The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-10
Delegation Carries Bat
tie Before Naval At
fairs Committee.
REFUTES CLAIMS
OF PHILADELPHIA
Secretary of Navy Is Defended
Against Charge That He Favors
Virginia City Because 1t Is
Close to His Native North
Carolina - Holland
Makes Address.
Especial to The Times-D,spatcb. !

Especial TO The Times -Dispetch.1
Washington, u. C., February s.-De-
Tending Secretary of the Navy JOS
ophus Daniels and the general board
of the navy from the charge of Sec
tionalism made against them because
they strongly favor the establishment
or the proposed S3.0oo,00O government
dry dock at Norfolk, rs n part of the
plan to establish a giant naval base
about Chesapeake Bay, and advancing
strong arguments in favor of its To-
cation there, Representative HOLLAND
to-day nlade a vigorous appeal to the
House Naval Affairs Committee.
The contest for the dry dock ap-
parcntly has sirnnercd down TO PhiIa-
uelphia ana Norfolk. and glance at
the large delegation which was on
hand from Norfolk, was ample evil
dence to the committee that the Vir-
ginlans arc In earnest regarding their
claim.
Zig Delegation Present.
IN the Norfolls delegation. besides
Representative Holland, were Mayor
Window i. Mayo, cx-Mayor Barton
Myers. Messrs. Roystcr, Barbec. Dod-
sor. Dickerson, Alvah Martin, Sebrill
ana Mccolsan, representing the Cham
Der OF Commerce, and Messrs. Sharp,
webb and Griffith. representing tho
Board of Trade. They arrived on the
morning boat, held conference with
Senator'S Martin and Swanson and Rem
resentntivo Holland, attended the hear
Ing before the committee. and returned
home Tonight
Efforts have been made By Pennsyl-
vanians. headed by Senator Boles Pen
rose, 10 create the general impression
that Secretary Danielss greatest inter
est In securing the location OF the dry.
dock 1T Norfolk is because Of its close
proSiinity to his native State, North
Carolina
air. Holland to-day refuted this cry
OF "sectionalisrn" by going back as fa,
as 1869. and quoting long array o,
naval experts. including former Secre-
tary of tile Navy Meyer. who from tina
time 10 the present day have declared
IN favor of Norfolk for the develop
inent OF a great navy yard, and the
chesapeake Bay Tor a great naval base
In regard 10 the attack Of section
alisin" directed ut Secretary Daniels
and the naval experts, because they
favored Norfolk, Representative IIol-
land said:
This IS not and should not lie made
.h sectional or political question. The
fact Is. ! had hoped that the time had
come whom we could consider questions
OF this Kind in - spirit OF broad patriot
ism. and solely with reference To the
good OF the navy and the good OF the
nation / had believed that the time
had come when the narrow sectional
spirit Of other days had been aban-
doncd, and when. with clearer vision
We could see beyond the limits Of oui
own particular States, and lind need
for improvements not to be located
therein. But this attack tScnator Pen
rose 50 breathcS a selfish, sectional
spirit that Is, indeed, rcgrettable. and
shows TO what extent ones judgment
may be warped and controlled by local
.prejudices and by local influences"
Charge of Penrose.
Senator Penrose had stated that "it
would be regrettabie IL sectionalisnl
and politics We're permitted to inter
fere with a consistent naval program.
Representative Holland added
For the past 100 years every Secre-
tary of the Navy and every command
ant OF the yard. with hardly a single
exception. has made recomm endations
for the Norfolk yards improvement
and extension, and naval boards APP
pointed from time to time to examine
and report on its condition have re
peate.lly declared that no yard belong
ing to the United States, from its geo
graphical position, is more import
ant"
He .hen quoted Secretary Meyer as
saying that one great naval navy-yard
should be established at Norfolk. He
aiso quoteu 4auiilfal hanan as IaVors
ing the development of New York and
the Chesapeake Bay as the great naval
Bases of the Atlantic
Acting Secretary Roosevelt told the
delegation of citizens from Norfolk
that the Navy Department Is firmly be-
hind the movement To construct the
dry dock In the Virginia city. He en-
pressed the hope that the fight between
Philadelphia and Norfolk over the To-
cation of tho dock would not result in
the abandonment of building OF the
structure altogether.
Secretary Daniels, after q hearing
several weeks ago, told Philadelphia
delegation that he favored tho Nor
folk site recommended by the general
board of the navy. G. IL. NJ.