The Washington herald., 1918-05-08
DANIELS GIVEN
BIG WELCOME
Holland Says New York Re-
ception Was Tribute to
His Great Ability.

a recent visit to New York.
1t may be that there occurred to
him earlier experiences when his re-
lation to the Navy Department and
70 the administration was not spoken
of with unbdunded enthusiasm. To-
day Secretary Daniels. 1t can be
safely reported, is regarded not only
with high respect, but with admira-
ton. and many hive been the COM
ments of New York business men
and of those who have to do with
finance. based upon the belief that
Mr.. Daniels possesses inherent quail
titles which enabled him, when the
emergency came. to measure up to
and adequately grasp the response
bilities which were suddenly thrust
upon his department on account of
the European war.
Moreover, he has shown himself
to be one Of the most democratic
OF men, sometimes sptken of when
he has been a conspicuous member
Of a group OF able men as almost a
boy in the sense that he takes pleas
ure in everything that he sees.
He comments sometimes with the
wondering words of a child upon
various things which are brought to
his attention and he appears to be a
man who finds life well worth living
Furthermore, it has been known to
some who have been brought into
business association with him that
he frequently signs orders and drafts
or whatever the paper may be in
yolyins the payment by the govern
ment Of millions. while he has in
his own pocket only a few cents.
The wealth OF the nation is his in
the sense that he realizes what It
can do and what it means to every
American citizen, but not in the sense
that 1t has any relation to his own
pocketbook- He Is presumed to be
without other property than that rep
resented by his newspaper interests
in Raleigh, N. c., and his chief in
come is now his salary as Secretary
Of the Navy.
The government pays this man.
who is in = position to disburse hun
dreds of millions. and who is able to
enter upon contracts involving the
payment of millions, only $1,000
year.
Daniels as n Cotton Man.
The latest occasion Of Secretary
Daniels visit to New York was due
to the meeting OF about two thousand
cotton manufacturers, all of whom
operate mills in the southern States.
1t was deemed especially Appropriate
TO invite Mr.. Daniels to meet these
cotton manufacturers, since he has
kept well advised respecting the won
derful growth of the cotton manufac-
turing industry in his own State and
in other southern States.
He was keenly interested in the
great utilization of North Carolina 5
water power which, by its conversion
into electric energy, made possible the
establishment of a row or string, SO
TO speak, of cotton manufacturing
plants across the middle of North
Carolina and into South Carolina.
Only few years ago the cotton
manufacturers Of New England spoke
with some passing interest. but no
great concern, about the DEVELOPMENT
Of cotton manufacturing Industries of
the South.
The New England manufacturers
did not fear competition. Some of
them were of the opinion that all
though labor was abundant in the
South, yet it was not skilled labor nor
could it be continuously relied upon
by the manufacturers for steady
work at the spindles.
The utilization of the water DOW
ers OF the South and the construc-
tive ability Of inventors, whereby
electric energy is conveyed from
the water power plants many miles
with little loss of effectiveness,
to the cotton manufacturing plants,
combined with certainty that
with the opening of the Panama
Canal navigation there would he
opened up extensive markets for
the peculiar kind of cotton cloth
manufactured in the South and
economically manufactured because
the power is cheap, the labor not
too high in cost and the cotton
helds are nearby. has changed the
earlier view of northern cotton
goods makers.
Cotton I'm North Carolina.
Mr. DanieTs newspaper at Ra-
leigh gave constant heed to the
development of the cotton manu-
featuring industry in North Car
olina and in South Carolina. This
made it evident that Mr.. Daniels
himself was interested, not merely
as a news gatherer, but as a citf-
zen, eager to advance the material
prosperity OF the South in the de-
Velopment of the cotton manufac-
turing industry, which bids fair
10 exceed the industry of New Eng
land and upper New York State and
may ultimately surpass in the
quantity of the product. although
probably not in the quality of the
goods. the cotton cloths which are
manufactured in the English Lam
cashire district.
1t was a splendid demonstration
OF the fact that the war and all
the issues which 1t involves. have
for the time overshadowed par
tisanship. which was made when
Secretary Daniels paid a compli-
ment to former President William
H. Taft.
The compliment was especially time
" because on the day when Secre-
tary Daniels uttered it announcement
came from Washington that the ad-
mibistration and Congress will take
the view heretofore expressed by Mr..
Taft that the United States should
place an army of 5000. 600 men,
abundantly equipped and satisfactorily
furnished with supplies, in the field
asainst Germany.
Secretary Daniels compliment was
uttered with tact and with fine appre-
ciation Of sentiment of the great body
OF cotton manufacturers of the South
whom he was addressing. For when
the band had finished playing Dixie"
the Secretary said that he had him
self heard very distinguished Ameri-
can who had proved himself a great
American In these days. former Pres
ident VIM. II. Taft, say that Dixie"
Is so fine tune that it did not belong
to any section of the country, but
was a national air.
The cheers were oVerwheIminp
whom fhfa coY,,p1ipoapk -. -.--o