New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-03
NAVY CAN'T HUSH
MAYFLOWER AFFAIR
Paymaster Little Asked to
Quit and Lieut.. Douglas
Transferred.
GAY PARTIES ON
PRESIDENTS YACHT
Secretary Dan;els's Temperance
Order Followed Discovery
Of Scandal.

The earnest desire Of President
Woodrow Wilson and extraordinary
efforts on the part Of Secretary of the
Navy Josephus Daniels. backed as they
have been 10y tactics which naval Off
GERS characterize as almost without
precedent" have proved unaNaIlinG to
protect the secret behind the enforced
rcsignation Of Passed Assistant Pay
master Edward G. Little. attached 10
the Presidents yacht, the Mayllower,
and member Of one Of Maryland :
Oldest and most exclusive families, ana
the sudden transfer Of Lieutenant
Archibald c. Douglas, junior grade
from the MayfoUcr 90 the Asiatic sta
tion. Secretary Daniels caused it to be
announced that Mr.. Little had resigned
to enter business life. but an cXamina-
ton Of Navy Department records shows
that the paymastcr's resignation was
officially accepted for the good Of the
service"
Following the development OF ms
scandal Secretary Daniels promulgated
his grape juice policy for the navy
and issued his order for the abolition
Of wine mcsscs. both on shore and
ahoat. an order which. incidentally and
perhaps combined with other acts, has
made Mr. Daniels the most unpopular
Secretary the navy has yet had. so FAR
as the line officers are concerned II is
recalled that the Secretary, in cXplana-
ton Of his order. told correspondents
that a young officer who had been
forced to leave the service had said to
him that he had learned to drink on
board United States ships.
Repeated Under Secrecy Pledge.
The story has furnished Washington
society and the inner navy circles with
the hveliest sensation in many years.
Even now il is known only 10 few,
for naval officers themselves who have
heard il dare not discuss it freely even
among themselves, fearing the wrath
Of the Secretary should ii ever be
traced back TO them. But an officer on
duty at Washington, on a visit to this
city. told the story in confidence to
several intimate friends al small din
nor at a cabaret restaurant. Some Of
these passed it along. also under the
pledge Of secrecy, to few Of the Off
GERS on duty at the New York Navy
Yard.
Both Little and Douglas were popu-
lar in Washington society. They had
the entrte to the most exclusive houses.
No dance, tea. reception or entertain
ment given by or TO the younger set
was considered complete without them.
Both have been White House guests
and the guests Of Secretary Daniels.
Both men are young and handsome
and have means independent of their
salaries. They have entertained Law
ishly on the MayhoWer, and among
their guests have been distinguished
people in Washington. They were
frequent guests at weekend house
parties.
Mayflowers Officers Carefully Chosen.
The May1ower is the Presidents s
personal yacht. Her officers are line
officers of the navy. and they are gen
orally the personal selections of the
President himself and his Secretary Of
the Navy. Necessary qualifications
for an officer for duty on the Maynower
are good looks, money i'm reasonable
quantities, good birth and social
graces.
Among the officers selected for tn =
MaynOWer under the administration
was Ensign Douglas. Mr.. Little had
already been on duty on her for three
years. Douglas and Little, who had
seen service before on the same ship,
became fast friends.
During the latter part OF last year
there had been rumors from time to
time that happenings were soing on on
the Presidents yacht which would open
the eyes of advocates Of grape juice
and would shock men by no means
prudish.
These rumOrs were not believed
Douglas and his automobile were seen
as often as ever on PennsylV ania av,
at Chevy Chase and wherever the So
cially elect gathered. So was Little
At the Army Navy Club ranking offi-
GERS, if they mentioned the rumors at
all, carefully explained that 1T was
understood" they originated from en-
listed men on the Mayfower, and less
attention than ever was paid to them.
Later, however, it was reported that
an enlisted man had carried grave
charges against the officers of the
Presidents yacht to the Secretary of
the Navy. II was whispered about at
the Army Navy club, in Washington.
that the Presidents yacht had been
used for gay parties in the late hours
Of the night and the early morning
hours. parties at which women were
present and champagne corks popped.
But the officers who were supposed TO
have been sent for by Secretary Daniels
positively denied that they had seen
him on any such matter.