Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-17
GRAFT Is CHARGED
AS NAVY LEAGUERS
OF STATE DTSBAND
Branch Here Refuses to Ac-
cept Arbitrary" Rule of
Col. Thompson
WILL REFUND MONEYS

Aroused by the disscnsions that have
Crept into the executive control OF the Navy
League, the Pennsylvania branch met last
Thursday and sent its resignation to the
national headquarters.
The unit in this State Will dissolve and
the moneys that have been paid into the
organization by the contributors in Penn
sylyania will be refunded so soon as pos
sible. The only thing that now remains
undone to complete the disintegraton OF
this branch is the formal acceptance of its
resignation. This is expected by members
within few days
The Pennsylvania branch was probably
the largest and most powerful Of any in the
Navy League. Alexander Van Rensselaer,
was chairman and it's directorate included
f. T. Stotesbury Ralph Il. Strassburger, A.
J. Drexel Biddle, Samuel T. Bodlne, II. W.
Clark, DIR. John Wesley Croskey, T. Dewitt
Cuyler, DIR. Hollis Godfrey, John Gribbel
Charles Longstreth, ]. II. McAllister Joseph
X. Mccall Vance G. Mccormick, Judge j.
Willis Martin, Charles NJ. Lea, William S.
Lloyd, General Edward de V. Morrel Efng-
ham b. Morris, Edward L. Reynolds,
Charlemagne Tower, Rodman Wanamaker.
Joseph r. Widener and @. Hede Norris. Mr..
Norris is counsel for the state branch and
will wind up It's affairs.
The resignation of the Pennsylvania
branch Ia the result of long series of con-
troverses which have arisen regarding the
management of affairs between Colonel
Robert NJ Thompson, president of the Navy
League, and Ralph b. Strassburger. vice
chairman Of the Pennsylvania branch. The
first disagreement arose over the publication
OF the magazine Seven Seas, which had the
official sanction of the League. In addition
Mr.. Strassburger said some time ago GER
tain men were using the prestige of the
league to further the Junior Naval Re-
serve" This latter organization was engi-
peered by men whom Mr.. Strassburger
called "grafters" and who, he said had
obtained large sums from trusting pa
trots."
So violent was the quarrel over this and
correlated affairs that the directors of the
Pennsylvania branch demanded a reorgani-
cation of the affairs of the league They
also insisted a severance of relations be-
tween the league and It's publication and
the Junior body be completed at once
Such reorganization committee was
formed and went to Washington to take
charge of affairs at the national headquar-
ters. This new committee held sway for
few weeks, when Colonel Thompson took
matters into his own hands, his opponents
say, and overrode the reorganizers
One of the reorganization plans was not
90 reappoint Arthur H. Dadmun as secretary
when his term expired on March 81 last.
William Mather Lewis. Mayor of Lake
Forest, a suburb of Chicago. was chosen in
his place. Lewis went to the capital to
take charge Of the headquarters and was
in Office several days when Colonel Thomp-
son called meeting of the directors. Under
the rules SIX members constituted quorum
and could do business With his friends
Colonel Thompson the Pennsylvanians
say, legislated the reorganization commit
tee out of business and reelected Dad
mum.
Several directors were dropped from the
board. They included j. Pierpont Nor
gan. Robert Bacon, Jr., Clinton e. Braine
and Herbert Satteree. Later Colonel
Thompson tried to get these men to re-enter
the leagues ctvities They declined Colo
mel Thompsons usurpation of authority
members here said. and his domination Of
the league was resented by the Pennsylva,
mia directors,
After several meetings they decided that,
under the conditions there was nothing
left for them but TO quit. Notices were
sent to the, directors several days ago ask
ing that they take action on the proposed
dissolution. The meeting was held on
Thursday, and the committee voted TO 20
out of business.