New-York tribune., 1915-11-23
Representative Tavenner
Refuses to Make His
Charges Definite.
WILL ASK CONGRESS
FOR INVESTIGATION
Organization Replies That 1t
Will Be Glad to Demon
strate Its Patriotism.
fFron he Tribune Bureau ]

Washington, Nov. 22.-Announcement
that he will demand Congressional in
vestiga.ion of the Navy League is the
answer made to-day by Representative
G. H. Tavenner, of Ohio, 20 the demand
Of the league that ne make definite the
insinuations imputed to him that the
organization is being supported by
manufacturers of munitions of war.
Colonel Robert NJ. Thompson, president
of the league, had declared that it
wished a chance TO bring a test case
and let the courts pass on the charges.
Mr.. Tavenner's statement fails TO give
this chance.
"The Navy League is unfriendly TO
the governmental manufacture of NUM-
tions," said Mr.. Tavenner, "and ! shall
bring in a resolution TO investigate the
league, specifically requiring J. P. Nor
gan and certain other directors, past
and present, to testify under oath
whether they own stock in war traf-
ficking concerns which have drawn
down fat contracts from previous army
and navy appropriations. The men
whom | desire TO have testify are not
at the front of the league, but at the
back.
"Nationalization Of manufactures Of
munitions is a programme on which all
save those interested in private con-
Germs can unite. Under the present
system the government is at the mercy
of a few concerns, who seem TO have a
gentlemen's agreement TO divide the
contracts and between whom there is
no competition worthy Of the name"
When A. II. Dadmun, secretary Of the
Navy League. learned OF the proposed
investigation, he said.
Nothing would please the officers
and directors of the Navy League more
than 10 open our books and demon
strate to Congress and the country tha.
the national-wide movement on behalf
Of naval preparedness is movement
Of. for and by the American people.
The league is supported by red-blooded
Americans whose motives are unseiiish
and patriotic.
among these unselhsh American
patriots is J. p. Morgan, who became a
life member by the payment of s25
more than eight years ago. The only
ether contribution or support either
asked for or received from Mr.. Morgan
was received four years ago, when he
contributed 800 to meet the travelling
expenses of speakers attending a West
ern convention.
mo less than / 100 checks, most Of
them for 81 memberships, have already
been received from league members
this month. Seventy per cent of these
checks came from the West and til,
South. Representative Tavenner ls
again invited to call at our office and
see where this report came from. Our
books are open to him.
THE league is proud to have Mr..
Morgan as a director. 1t is also proud
of other directors and members whose
incomes are very small indeed. for rich
and poor are patriots who desire TO as
sociate themselves in a movement 70
keep the horrors OF war out OF our
American homeland through a navy so
strong that no military nation can send
its troops across the ocean TO attack US.
Representative Tavenner had no au.
thority or reason for stating that the
Navy League is unfriendly to govern
ment manufacture OF war munitions.
Indeed. ne might just as we'll nave
made such a statement regarding the
views of President Wilson and ex-
Presidents Roosevelt and Taft and
come as near the truth"