Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-25


ss'sscslled the general to account for an
nouncing his program without nrst
rs consulting the board, and made II clear
That he was not in supreme charge Of
fhe building program. and must not
s;ss0toceed without the approval of the
~ Shipping Board.
$styS1n reply. the general wrote letter.
isssfnAde public to-day. offering to resign
$500 and declaring he had been given to
understand previously by the Presi-
dent. the Shipping Board and all others
concerned that he was to have abso-
l1te authority.
The Goethals program. which in
-S Guides comma ndeering all private ship
ping under construction. and the build
y ing OF two government-owned ship
~SS~yards for putting together fabricated
IS q steel ships. undoubtedly will be adopted
almost as IT stands. Chairman Den
~ man already has forced changes which
:, will reduce the cost of ships to be fab
FABRICATED, and the State Department is
j behind him In his position that the
SsS United States should requisition British
!, ships building in American yards.
no INTERRUPTION
bo& TO WORK OF BOARD
Mr.. Denman's resignation leaves
ice-Chairman Brent as temporary
chairman. and there will be no inter-
- Eruption to the boards work. Until
Z their nominations have been confirmed.
s@SsMr Hurley and Mr.. Colby will sit with
the board as members without the
power to vote. Meantime. Rear-Ad-
= miral Capps will take immediate charge
~ of building.
@ =, .Mr. Hurley tonight authorized this
II appreciate the Importance of the
task with which the President has in
aaaastrusted me- We must build ships. not
, talk about them. American labor. the
most skillful and intelligent in the
world. can turn out the ships in record
breaking time. and we going to
buckle down and get busy"
ONLY WAY TO END ROW
WHICH DELAYS PROGRAM
Oficial announcement OF the accept
ance of the designations of Cocktails
and White was made with publication
Of a letter from President Wilson to
Chairman Denman. asking for his
resignation, and giving the Presi-
dents opinion that the only way to end
the row which has delayed The ship
building program was for both Goc-
thals and Denman to be removed from
the situation
In asking for Mr.. Denman's resigna-
ton, President Wilson suggested that
he would be glad to have Mr.. Denman
take "the same disinterested and self
forgetting course that General Goe-
thals has taken"
When you have done as he has
DONE" the President wrote Mr.. Den
man. Il am sure that you may count
with the utmost confidence upon the
ultimate verdict OF tho people OF the
unanimous and unselfsh view OF public
duty and upon winning in the retro
spect the same admiration and con-
fidence that / have learned to feel for
you"
PRESIDENTS LETTER
TO CHAIRMAN DENMAN
The Presidents letter to Mr.. Denman
follows:
Il hope and believe that 1 am in
terpretinG your best Judgment as we'll
as my own when i say that our duty
concerning the debate and misunder-
~, standings that have arisen in connec-
tion with the shipbuilding program
ought to be settled without regard to
ssssQur personal preferences or our per-
a<>'sonal feelings altogether. and with
the single purpose of doing what will
be best 10 serve the public interest.
NO decision We can now arrive at
could eliminate the elements of con-
troHersy that have crept into almos
every question connected with the
program; and am convinced that the
only wise course is to begin afresh-
not upon the program. for that is al
ready in large part in process of execu-
ton. but upon the further execution
of it.
II have found both you and Cen
+ eral Goethals ready TO serve the pub
= lie at a personal sacrifice. Realizing
that the only manner in which the way
can be completely cleared for har-
monious and effective action is to
= carry our shipbuilding plans forward
from this point through new agencies,
General Goethals has put his resigna-
ton in my hands: and have accepted
1t IN the same spirit in which it was
e. tendered-not as deciding between two
men whom I respect and admire, but
in order to make invidous decisions
unnecessary and let the work be de-
veloped without further discussion OF
what is past.
q = ASKS HIM TO TAKE SAME
DISINTERESTED COURSE
i am taking the liberty OF writing
to tell you this in the confidence that
you will be glad to take the same dis
interested and self-forgetting course
that General Cocktails has taken.
When you have done as he has done
am sure that you may count with
1 the utmost confidence upon tho ulti-
z mate verdict OF the people If the coun-
try with regard to your magnanimous
and unselfsh view OF public duty, and
upon winning in the restrospect the
q same admiration and confidence that
3 nave learned to feel for you.
4 With much regard and very great
appreciation OF the large services you
: have rendered cordially and sincerely
3 yours, WOODROW WILSON"
I Chairman Denman received the
$ Presidents request for his resignation
J at noon. and rendered 1t Immediately.
q want 10 help the President in
Z every way possible" he said, "and
3 never have questioned the wisdom of
9 his decisions"