The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-10-01
MADE IN
DANIELS'S HOME
TOWN DEFECTIVE
Secretary Accused of Over.
ruling Ordnance Officials
Advice to Nays Cost.


WASHINGTON, Sept. 3O-Charges
that Secretary of the Navy Daniels
overruled the chief of ordnance of
the the United States navy and
awarded contracts for shells to the
Raleigh Iron Works Of his home city
were made here by Republicans fol-
lowing an admission by navy officials
that the shells proved defective in
the recent target practice.
Also in connection with his policy
OF favoring North Carolina indus
tries, the Republicans pointed out
that Mr.. Daniels awarded contract
for nearly half million pairs OF
socks to the Durham hosiery mills,
the principal owner of which financed
his newspaper, the Raleigh News and
Observer, for number OF years
while the secretary was struggling to
make 1t success.
Not Munition Makers.
For some time there has been a
great deal of mystery concerning the
ability of the Raleigh Iron Works to
get contracts for shells from the
navy department, especially in view
of the fact that before Mr.. Daniels
came TO Washington from Raleigh to
run the navy the iron factory had
not even manufactured any munitions
of war
The total amount of contracts let
TO the Raleigh concern In the last
two years is $155,830. or this an or
der for $40,500 was given on Au-
gust 4.
1t Is common gossip around the de-
partment and aboard ships in the At
lantic fleet that the shells provided
by the Raleigh concern proved de-
fectiHe in the recent target practice.
This was formally admitted by AS
sistant Secretary Roosevelt. VINO ex-
planned that 1t was really the navy's
fault, however. for ordering an i'm
practical shell.
OVcrlIIleh Ordnance Officials.
Notwithstanding Mr.. Roosevelts
statement, officers OF the department
contend it was foolish to give the
contract to the Raleigh concern, in
view OF the fact that it had never
manufactured ammunition up to two
years ago, and that 1t did not dem
onstrate its ability TO manufacture
satisfactory shells at the time 1t
Lldue us original bid.
Reports that the ordnance officers
strongly urged Mr. Daniels to reject
the Raleigh Iron Works original bid
were neither confirmed nor denied BY
Admiral Straus, chief of ordnance,
You will have to ask Mr.. Daniels
about that" said Admiral Straus,
According to these reports tho
ordnance officials were Suspicious OF
the Raleigh company's bid from the
start, and reported unfavorably on II
after making an Informal inyestiga-
ton, whereupon Mr.. Daniels over
ruled them and let the contract.
Socks Bid Regular.
With regard to the Durham
Hosiery Company's contract for
socks, officials of the department said
1t was perfectly regular, although the
company had never bid for navy
business until Mr.. Daniels became
secretary of the navy.
The Durham Hosiery Comnanv Ia
controlled by the family Of General
Julian Shakespeare Carr, noted
North Carolina financier and poIi-
tician. General Carr for a number
of years backed Duniels In his news
paper work and is still one Of Mr..
pantels's closest personal and bust
ness friends. y
In August, 1915. bids were asked
on 100000 pairs of socks, navy. The
purchase was TO be made in two
groups of 100000 each, or fogr
groups Of 10000 each. The Dur
ham concern was low bidder on one
of the groups, with straightaway
offer to make the / ose for S.73 cents
pair, and the contract was awarded
1t. Later 1t took over part OF tho
contracts of other successful bidders.
Using benzine for fuel, new Gig
aret lighter is close facsimile of d