Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-07-26
G0ETHALS.OENMAN
ROW IS SETTLED
Cocktails Resignation Is Accept.
ed-Denman Is Asked to
Get Out.
SUCCESSORS ARE NAMED.
Rear-Admirn1 Capps Takes the Gener-
ais Job-Edward N. Hurley VIII
Succeed Mr. Denmau.

washington, July H.-President Wilson
brought the shipping board row to an
abrupt termination to-day by eliminating
the two MISREPRESENTATION Denman,
chairman of the board and Major General
George w. Cocktails, manager of the
boards emergency fleet corporation in
charge OF construction.
The resignation of General Cocktails.
rendered some days ago, was accepted.
and Mr.. Denman was asked by the Presi-
dent to follow suit that the governments
building program might 20 forward with
out embarrassment.
Edward NJ Hurley Of Chicago, former
chairman of the federal trade commission,
was named by the President to succeed
Mr.. Denman to become chairman of the
board, and cambridge Colby Of New York
was appointed successor to Captain John
B. White of Kansas City, another board
member whose resignation, offered to the
President month ago, also was accepted.
Rear Admiral Washington L. Caps.
chief constructor of the navy, will
succeed General Goethals as manager
Of the fleet corporation, taking imme-
diate charge of the building program
The nominations of Mr.. Hurley and
Mr.. Colby went to the Senate this aft
ernoon and were referred to the COM
firmation was predicted by both demo-
cratic and republican leaders.
Mr.. Denman sent his resignation to
the White House Immediately after
receipt of the Presidents letter re-
questing 1t. The Presidents action
manifestly took him by surprise, but
his only comment was this:
1T was the best way to settle the
whole thing. l want to help the
President in every way possible and
never have questioned the wisdom of
his decisions"
1t was reported tonight that Theodore
Brent. vice-chairman of the board, who
has been strong supporter of Mr.. Dem
mans position had offered to quit the
board If the President thought it best but
at the White House it was said no COM
munication had been received from him.
John A. Donald and r. B. Stevens, the
other board members who have lined up
with General Cocktails, said they had no
intention of resigning.
The Presidents method of ending the
controversy came as great surprise to
most officials here, who had believed he
would make a final effort to compose the
situation by dividing definitely between
the shipping board and the manager Of its
corporation the powers conferred on the
executive by Congress. Mr.. Wilson APP
parently became convinced. however. that
Denman and Goethals never could work
In harmony and that both were in a meas
ure to be blamed for the delay to the ship
building program.
The Cocktails program, which in
cludes Communicating all private ship.
ping under construction and the build
ing Of two government owned ship
yards for putting together fabricated
steel ships. undoubtedly will be adopt
ed as it stands. Chairman Denman al
ready has forced changes which will
will reduce the cost of ships to be fab
ricated and the state department is be-
hind him in his position that the Uni
ted States should requisition British
ships building in American yards.
Mr.. Denman's resignation leaves
Vice. Chairman Brent as temporary
chairman and there will be no inter.
ception to the boards work.
In announcing acceptance Of the res
ignation of General Cocktails and the
request that Mr.. Denman resign, the
White House made public the Presi-
dents letter to both men.