Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-12-09
Congressman Tavenner and the
Navy League.
WASHINGTON, D. g. Dec. 2, 1915

No'J ANCDS5 49,
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 2, 1915. !
Col. ROBERT M. THOMPSON, President
Navy League, Washington, D. Q.
MY Dear Colonel assume from your
letter of the goth ult., and from your
various utterances as President of the
Navy League, that the impression you
desire to create in the minds of the
American people is that none Of the
men who founded, or who have been,
or are now, directors of or contri-
butors to the Navy League, have ever
been, or are now, in any manner in
terested in any concern which would
profit financially from the $500, 900, 900
bond issue for battleships, etc., which
you are advocating.
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 advo-
cate, has come from any gentlemen
who stand to profit therefrom. Icon
tend that the opposite is true.
In your letter you request that
give you some specific information.
call your attention to the fact that
Ebert II. Gary, who is described in
the Directory of Directors for 1914 as
"Chairman of the Board of Directors
and Chairman of the Finance Com
mittee of the United States Steel Cor
poration, . contributed 81, 900 on June
10, 1916, and that on the same date
Representatives of the J. P. Morgan
estate subscribed $4,000.
I call your attention to the fact that
J.P. Morgan, who is director of the
United States Steel Corporation, was
formerly treasurer of the Navy League
and is now director of and contri-
butor to the Navy League and that j.
P. Morgan's brother in law, Herbert
L. Satterlee, was one of the incorpora-
tors of the League, and is at the pres
ent time the General Counsel OF the
League. also note that Edward 7.
Stotesbury, member of the firm of J.
p. Morgan & Co., and a director OF
the Baldwin Locomotive Works,
Cambria Steel Co., Phoenix Iron Co.,
Riverside Metal Co., Temple Iron Co.,
VIM. Cramp & Sons Ship and Engine
Building Co., and fifty four other cor
porations, banks and trust companies,
is one of the honorary vice. presidents
of the Navy League.
also call your attention to the fact
that George F. Baker, Jr., Wall
Street, New York, son of a director OF
United States Steel, contributed 81 900
to the Navy League, June 10, 1915.
call your attention to the fact that
Robert Bacon, formerly member of
the firm of ]. P. Morgan & Co., and
now first director of United States
Steel, is director of the Navy
League.
call your attention to the fact that
Henry O. Frick, a director of United
States Steel, and ten other corpora
tions, banks and trust companies, is
one Of the vice presidents Of the Navy
League.
United States Steel controls the
Carnegie Steel Company, which has
drawn down from the Navy contracts
aggregating 32,954,377 for armor
plate alone, and II the Navy Leagues
$5OO,00O,OOo bond issue goes through
Congress this firm will profit still
further.
I call your attention to the fact that
Allan A. Ryan; director OF the
Bethlehem Steel Corporation, contri-
buted 500 to the Navy League on
June 10, 1915, and to the further fact
that George r. Sheldon, director Of
the Bethlehem Steel Corporation, and
the American Locomotive Co.; both
OF which concerns have prohtedhuge-
ly from European war orders, is one
OF the presidents OF the Navy
League. Mr.. Sheldon is also a direct
or OF twenty -four other corporations.
The Bethlehem Steel Corporation
has obtained from the Navy Depart
ment armor contracts amounting to
s42, 1921, ,237, and Il the Navy Leagues
program goes through, Bethlehem
stands to receive increased orders.
From the foregoing It would appear
that two OF the three concerns COM
posing the armor ring in this country