Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-13
LEAGUE ATTACKS
TAVENNER'S PLAN
organization Puts Wrong Construc.
ton on Program for Preparedness
OF Local Congressman.
PLACES HIN IN PORK CATEGORY
Charges That He Has Erred In His
Unmasking Articles Printed
In Tho Argus.

Washington. March 9-Editor The
Rock Island Argus: You published in
YOUR issue Of Feb. 4 an extract from
a speech made by Congressman CLYDE
H Tavenner, in which he asserts that
the men who organized and started the
Navy league were connected with mu-
uitions making concerns. This is not
true. and Tavenner knows il. Mr..
Tsyenner got his misinformation from
an old copy Of a league publication
which did not make clear the leagues
definition or use Of the word found
ers." II so happens that this word is
not used to mean organizers, but to
describe special class of member
ship. Any citizen who contributes
800 is entitled to a founder member
ship
When he first sent out his speech
Congressman Tavenner made a nat
ural and honest mistake. His atten-
ton has been called to this mistake,
vet he is still sending out his speeches.
Since he knows that the charges there
in are not based on fact, il is obvious
that he is deliberately falsifying.
We might also call your attention
to the fact that Tavenner, who is seek
ing s7,O00,000 worth of preparedness
pork for his own district, offered to
withdraw resolution he introduced
for an Investigation of the Navy
league, which he had been criticising
tc the limit Of his ability, if the league
would agree TO fail in with his plans.
We are enclosing a news item which
tells the facts. You published Con-
gresham Tavenner's untruthful as
sertons We believe. in fairness to
the Navy league, that you should pub
lish this
Yours very truly.
NAVY LEAGUE OF THE UNITED
STATES.
william A McGarry. Press Secrc-
tary
This is the statement the Navy
league asks The Argus to publish:
The Navy league has just been
advised that Congressman Clyde
H. Tavcnncr is continuing to send
out under frank to newspapers,
copies Of his speech entitled The
Navy League Unmasked," and eX-
tracts therefrOm. MIR Tavenner
has been shown that he was mis-
informed in the charges he makes
in his speech, and Tavenner knows
the charges 10 be false. Taven-
ncr offered to withdraw his resOlu-
ton calling for an investigation
Ct the Navy league if the league
would agree to stand absolutely
for the government manufacture
CT war munitions. thus helping
him to obtain 100000 worth of
improvements in his district. Is
Tavenner circulating these speech
Cs, known TO be untrue, because
the Navy league refused TO do
business with him on this basis?
The pioneer organization in the
field Of national defense in the
United States was the Navy
league. Over thirteen years ago,
en- Nov. 90 1902. pursuant to a
call issued by Jarvis b. Edison,
chairman Of the committee ap-
pointed by the naval order of the
United States for the formation OF
naval preparedness society, the
pioneer meeting Of the Navy
league was held at the New York
Yacht club.
The men who founded the or
gani2ation were not for the most
part Of national renown. At this
meeting there were present Jarvis
L. Edison. q naval veteran of the
Civil war. who represented the
naval order of the United States;
Washington Irving, an officer OF
the New York state naval militia,
who represented the association OF
the naval militia Of the United
States. and c. ". Rushenberger,
representing the Naval academy
alumni of Philadelphia, and j. ID.
Kelly, an editorial writer OF the
New York Herald, representing
the Naval academy alumni of New
York.
The league was incorporated
under the laws of the state Of New
York, Jan ., 1908. and the incor-
porators named were as follows:
Jacob W Miller. Washington Irv-
ing and Herbert L. Satterlee, who
had served in the Spanish Amer
lean war as opmhers of the New