New-York tribune., 1916-02-29
People Get Keener Appre-
citation OF Defence,
Says H. L. West.
WEST RIVALS EAST
OVER WARSHIP FUND
Contributions Show Patriotism
Runs Battleship Dance
Plans Under Way.

Henry L. West. executive secretary
Of the National Security League, yes
;erdav added his voice 10 that OF ;.
S,anwood Menken, president Of the or
raui-ation. in commencing MarJories
pa,tleship Fund. Such plan for add
ing a unit 10 the United States Navy
he believes. would not only materially
strengthen our fighting forces on the
sea. but also give the people at large
keener appreciation Of the problem OF
national defence.
"The future Of the United States
rests upon the patriotism and good
citizenship of its children" said MI
West. Unless the patriotic spirit IS
kept alive we would degenerate INTO
nation Of selfish individuals. each one
concerned with his own welfare ana IN
different 10 the welfare Of the country.
"The idea which came TO niue
Marjorie was an inspiration. IL may
not be generally known that IN the
Washincfon Monument are many blocks
Of marble contributed by States and
organizations, and these add immensely
"a the interest in that beautiful tribute
20 George Washington. In the same
vav n n battleship could be built by
the contributions OF thousands OF
reople IL would give them feeling OF
mart ownership in the vessel whlcn
would cause a keener appreciation
of its value for national defence as
we'll as an emblem OF our greatness
when il visited foreign ports IN tunes
of .eace.
Predicts Success For Plans.
"Thc battleship built by the com
bined efforts Of many people would De
= greater stimulus 10 patriotism than
Il the same battleship we're built by an
appropriation by Congress with money
taken out Of the National Treasury. IL
ia an enormous task 20 raise the money
IN sums Of ten cents each person, but
believe the idea viii spread like Wild
IRE. and that the ship which repre-
scnts the combined offerings OF the
American yeople will eventually be
launched
Judging from the great demand Tor
tickets for both the mass meetings Tor
preparedness and patriotism 70 be held
I'm Carnegie Hall and the Century The
atre this evening. the affairs Will be
the largest Of their kind ever held IN
New York City. Robert Bacon. former
Secretary OF State. will preside az the
hall. and Oscar (. Straus, former Am
bassador 10 Turkey. at the theatre.
Speakers Of national importance will
be- heard 40 both assemblages, being
carried from one meeting 20 the other
iy automobiles AmYe them are, Jo-
Seph r.. ChOate. Senator Cham berlain.
OF Oregon; HehTy BreSk'nridge- OF
kentucky, who resigned - Assistant
Secretary of War at the time OF Sec
ietarf Garrison's resignation; Dudley
Field Malone. Representative Gardner,
Of Massachusetts; ). StanWood Men
lon. president Of the National Security
League: Mrs. Lindon ". Bates, chair
man Of the Woman's Section OF the
Movement for National Preparedness;
Hiss Frances 4. Kellor. executive Off
Ger OF the Areric can ization Society;
George W. Wickersham. former Attor-
nev General: Judge Peter :. Gross
Gun. Henry A. Wise Wood. George
Wharton Pepper. OF Philadelphia; Will
lam Barclay Parsons and Bishop Hayes,
OF New York.
There will be music by the list Regi-
ment and Boy Scouts bands. Motion
pictures on preparedness. depicting
"The Spirit OF '7G." battleships in ac-
ton and the Boy Scouts, will be shown.
With the number Of contributors to
Nariorie's Battleship Fund rapidly ap-
preaching the 10000 mark. the wide
popular appeal Of the girls idea IS
plainly evident Yesterdays mail
brought a large consignment of dimes
from as far away az Montana, and the
Far West is likely TO outstrip the East
as one newspaper after another falls
INTO lire.
Dimes from Over Nation.
Herewith arc inclosed ten dimes for
the battleship fund." said one letter
"as o partial display Of citizens en-
thusiasm over the tendency OF loya
Americans 10 take the nations needs
in their own hands and TO break away
from complete reliance in the tedious
workings of the big committee whici
they have sent to Washington to trans
act the nations business. This com
mittee insists on giving its skilled ser
vice experts a child's box OF tools with
which 20 build and assistants who know
,oot the importance OF keeping working
!. ,ols complete, sharp and free from
n ~
:, The first troop Of Boy Scouts o
Am, ,rica 10 contribute in body is No
100, n The Bronx, which sent in dim,
from each Of IT'S twenty-five member.
with this letter;
Mario. les Battleship Fund:
"Inclo sed you Will find two dollar,
and tive, lty cents; n dime from eacl
,,cnhcr ,f 1roOp 100 Boy Scouts O.