Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-03
NAVYLEAGUE Is RULED
BY ARMS RING, SAYS
ILLINOIS CONGRESSMAN
Clvde H. Tavenner, in Reply to
Challenge, Gives Names of
Munition Makers Back
ing Organization
SHOWS PROFITS DERIVED
Asserts Government Paid S25,000,000
More to Private Firms Than
Necessary
BIZ q StnR Correspondent

bV NINU NOfI '"PDNNt"t
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3,-Representative
c,vde II. Tavenner of Illinois, upon whom
Colonel Robert NJ. Thompson called for
specitic information as to his insnuations
that the Navy League was dominated
nv men Who benefited from Government
contracts Tor armor and battleships. today
cited some of the league members who
are direct benehciaries of battleship build
ing. Among them is Edward T. Stotes-
bury, of philadelphia.
IN n letter to Colonel Thompson presi-
dent of the Navy League, Representative
Tavcnuer says:
81 understand your position to be that
none of the money which the Navy
League has used to banquet members Of
Congress and Secretaries of the Navy or
to carry on the propaganda for the vastly
increased naval appropriations which you
advocate has cone from any gentlemen
who stand to profit thcrefrom, | contend
that the opposite is true.
81 call your attention to the fact that
Ebert H. Gary, who is described in the
Directory Of Directors for 1914 as chair
man Of the board of directors and chair
man of the Finance Committee of the
United states steel Corporation contrib
uted 5000 on June TO- 1915, and that on the
same date representatives of the j. Il.
Morgan estate subscribed $1,000.
SrOTEsBURY MENTIONED.
"I call your attention to the fact that
]. r. Morgan, who is n director of the
United states steel Corporation. was
formerly treasurer of the Navy League
and is now director of and contributor
to the Navy Lcauge and that J. =. Nor
gan's brOthcr-in-law, Herbert l.. Satter-
lee, was one of the ncorporators of the
league and is at the present time the
general counsel of the league. l also note
that Edward r. Stotesbury, a member of
j. T. Morgan X Co. and director of the
Baldwin Locomotive Works, Cambria
Steel Company, Phoenix Iron Company,
Riverside Metal Company, Temple Iron
Company William Cramp & Sons ship
and Engine Building Company and H
other corporations, banks and trust COM
panes, is one of the honorary vice presi-
dents of the Navy League.
~ also call your attention to the fact
that George +. Baker, Jr., No. Wall
street, New York, son of director of
United States Steel, contributed $1,000 to
the Navy League, June 10, 1915.
81 call your attention to the fact that
Robert Bacon. formerly member of the
firm of j. p. Morgan & Co., and
now first director of United States Steel,
Is director of the Navy League.
IL call your attention to the fact that
Henry G. Frick. a director of United
States Steel, and ten other corporations,
banks and trust companies, is one of the
vice presdcsts of the Navy League
United States Steel controls the Car
neEe Steel Company, which has drawn
down from the Navy contracts aggre-
eating $32 3295l,377 for armor plate alone,
and If the Navy Leagues $500, OOpa 90 boId
issue goes through Congress this firm
will profit still further.
Il call your attention to the fact that
Allan y. Ryan, "A director of the Beth
lehem Steel Corporation, contributed 500
to the Navy League on June 10. 1915, and
to the further fact that George r, Shell
don, a director of the Bethlehem Steel
Corporation and the American LOcomo-
tive Company, both of which concerns
have protited hugely from European war
orders, is one of the vice presidents of
the Navy League. Mr.. Sheldon is also a
director of "A other corporations"
AS TO BETHLEHEM STEEL.
The Bethlehem Steel Corporation has
obtained from the Navy Department !
armor contracts amounting to S42,32l ,237, |
and If the Navy Leagues program goes
through Bethlehem stands to receive in
creased orders.
From the foregoing it would appear |
that two of the three concerns composing |
the armor ring in this country have rep |
resentation either among the contributors |
TO the Navy League or among the Of |
hcers or directors of the Navy League. |
THE Government has purchased from |
these two concerns, Bethlehem and Car |
negie, S5,275,6li worth of armorplate. pay |
Ing an average price of approximately $40 |
a ton therefor.
IF this armorplate had been manu-
tactured in a Government armorplate
factory, which the Navy League has cold
shouldered, at least s25. 900 could have
been saved to the American taxpayers /
Ihere have been 10 estimates by Govern
ment officials as TO the cost of armor In
a Government plant. and the average OF
these estimates is s23S a ton. BY con-
trasting SiiO, the price we have paid the
private manufacturers. with s23s, the cost
at which we might have manufactured
'his armor in Government plant, II is
possible to obtain an inkling as to the
reason we do not now have more pre-
preparedness to show fer the colossal APP
propriations made for that purpose"
i note there are 81 directors of the
Navy League. The personal fortunes of
Ihese 81 men. by the most conservative
estimate, aggregate 100000, or 100000
10 each director | contend that any
BOARD of directors whose individual for
tunes average 100000 can hardly be con-
sideled as representative of the views.
feelings and heartbeats of the great mass
'r the American people
On November 10 | publicly stated that
hiasmuch as the Navy League insisted
mat Its management and hackers are en-
llely free from any atmosphere of war
.taiheking influences. 1 would, as soon as
-oHsfess convened, introduce resolution
hoFldlng for an investigation of the
eague specifically requiring j. p. Morgan
ihd other directors of the league, past
ma present, To take the responsibility of
estllying, under oath, whether they are
htefested, or ever have been, in war
Iamcklng firms or concerns which stand
. pfoht from the proposed S5OOOO0,0OO
'ond issue"
Mr' Tayenner, who is supported by Rep
sentative kitchin, said he would intro
'uee such resolution in Congress.
Two StOIen Autns- Racovarad