The Washington herald., 1916-02-13
BY T.. h. JOHNS.

If Franklin Roosevelt should be ap-
pointed Secretary of War as has been
| forecast in some OF the reports, the name
OF Paymaster General samuel MCGOWAN
will be given serious consideration In
connection with the vacancy IN the ONCE
OF the Assistant Secretary of the Navy.
The reports were current around the
| Navy Department yesterday that the
Paymsster General is already being con-
| sidered for the place.
II is recognized that Mr.. MCGOWAN
would be of invaluable service to Sec
retary Daniels in administering the de-
tails OF the department and the navy.
Although the head of bureau the Pay
master General always keeps In mind
the fact that the navy 10 afloat and con-
seauently all OF his efforts as Paymastsr
General have been towards organization
of the various supply depots to serve
the feet.
Most of Mr.. McGowsn's service has
been afoat. He was appointed Pay
master General last July after the COM
pletion of a second cruise as fleet pay
master of the battle fleet The COM
mandcr -in-chief of the feet said in hts
official report that Mr.. MCGOWAN hss
made the pay department Of the Atlantic
feet "a smooth working military
machine" In 1905 when President Roose-
welt sent the feet on its famous cruise
around the world. Pay Inspector NC
Gowan was appointed feetpayn1aster and
II was In this capacity that he won
distinction in the navy. The cruise was
made on schedule time and not once
during its trip of more than year was
it necessary to put the men on short
rations" or deny them anything IN 'ne
usual biIl-of-fare afforded the JacKles IN
port or on home stations.
After careful perusal Of President
wilson's speeches, RepresentaoNe
Percy c. Quin, of Massachusetts, VINO
has been one OF the most actiVe pa
cifists in Congress, has seen the ilgnt
Of preparedness. His conversion
complete and he announces his ac'Ne
support of the Presidents program.
at Is with no feeling OF humilia-
ton that announce a complete
change of conviction in regard to pre-
paredness said Mr.. Quin. Il am
taking this step in the face OF serI-
Gus opposition from my constituency
among whom the majority opposes the
President on this question. l am con-
yinced that ! am in better Positloh
to Judge the best step to take in TINS
serious question and believe those OF
nv constituents who are now opposed
70 the party plan will change their
minds lust as | have done, when they
analvze carefully the various speeches
made by the President on his recent
tour Of the Middle West
1T was hard for me to decide that
the country is in danger. The argu-
ments presented In attempting 10
nrove that this country is in no danger
of attack sounded very reasonable TO
me haye.gone into them with the
GREATEST care and even IL ] had not
done SO l am willing to take the
words of Mr.. Wilson that we are In
danger and that we should carry
reasonable amount of national insur-
ance."
The Secretary of the Navy has been
working during the past three weeks on
an intricate battle problem in an ef-
fort to furnish the Mard Gras celebra-
tions at New Orleans. Mobile. Pensacola,
and Tampa with a feet of sufhcient
strength to satisfy the local pride OF
these fiourishins southern cities. In fh's
connection the Senators and members
from Florida, Alabama and Mississippi
have acted as council of aides. In
fact some of the Senators and members
have been constantly at the seeretary's
elbow. All of the cities have been de-
mandins at least q battleship feet.
In order to satisfy New Orleans it
has been necessary to order the Ken.
tuckv from Vera Cruz and she VIII be
ON duty at New Orleans until the close
of the Mardi Gras. The destroyers Flus-
ser. Terry and Monaghan have also been
ordered to New Orleans from Pensacola
The Tallahassee. the worden and SUBJ
marine III. K-o ks and K-e were or
dered to Tampa and concluded the nsn-
euvcrs there yesterday and will proceed
today to Pensacola.
second Lieut.. Paul H. Wegranch, u
8. A., retired. reported at the War De-