New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-12
Will Send Men Into Every
State to Battle for AIDE
quate Protection.
MIDDLE WEST TO BE
CENTRE OF ATTACK
Texas, Oklahoma and Missouri
Most Hostile - EX-Admiral
Saws Navy Needs Master.
rFrom The Tribune Bureaul

Washington, July IA systematic
effort TO bring the people Of the South
and Middle West to see the need OF an
adequate navy has been planned by the
executive committee of the Navy
League. REPRESENTATIVES arc to be sent
into every state which has voted con-
sistently against naval appropriations
and every means adopted to build up
sentiment for adequate naval protec-
ton.
practically everybody in New York"
said Colonel Robert NJ. Thompson,
chairman of the executive committee Of
the league, "is lined up for big navy
because in case Of war that city would
beNhe first goal Of attack by a foreign
fleet. New York, New England and
Eastern states. in self-defence, have al
ways voted for liberal naval appropria-
tons.
.Tn the Middle West and South the
situation is different. Comprising
Oklahoma and Texas, this district has
2 great voting strength IN Congress
enough TO Offset the strength Of the
North Atlantic states. representatives
of these states have always voted
against adequate naval defences. Yet
the people of these states are among
the most truly American and patrlotc.
Moreover, they are the nations great
exporters of meat and grain, and much
of their trade goes over seas and needs
the protection of powerful navy. go,
81 believe work in these states Will
greatly benefit the campaign for ade-
quate naval appropriations
Middle West Opposed TO Big Navy.
In mapping out the Navy Leagues
campaign an analysis was made OF the
vote on the naval appropriations bill IN
the House last February. The bill was
PASSED by a vote of l65 TO l49, with 78
haired and 1O8 not voting. OF the l49
contrary votes, 102 were from thirteen
states additionally opposed TO naval
expenditures. Heading the list were
Missouri and Texas, with II votes each
their full Congressional strength.
Then came Illinois, Indiana, Alabama,
Mississippi, Ohio, Arkansas, Oklahoma,
Kentucky, North Carolina, South Caro-
lima and Georgia in the order named.
Tn Sc states and others IN when
navy sentiment is not strong have been
divided into three districts, into each
Of which a field secretary OF the Navy
League will be sent to build up state
organization, to educate the people and
focus public sentiment on the states
representatives in Congress. The first
district will include Indiana, Illinois,
Iowa. Wisconsin, Michigan and Mime
sofa. and is to be organized for the
league by william VI. Lewis, Mayor OF
Lake Forrest. II. The second district
will i'm lude Ohio, Kentucky, Missouri,
Nebraska. Kansas, Oklahoma and
Texas. Major J. J. Dickinson, special
commissioner Of the State Department
TO Europe for the Panama Pacific tx
uosition. will organize this district.
Tn. third district will include Virginia,
the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, Flor
ida and Louisiana. Here the work OF
ORGANIZING will be done by Alexander
s. Vest, son of the late Senator Vest,
Of Missouri.
State Committees To Be Organized.
State committees will be patterned
after the great political party organl-
zations, with one state committeeman
TO -ach Congressional district, who Will
pick local cor mitteemen 10 act with
him in district work, the whole 70 CO
operato with a national committee OF
the charimen Of the state committees.
Bofore fall the league expects TO have
national. state and distrc. committees
Organized and at work. Every political
parry in every district will be visited
and efforts made to have plank in
do~sing an adequate navy inserted in
its platform. An effort will be made
to secure a statement from every can
didate for Office regarding national de-
fence, and committees will see that To-
cal sentiment in favor Of an adequate
nay is brought to the attention of
each member of Congress from his
bou,a district