The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-07-25
Virginian. Father Of American
Dreadnaught. To Garry Out
Great Program
EDWARD N. HURLEY,
OF CHICAGO, HEADS
SHIPPING BOARD
House Cleaning By Chief Ex-
ecutive Follows Promptly
Vain Attempt to Reconcile
Iime-killing Differences

Washington. July 24--Presidsnt
Wilson cleaned house In the shippin q
board and. emergency feet corpora
ton today.
He requested and received the reais
nations OF both General osoeshaIs.
general manager OF the emergency
feet corporation. and William Denmau.
chairman Of the United states ship
ping board.
In General Goethals' place he named
Resr-Adrntral Washington Lee Capps,
chief constructor Of the navy. To sue
coed Chairman Denman he selected
Edward y Hurley. Of Chicago. former
chairman OF the federal trade commits
sion. BAinbrtdse colby is nominate ed
to succeed John b white on the ship
ping board, The nominate OF Mr..
Hurley and Mr.. Colby must be con-
firmsd by the senate.
One Dominant Note-"Buiid the ships
Throughout the whole OF the start
ling developments OF the day one note
was dominant It was this:
Build the ships.
whether they will be wooden or
steel ships could not be learned from
the task OF building Ii Is certain
tina; II Admiral Capps has his way
tie ships will be Of steel The extent
OF Admiral Caps exclusive authority
remains the only uncertain element IN
the situation. II is not believed.
however. that Mr.. Wilson would have
made the Changes which means SO
much IN every sense. were he not as
sured that the program would not
proceed without the friction which the
president assigns as the basis for all
his action.
Admiral cappe refused himself 70
all intervtewsra So far as known no
interview with Admiral Capps has
ever been printed He is described
~ q sailor OF the old school who be-
1ieves In permitting his aeds to speak
for themselves, Secretary Daniels had
this to say OF his appointment:
Not An Advertiser.
Admiral Capps 10 thoroughly
known and appreciated by the ship
building interests OF the country. al
though perhaps not so well-known TO
the general public as he is not an ad-
vertiser.
HE WAS the most astonished man
IN Washington when called him
from his dinner table this noon and
informed him Of his appointment I
can't say think he was pleased for
he realizes that he has a tremendous
" difficult task ahead OF him. But
his answer was the CHEEKY aye, aye.
str that a naval officer loves to hear.
Els he TO be the boss. now Mr.
Daniels was asked Hes one Of the
most efficient officers know Of" Mr.
Daniels replied with emphasis. He'll
do hts job
Throughout the correspondence
which passed between the president
Mr.. Denman and General Cocktails this
morning all three made II Main that
Il was incompat!hiIity of temperament
that was delaying the shipping pro-
gram
Goethais' Segregation.
81 am convinced General Goe-
that's wrote. shat the hest inter-
ests Of the public welfare would
be served II were replaced by
acme one whom fun authority
can he centercd and whose per-
sonality will not be a stumhling-
block"
Thus interpreted and In the light Of
the statement of Mr.. Hurley. the new
chairman OF the board. that I'VE must
build ships. not talk about them" It
would seem that Admiral Caps is to
have very full power.
Secretary Daniels statement. with
regard to hts appointment today. was
as follows;
Admiral Capps said at once that.
although in no sense an applicant he
was officer of the navy. subject to
the wishes OF the commander-fn-ch chief.
and would devote his utmost energy
to the successful, accomplishment of
any duty assigned to him.
A Re-evd Of Achievement.
Admiral Caps was for many years
chief constructor Of the navy and his
record of achievement in that posi-
ton ia of the best. He served as chief
constructor from November. 1903, to
October, 1910. During this time the
tonnage Of tho navy was more than
doubled and tho majority OF tho pres
snt hshting vessels of tbs navy were
designed by him.
;. admiral Caps abilities and
achievements as chief constructor
were SO much appreciated by congress-
that under a special act OF congress.
after having the bureau Of construc.