New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-26
Lifting a Boycott


priations Committee did not vote to 'di-
rect" as well as to authorize" the Secre-
tary of the Navy TO accept furnishings and
supplies from the Navy League. Mr..
Daniels's order boycotting that organiza-
ton and its relief work was issued in
moment Of peevishness. It was measure
of retaiation-a reprisal for what Secre-
tary Daniels considered an unwarranted
criticism emanating from an official of the
league. AS is nearly always the case with
1eprisals, the brunt of the injury fell upon
innocent outsiders in no way responsible
for the offence.
In order to strike at an individual who
lad provoked him Mr.. Daniels prescribed
an organization which has been a stanch
and true friend to the navy. It was work
ing intelligently to develop the naval es-
on the scene. For years it conducted an
effective campaign of education to quicken
naval construction and to modernize naval
administration and policy. 1t has long
been deeply interested in the welfare of
our sailors. When war with Germany was
threatened it undertook to get in touch with
all the men in this country who had for
merly served in the navy and to persuade
them to reenlist It's work was of invalu-
able assistance to the naval officers as
signed to recruiting duty, and it has been
estimated by good authorities that practi-
cally half of the enistments since the war
began were secured through the leagues
efforts. 1t stood ready to provide an in
surance and allowance fund for the en-
listed men, but Secretary Daniels turned
down this generous offer. The work of its
Comforts Committee has been prodigious.
Under its direction thousands of patriotic
women have been knitting sweaters and
other articles of clothing sorely needed by
the jackies.
Mr.. Daniels, in fit of irritation, black
listed the leagues knitters. He gave
notice that he would accept no gifts from
persons associated with the league. In
order to vent his wrath against a single
league official he cut off supply of COM
forts from which thousands of sailormen
would have benefited. What interest could
the freezing jackie on a cruise in wintry
waters have in the Secretary of the Nays
personal quarres with his civilian critics?
Should he refuse to wear, or forego the
chance of wearing, a woollen protector
simply because it might come to him from
an organization which issued statements
disagreeable to the Secretary? Why should
he be expected to worry along with an in
adequate wardrobe because patriotic as
ISOLATION which was ready to clothe him
had lost caste temporarily with the head
of the Navy Department?
The situation which Mr.. Daniels created
by his accommodation of the league is
farcical In time like this the govern
ment should gladly accept aid from all
available sources. A sweater is a sweater,
whether or not the maker of it is con-
nected with an association whose officials
have ruffled the Secretary of the Nays
sensitive feelings. The league is not giving
gifts to Mr.. Daniels. 1t is giving them to
the fighting men on the ships.
The Senate Appropriations Committee
seeks to spare Mr.. Danielss pride by "au-
thorizing' him to accept donations which
he formerly accepted without question,
and which he should never have stopped
accepting. Possibly he will take the hint,
thus broadly given, that his boycott of the
Navy League is a piece of foolshness. If
he doesn't Congress should explicitly di-
rect him to lift his boycott. which, in the
eyes of the public, has never been anything
but narrow-mindedly unpstriotic.