Closes Convention.
The banquet brought to close the
formal session of the Navy League con-
ventiOn. Despite the rain this morning,
a large number of the members went to
the Washington, navy yard to inspect it,
and later left on the Dolphin for trip
to Mount Vernon The resolutions framed
for the convention did not prove salts
factory and will be revised at an in
formal meeting to be held probably late
today.
Secretary Daniels frankly declared at
the banquet last night that he thought
there was too much disposition to criticise
the navy and to talk too little of it's
achievements. Until the people want a
greater navy ii will not be provided. he
said, and he favored the carrying out of
the democrats platform pledge and of
making the navy 1.-The strong right arm
of the republic
The most significant incident of the
banquet came when Representative Fitz-
gerald rose to speak after Col. Thompson
had urged that the purse of the govern
ment be opened and Congress give the
country a larger navy. Mr.. Fitzgerald
answered by declaring that no man was
more patriotic than he. but that he could
not ''be coerced or Influenced in the per-
Torrance of his public duties He ac-
cused advocates of a greater navy and
army of sometimes showing lack of
frankness.
Chinese Republic Greeted.
message of greeting to the new Chi
nese republic was voted at the banquet
and cabled last night. Shortly after
ward Secretary Of State Bryan read the
Declaration of independence sent out
by the new legisla tive assembly. and in
one Of the most eloquent addresses de-
livered since his arrival in Washington
welcomed China into the family of re-
publics. Regarding the navy. he said he
was willing to follow the suggestions of
Secretary Daniels. provided too many
battleships were not recommended, but
that I shall work hard to eliminate the
necessity for battleships.
Vice President Marshall responded to
the toast, 1.-The President of the United
States He suoke of the love and re-
of that high Office. and declared that it
is difficult place to fill because under
'our unfortunate SYSTEM he is the
leader of party and not OF the whole
people, and must fulfill his party's
pledges. He concluded with an eloquent
prayer for the divine blessing for the
present occupant of the White House.
Cites Glories of the Navy.
After declaring that the officers in
Washington are but the servants of the
people of the United States, and must do
their bidding, Secretary Daniels spoke of
the glorious achievements of the Amer
lean navy in the past
IF we can convince the people of the
United States that the navy is theirs. and
that you and l are here their servants
to carry out their wishes and interests in
regard to it, said the Secretary, Il will
feel that my service here has not been
in vain. l do not want the people to
feel that the navy is anchored somewhere
away from them in the far mid-Ocean of
professionalism, but that it is moorei
alongside of the American home and for
its protection. l want them to know
about it, not only it's glories of the past.
but it's present efficiency and its future
possibilities.
Referring to the victories of the navy
in the Spanish war, he said
that many people thought those victories
Shove that this country was not in need
of any larger navy, but that the wise
men took an opposite view.
Plea for Protection.
This preparedness. he added. ''can be
had only by rounding out and completing
the navy and making it large enough to
be the strong right arm of the republic,
and to do the work for which the right
arm is intended. not for punishment, not
for injury to others. but for protection
of ones self and ones country. Let us
have done for once and forever with the
silly Boosting of the STRIPPING that we are
able to lick any nation on earth. Let us
have done with threats, but let us have
done with the understanding of our
strength, the minimizing of our naval
esprit de corps-of that spirit which would
deny that our naval heroes of today are
potentially as famous as the men whose
names are on every tongue.
In conclusion, Secretary Daniels de-
clared that there must be cooperation
between naval experts and the people, il
the latter are to be given correct IN
formation concerning the development of
the navy. People must be invited to
make suggestions and to criticise,' said
he. 1.-The public officer who does not
like suggestions and criticisms has no
business, in the public service, whether
it be the man who puts coal in the
dreadnought or the man in the White
House."
Refers to Merchant Marine.
Secretary Wilson, who spoke i'll place
Of Secretary of Commerce Redfield said