The Oskaloosa herald., 1913-04-17
MORE EFFICIENT
NAVY IS DEMANDED
Members Of League Urge Con-
gress to Act.
SECRETARY DANIELS SPEAKS
Declares That General Board May
Suggest Better Fighting Power,
! But Real Propassnds Must
Come From the People.

Washington, April H. - Stirring
speeches and unbounded enthusiasm
for a bigger, better and more efficient
navy marked the eighth annual dinner
Of the Navy league at the New viii
lard. ~ n.y. - .'|t a.I
The members OF the league, which
has done magnificent work for a new
navy, had been given food for solid
thought by the address OF Captain
Hood Thursday evening. an address
which gave many strong arguments
for the need of doing something for
the navy besides talking about it.
Many Notables Present. l..
Secretary Daniels, the guest of hon
or, who has just taken charge Of the
navy department; his assistant. Frank.
lin ID. Roosevelt, who is already big
prominent men we're guests of honor,
all contributing to the occasion their
reasons why congress should provide
the country with adequate defenses.
The dinner was one Of the most bril-
liant that has been held at the Willard.
1t concluded three days meeting of
the league. at which great deal has
been accomplished in impressing the
new congress with the necessity OF
safeguarding the nations coast lines
and guarding the Panama canal soon
to be opened. ,.
General Horace Porter, president Of
the league, presided at the dinner. Col.
Robert NJ. Thompson acted as toast.
master and introduced Secretary Dan
iels and the other distinguished
guests, .g's.
Daniels Makes Formal Speech.
= Secretary Daniels had the only for
NAL speech. He intimated that he was
not familiar with the duties of the Of
flee he has so lately taken, but said
that he felt it his duty to listen, to
learn and to act. Here are some ex-
tracts from his address:
If we can convince the people of
the United States that the navy Is
theirs and that you and ! are here to
carry out their wishes and interests
In regard TO it, I shall feel that my
service here has not been in vain.
want them to know about it, not only
its glories in the past, but its present
efficiency, and future possibilities.
Every great thing must come from
the outside, as, for instance, came the
Constitution OF the United States, the
abolition of slavery. prohibition in the
south, the Spanish-American war,
which Mckinley periodically tried in
vain TO avert after the thunder of the
exploding Maine had been dinned into
the ears of the people.
People Must Decide.
THE greater navy must come this
way. The secretary may suggest and
the general board outline the policy.
but the real propaganda must come
from the people-from the men OF
Iowa, of Vermont. of Tennessee and
Connecticut. When they plead for a.
larger navy we will have it and not till
then. ..
If we get larger navy the people
must realize that we need it. ..,
The man who is confident and self
reliant is apt to put up a strong fight,
If he has to fight and make good his
boast, and | am not sure that the
spirit OF selfreliance and confidence is
not a much better attitude for Ameri-
ca than an attitude in which we are
endangering ourselves now in the eyes
of the world of Understanding and
minimizing our strength and incorrect.
ty advertising ourselves. as weak.
IinpS"