The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-05
Courtesy COOPERATIVE Press
Secretary Of the Navy Josephus Daniels.

The consumption Of wines and beers in
the fleet is very small indeed, even in |
these recent months when there have |
been deliberate efforts to drink up re-
naming stocks before JulyI. Navigating |
officers and others charged with RESPONSE |
bility at sea almost invariably abstain |
from drinking anything at all during such |
periods.
But now the enlisted men have been hit
by the Secretary in what they regard as
the sacred realm of their personal tastes
and preferences. This is in regard to
/ canteen stores. Every ship operates a
store for the benefit of tho men in which
they buy tobacco. candy and all the odds
and ends which they need or like. The
prices are kept down to minimum and
the profits turned into the welfare funds.
out Of which the expenses OF moving
picture entertainments. athletic equip
ment and monographs and player-pianos
are paid.
Mr.. Daniels. according to report.
reached the conclusion that the trusts"
were enjoying a monopoly in supplying
certain articles to these canteens. pur-
chases for which are all made by the
| Navy Department. This was in regard
to certain branded or so-called pro-
prietary articles. such as tobaocos, tooth
pastes. candies. DO, He ordered that the
purchase of these brands cease and that
instead the goods be bought according
to the lowest bids meeting certain specif-
cations.
Now tho bluejacket's invariable de-
mand for IA certain brand OF tobacco
does not rest upon his careful study
OF that tobacco and its measurement
with certain specifications, He buys
1t because it IA the kind he always has
bought. because he likes it and because
he wants it. The doctrine OF 81 have
something else just as good" makes
no hit with him; he doesn't know why.
but he wants his favorite brand because
ho wants it. Consequently the upheaval
in the canteen goods and the substitu-
ton of goods that he never heard OF for
the brands that the navy has depended
upon for n generation have resulted
in Il decided curtailment Of the canteen
receipts and a murmur Of discomfort
: among the bluejackets.
, They fail to see why they can't spend
! their own hard earned nickels and dimes
: for the little articles that they want.
, IL Is to be doubted IL the trusts" hos
: tility to which tho feet has been given
to understand is the cause OF the new
D order. have been put out OF business
40 that nothing has been achieved except
TO arouse discomfort among both the
: makers OF the favorite articles and the
t navy Consumers Of those articles.
r The officers feel that they have many
r grievances against the present Secretary
Y of the Navy. But not a word of criticism
= OF the Administration will ever be heard
in public from any officer. 1t ia impossi-
y BILE. however. to associate with naval
Z officers and not sense their likes and dis
: likes, their prejudices and inclinations.
3 And certainly since Mr.. Daniels became
n Secretary a state OF affairs such as never
o before existed in the navy has been
t brought about which IL deserving Of the
d knowledge and the attention Of all Ameri-
o cans interested in the navy.
t Mr.. Daniels has been doing everything
It he can think of to win the favor OF the
Il bluejacket. or. better. to improve the lot
Il of the enlisted man. He has gone far. and
n undoubtedly would have gone much
( further If left to his own devices. and in
u executing these policies he has hit the
o commissioned officer many blow, Yet
/. here is the strange fact which ought to
It AFFORD some food for thought:
y While the officers are publicly silent
q az to their personal views OF the new
policies, obeying every order to the ut
n most in letter and spirit. a moving picture
a scene showing Secretary Daniels at work
# at his desk in Washington WAS Missed by
Il bueiackets on board one of the battle
q ships at Vera Cruz. The demonstration
Il was promptly stopped by an officer who
n announced that there would 10 no more
= such outbursts or moving picture shows
o would cone " an abrupt end on that
!. ship.