Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-05

complied with. it must be backed by
q united people.
Expression Of Regret.
I'VE feel. as do the thousands whom
you have the honor to represent. dis
tinct chagrin that there should be
among us those who are blind to the
naval needs Of the nation. We know
that our country is rich. opulent and
weak. We know further that that con-
dition is provocative Of envy. that it
Invites aggression and that 1t is calcu-
lated to lead to our undoing. Does any
one believe for an instant that our citi-
| zens would have been drowned, our
auately prepared? Could we not have
| said: You leave us alone and would
we not have been let alone? Should
we not regard as enemies of the state
| those who desire to perpetuate our
weakness. who refuse to accept the
lessons of history and the events of the
dayr'
A. H. Dadmun, secretary of the Navy
League. described the organization of
definite work for the league and it's
members. Scott Dabo told of the work
being done by the official organ of the
league to crystalline patriotism among
the citizens. He predicted that 10000
members would be on the roll of the
league In another year, which would be
formidable power in approaching the
Navy Department or Congress in ask
ing for navy second to none.
Report on Women's Work.
That there are more than 10000
women in states and territories on the
| rolls of the woman's section of the
league after but three months of its
organization. and that a national CON-
n 4 ,f
| women In the country has been effected
| was contained in a repuort on definite
work done by the women, made by
Miss Elizabeth E. Poe. the national
secretary. She said that by the time
Congress opens there. will be 100000
women enrolled, and that already four
| teen presidents of national women's
organizations representing a com oined
memoershtp OF several millions Of
women have enlisted in the cause.
She described the crusade work being
done by pageantry to arouse popular
| interest and the efforts to teach the
children, who will be the men AMI
women Of the future. lessons Of pa
triOtism.
MISS Poe announced that a woman's
national defense conference will be
| held here November Is for the double
purpose OF permanently organizing a
upon Congress the need of the coun !.
try for national defense
Miss Poe said. in part:
In the constructive work for ma
sIonai defense accomplished by the
Navy League in the last six months
must be counted the formation and
splendid success OF the woman's sec
| tion OF the Navy League. This sec
tlon: organized that American women
might bear a leading part in the WORK
for adequate national defense, has
achieved a membership of more than
| So.oo0 representative women in every
state and territory Of the Union in
the three months of its existence
Meeting to Be Held in November,
Under the auspices of the woman.s
section. great woman's national de-
tense conference, the first of its kind,
| Will be held at the New Willard Hotel,
| Washington. November Is. The con-
ference proper will take up an entire
| day. It will serve the double purpose
OF q meeting for the permanent organ
ization of the woman's section of the
| Navy League and as q means of In.
| nuenctng Congress and impresssnE
| upon It the needs Of the country for
| aoaQuate defense. Members Of the ma
gates from local sections are invited to
attend. as well as the general public
| IN the morning session. reports from
tnese committeeman and delegates will
l
work in all sections of the country re-
ported. At the afternoon session promi-
nent speakers, both men and women
VIII address the assemblage on sub
1ects OF national defense and the part
women must take in obtaining ti.'
William A. Du Puy, who has been in
charge Of the field work Of organising
state committees, in q spirited talk
gave the conference some suggestions
as TO the definite work that the indi-
/ do IL
communities toward arousinE public
| sentiment for adequate defense, and in
particular for making a concerted de-
nand for an adequate navy.
| Prof. Thomas s. Baker told of the or
gantzatton work that is being done in
the schools and colleges, and that a
wide system Of patriotic instruction is
being established. with a view to MAX
fully their duty toward the national
government and the pert that they
should play in ,esta blishing its defenses
| that 1t may not suffer affront from any
other power.
Program Of Closing Session.
The program for the closing session
of the conference tomorrow has been
] announced. The speakers will be: Prof.
William Libbey. Princeton University,
PRESIDENT Of the National Rifle Associa-
tlOn: Judge James II. Blount, Macon,
Ca; Gen. Charles D. Gather, Baltimore,
Nd, commanding the Maryland Ma
tional Guard; James S. Holmes, Fort
Totten, N. Y: G. E. Ward, president,
| Toledo Military Association; Gen. Jacob
H. Smith. Portsmouth. Ohio. command
er-in-chief Army Of the Philippines
Louis S. Gottleib, and Gen. H Oden
Lake, chief. Army and
Navy Union.
The national defense movement. it
was stated, has interested the base
ball magnates, who are enthusiastically
assisting the movement President
BENJAMIN s. Minor of the Washington
Nationals and President Ben Shibe of
the Philadelphia Athletics. who close
the base ball season here tomorrow,
are both great advocates OF adequate
national defense.
In order to assist in meeting the ex-
penses Of the conference on national
defense now In session at the New Will
lard Hotel Mr.. Minor and Mr.. Shibe
have volunteered to make the closing
game of the season here tomorrow a
benefit for the National Defense League.
URGES THAT PRESIDENT
OFFICIALLY CLOSE CANAL