The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-29
ROOSEVELT GOES ON
NEW SPEAKING TOUR
More Talk Of Third Ticket il
Republicans Spurn
Colonel.
BALk EVEN Ar HTGHES

he is scheduled to make speeches. lie
will also speak in Newark. y. J., on his
way back from this swing into the
middle West.
HIS departure on another journey 10
talk preparedness . and Americanisin,
coming close Upon the heels of the big
demonstration at oyster Eav on Satur-
day. has served to make the political
situation more tense than ever. The
Colonel was delighted with the great
procession of pilgrims appearing at Sag
amore Hin. His friends say that events
are so shaping themselves that II the
men in control of the Republican CON
rention do not respond to the popular
demand for Roosevelt it is becoming
more and more possible that there may
be a third ticket in the field.
These men say that Roosevelt, himself
might not be able to restrain his fol-
lowers in the Progressive party, joined
by his supporters in the Republican fold,
from presenting "A third ticket. whether
or not the Colonel himself would consent
to head such a ticket.
object Even 10 Hughes.
This is the talk. but, action of course
depends upon whether the Republicans
nominate a candidate whom the Pro-
Eressives regard as reactionary. II is
now said that even Justice Hughes
would not be acceptable to the Bull
Moose.
Before he left the city yesterday Col,
Roosevelt gave out copies OF two letters
he had written. one was a letter he
had written to Henry Reuterdahl. the
naval artist. This letter protests against
a clause in the naval appropriation bill
which would reestablish the old en-
Gineer corps and as the Colonel says,
"inject a political element into the SER
vice and revive all the chickering's of
the days OF the Old enginee corps and
the lannentabie conditions resulting
therefrom."
The bill will come before the House
on Friday. The Colonel points out in
his letter that a naval officer to-day IL
a fighting engineer and that on board
a superintendent there are more en-
gines outside the engine room proper
than inside, and that il il because OF
This that the navy has maintained its
present high standard IN engineering a
score Of years ago the line and engineer
corps of the navy were two separate
Professions.
In 1899. when | was Assistant Sec
rotary Of the Navy" says the Colonel.
"the old engineer corps was finally
abolished. This was a good move-the
CORPS ndO OutilNel It's uStluiItsS. u
amalgamation OF the engineers with the
line has effected remarkable results.
Thinks Navy Never Better.
"Afy opinion is reinforced by the best
naval authorities that the navy has
never been more efficient than at that
time.
Blu this record Is not to continue,
and Col. Roosevelt goes on to say that
tho nrnpnSen SsAbl,snrroep nf Inc new
engineer corps will mean the adding
OF a new element Of unskilled civilians
and in possession of theoretical knowi-
edge only"
'They will be without the thorough
training which Annapolis has given the
engineers he says. For the nrst
three years Of their service as learners
they will be practically of no use to
the navy. 1t is safe to assume that
after a few years the new engineer
corps will do exactly what the old one
did, claiming that the training of the
engineers vac practically the same as
that of the line officers, and that on
se1uently the engineer should he able
to navigate the ship as well
That will mean friction, lobn.es in
Washington for war privileges and
rank, and lowered efficiency on board
ship.
AS the bill reads thirty young men
with practically no knowledge of naval
engineering are yearly for the next ten
years TO be appointed with the rank Of
acting ensign, 1t is well known that
the scheme has been framed without
consultation with the navy itself.
There have been no hearings. No ON
GERS Of the navy save one recommended
II. The question has not been referred
to the General Board or the War Col
lege or any board of competent oti-
GERS. The chief Of the bureau of steam
engineering dm.ral Griffin. is on rec
ord against 1t.
Calls II Political scheme.
II, is purely a political scheme. rec
commended by Mr.. Daniels, a new form
of the pork barrel which will supply the
politicians with thirty additional and
yearly plums for the next ten years TO
come.
1T is nothing short of criminal be-
cause line officers Of III. navy will be
deprived Of the opportunity to learn
engineering when their whole life Is
nothing but engineering
These methods may help party poll
tics, and every friend Of the navy should
raise his hand to choke off this latest
attempt to cripple the efficiency OF the
American navy
The other letter also had to do with
the navy, 1t was "a letter 10 InomaS
w. Slocum. chairman of the New York
committee in connection with the train
ing cruise for civilians aboard reserve
battleships which the Navy Department
has arranged, The scheme is sometimes
referred to as the navy ilattSburg. and
Col Roosevelt indorsed it heartily,
The Colonel wrote Of the shortage of
many thousands Of men to handle the
ships now built and authorized and to
place the navy on a war strength.
A immediate effort must be made 10
remedy this state Of affairs he said,
"and to inform the people about the
navy and its unpreparedness, For this
purpose ! regard the naval training
cruise for civilians As Of the highest
importance.
Let each of MS do his part, and do
IL now. hel.ev IL is a supreme pa'rl-
otto duty for men who have had ex-
perience on the sea aud who know our
coast and for those who have technical
and mechanical trimming Of us" ON naval
ships to 60 on the cruise and do their
part in the cause Of Preparedness"