New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-20
Invites Eight Societies to
Select Members of New
Navy Board.
EXPECTS TO GET
MOST ABLE MEN
Believes Plan Will Insure CO.
operation of Thousands OF
Trained Experts.
IFrom The Tribune Bureau. ]


Washington, July l9.-Secretary OF
the Navy Daniels announced to-day
that he had decided to leave the selec"
ton of his advisory committee, headed
by Thomas A. Edison, to eight leading
scientific societies. In this he follows
the suggestion Of Mr.. Edison, in the be-
lief that in this way the committee
would not only get the best men IN
their respective fields, but would have
the active support Of the societies
represented.
The organizations selected are the
American Chemical Society, the Amerl-
can Institute of Electrical Engineers,
the American Institute of Mining En-
gineers, the American Mathematical
Society, the American Society of Civil
Engineers, the American Society OF
Mechanical Engineers, the American
Aeronautical Society and the Inventors
Guild.
Secretary Daniels has written to the
presidents Of these societies, asking
them to take a poll of their member
ships to select two representatives who
will join the advisory committee. This
will make a board of seventeen mem
bers, including Mr.. Edison. Secretary
Daniels intimated that other societies
might be asked to take part if it was
found that certain fields of science
were not adequately represented. The
Secretary reserves also the privilege
of appointing members at large.
Much depends upon the personnel OF
the committee" Secretary Daniels said,
"and | have been DESTROYS first of all
that it should be made up of the ablest
men in the country who have demon
strated their leadership in their pro-
fessions 1t would be comparatively
easy for any well informed man to
select half dozen names which would
Immediately suggest themselves, put
the desire was to have a committee
that would not only in itself insure
high service, but be representative Of
the inventive and engineering talent Of
the societies represented.
after consultation with eminent men
IN the navy and civilian life have de-
cided to ask eight societies, having
large memberships, each to select two
members who will make up the advisory
committee. In this way | feel sure
we will have the hearty cooperation of
81, he Il s Il 81 sbp
make up their membership. The mem
bers of these societies will naturally
see to it that their most eminent rep
resentatives are chosen. We will, there
fore, obtain for the navy the direct adj
vice of those selected to serve on the
committee and also the interest of all
the members of the societies who make
the selection"
In the letter sent to the presidents of
the eight societies Mr.. Daniels says:
"a few days ago, as you have doubt
less seen in the papers, desiring to
make available the latest inventive
genius of our country TO improve our
navy, ! requested Thomas A. Edison TO
become chairman of an advisory COM
rnittee Of eminent men who would make
up the committee. Mr.. Edison, with
the patriotism Characteristic of Ameri-
can inventors, accepted the call to
/ Guty.
81 am writing to ask the membership
of your society to give practical and
valuable aid and needed cooperation
/ ty selecting representatives of its body
| TO serve as members of the advisory
committee. 1t is believed the best re-
suits can be obtained only by such Sc
/ lection of the membership as will be
representative Of the inventive genius
and scientific knowledge found in the
me mbership of your own and kindred
| societies.
will you not, as president Of your
! society, arrange to secure the selection
OF two of It's members to serve on this
advisory committee? | feel that the
work your society has done has been
such as to give it the right to be, in a
/ way, officially represented, and the
Navy Department desires in this way TO
testify 10 its own appreciation of the
! splendid work for our country that
your society has done. In addition, |
feel that the judgment of your mem
bers as TO who is best qualified among
you to serve on this board will be far
better than my own"