New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-16
President and Congress
Called On to Build a
Bigger Navy.
CAPITAL MEETING
PLEDGES HELP
Mrs. Belmont Tells Navy League
Section Man Cannot Ignore
Equal Rights for Sexes.

From The Tribune Bureau
Washington, Nov. 15.-The first WON
ems conference on national defence
was held here to-day by the recently
organized women's section of the Navy
League Resolutions were adopted call
ing on the President. the Cabinet and
Congress to provide sufficient national
defence to protect this country from
invasion and the threats of war"
The President Of the Senate and the
Speaker OF the House are asked to lay
the petition before Congress at the
earliest possible moment. Copies OF
the resolution will be sent TO President
Wilson, Secretaries Garrison and DAN
iels and other administration officials.
A permanent organization Of the
women's section was formed by the
election of board Of forty-eight gov
errors, one from each state. The list
includes women of national prominence
in politics and society.
The President was commended for
his announced intention to demand
from Congress on behalf OF the Ameri-
can people the immediate necessary
legislation for national defence"
Women prominent in the organization
said that they would lend their active
support to the measures proposed by
the War and Navy Departments.
America First" was another theme
much discussed in the two meetings OF
the conference. Resolutions summon
ing foreign born citizens TO pay all
honor and reverence TO the American
flag and to do all in their power to
prevent its desecration and abuse were
unanimously adopted, but the confer
ence refused to 90 on record as favor
ing the use of nothing but the IAN
puage of the United States by children
at school
Appeal by Miss KellOr.
Colonel Robert VI. Thompson, presi-
dent of the Navy League, made the
address of welcome at the afternoon
session. He was followed by Secre-
tarv McAdoo Of the Treasury Depart
ment, Franklin D. Roosevelt. Assistant
Secretary of the Navy, and Miss Mabel
Roardman, head of the American Red T.
Cross. Miss Frances A. Kellor. of the
American Naturalization Committee
sounded the appeal for America
First" and Frederick Huidekoper closed
The session with an address on fre-
paredness on Land =,
Greetings were extended to the dele
gates by the following representative
of women's patriotic societies; MIS-
William Alexander, president OF tne
Special Relief Society; Mrs: Keynoid
T. Hall. president Of the Society OF
Naval SPONSORS; Miss Frances WHIT
skar Raker. president of the Children's
Auxiliary Womar's National MADE IN
l. s a League; Mrs. William Cum
ming Story, president-general OF the
of the American Revolution.
Mrs Oliver H. 2. Belmont, president
of the Political Equality Union; Mrs
Frank D. Odenheimer. president OF the
General United Daughters OF the Con
federacy; Mrs. Arthur NJ. Dodge, presl-
dent of the National Association Up
posed 10 Woman Suffrage; Mrs. Ada
H. Weiss. president Of the Legion OF
oval Women, and Mrs. Catherine
Roche. president of the Ladies OF the
Grand Army Of the Republic.
Tho conference ended tonight with
q reception at the New Willard. at
tended by prominent officials and
gathering Of Washing
ton society. -,.s =,
tho afternoon session by suffragist
which set up booth at
the entrance 70 the hall to solicit con,
tributions. The booth was decorated
with the yellow and purple Of suffrage;
and some Of the Navy League ANTS
the colors for their own eolu
and blue, were led TO contribute 70
cause for which they had no sympathy
were followed by expiaha-
tons and restitution. and the mlsuh,
was satisfactorily ADJUSTED
after a furry that for momen'
threatened the tranquility OF the meet
ing.
Mrs Belmont Eulogizes Woman.
Mrs. Belmont. in her speech TO the
delegates. declared that woman mus
be consulted in public AFFAIRS AN. sho
esneciallv in war, since she Is 'ne
of the chief tool used j"
war. namely, man. ,ou
"a woman, | suppose, to some OF you'
seems out Of place at gathering ol
30 L;nd " she said. "If | were the
owner Of the Bethlehem Steel factory
,,ou vould say: Let US pay attention;
This person manufactures cannon ana
sbrapnel' If were the walking aele
cate of union of mechanics emp yeu
5v the Remington Arms Company. you
would say: Here is an ihalF .Ssa
worthy of respect. He represents ms
that manufacture the rihes. Lev 10
hear what he has TO say. L
az | were the head OF a big oank,
you would say: This person suppiles
;bo money that buys the machinery
Tia. innicts death. Let us be poilte
70 him H. ro,os;-
,;on that merely as war making ma
chino a woman has her place mere inc
saroc AZ a manufacturer OF shrhpheI on
= wholegalc scale or maker OF a1fnoi
nlate or mechanic turning out rineS'
"Wonau H. the manufacturer OF the
cbief tool used in war, namely mani
For every rife there must De man
by some woman 10 Pun
Inc trigger and push the sheiIs lhto
me magazine. For every cannon theIS
must be "A man Of keen sight, porn VI
Some healthy woman, who gave MN
good nerves, the power TO aim stra,ght
amid noise, smoke and deatn. mote