South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-05-31
LIGHT THROWN ON L. =. NAVY
BY SFC'Y DANIELS

BY SEC'Y DANIELS.
South Benz owes a vote OF thanks
to the Press club. and through the
Press club 20 Rev. John Cavanaugh.
OF Notre Dame university. for the
presence of Josephus Daniels. secre-
tary OF the L. s navy. in this city sat
His address at the Press clue
dinner Saturday night ina particular.
was one that South Bend needed to
hear. Understand that the Press club
is not a newspaper association so far
as concerns the newspapers them
selves. IL is an association OF news
paper men: the men that do the work
on the newspapers All the newspa-
pers have 10 do with IL is 10 furnish
them. or TO have at some time fur
nished them. with-a job.
The secretary OF the navy proved
distinct drawing card Fully 400
not an aristocratic -four hundred"
but Just 4O0,-sat at his feet for an
hour. and listened 10 his words Of.
what we believe everybody believed.
truth. IL was a distinct. though i'm
personal refujation throughout, Of the
politico- partisan harang. with regard
to navy affairs. recently dealt out 10
our people by Congressman A. p
Gardner at a Knife and Fork club
dinner. Our navy is not the worst
in the world. IL ought TO be good. as
the secretary pointed out, since all of
it. save two years OF Improvement
un0er PRIEST Wilson, is the gift OF
Congressman Gardner's own party.
But even at that It isn't so very bad.
Since the Spanish American war. the
upbullding OF the navy has been prac-
tically left to Admiral George Dewey,
and a navy board. and about all that
congress has had to do with it has
been TO provide the money. More
war-craft have been built, and are in
course OF construction, under Pres't
Wilson's administration. than during
any like period in the history Of the
country. In other words, in a more
impersonal way than we are INDUCING.
Sec'y Daniels pointed out to the 400
banqueters. that Congressman Gard
ners address had run chiefly TO a
cheap brand of demagoguery All
that was necessary 10 the listener was
TO be able TO make the application.
II was regretable, that through
train being late. Father Cavanaugh
vas not permitted to speak. He had
accompanied the secretary 10 the
train on which he was TO leave and
being delayed the banquet had dis
missed in advance OF his return. From
day with the secretary those pres
ent might have heard much more of
our naval conditions this by a sort OF
proxy. had there been no such mis-
hap. The president of Notre Dame is
a splendid orator. and it is regretable
that he could not have been heard. re-
gardless OF this other feature. IL was
through him, furthermore that the
presence Of the secretary was Sc
cured. the Press club dinner being sort
OF linked onto the Maine memorial
exercises at the university. which also
drew from the distinguished visitor
much valuable advice.
But anyhow. we are certain that
= South Bend feels better now than il
has for weeks. with regard 60 the ma
tons defenses. Evidently a few
things sometimes happen in the navy
department, as well as in the South
Bend board Of safety. the park board,
and even the mayors cabinet that is
not Immediately rushed out TO the
public. We are told by Sec'y Daniels
that there are plans locked away in
the safety vaults OF the navy de-
partment. for meeting any war de
mands that might be made upon the
country by any nation on the globe.
We suppose that in order To satisfy
such traitorous institutions as the
National Security league. and such
politicians as Congressman Gardner.
these plans should be spread out be
fore the world. but the most OF us will
not care so very much. after we think
IL over. whether such institutions and
such politicians are satisfied or not.
With Admiral Dewey at the head of
the navy board say nothing Of the pol
itics OF Secy Daniels. We anticipate
that the country will feel at least rea-
sOrably safe on the maneuvers.
OF course we should have a better
and a bigger navy especially if eN-
isting warlike methods are 10 continue.
We have spent money enough. under
past republican administrations. that
we should have the best navy in the
world. had not these administrations
succumbed 70 the armor-plate and mu-
niticn trust hold-ups That is what
Sec'y Daniels is trying 90 get away
from. and Il is the main reason for
these vicious attacks upon himself
and upon the navy. These patriots for
profit do not mean TO give up their
graft II they can help il and their plan
is. by prevarication and even near
treason. II necessary. 20 create public
sentiment I'm their favor.
The public needs 10 bear this in
mind when more OF the National Sc
curify league literature, and address
es like bose typical OF Congressman