New-York tribune., 1919-06-24
Navy League Head
Answers "Infamy''
Charge of Daniels
Attack Declared a ''Cross
Insult" to 100000 Amer
lean Women; Cites Noted
Men Said TO Be Accused
Neip Yoyk Tribune
WdsitfuOtot Eursdu

WASHINGTON, June 23.-Thc recent
attack Of Secretary Daniels upon the
Navy League before the House Naval
Afa4's Committee, III which he charged
ne organization With infamy, called
forth a warm reply from Henry Breck
cAridgc, preside OF the Navy League,
to-day.
IL letter TO Chairman Butler, Of the
Naval Affairs Committee, Mr.. Brecken-
ridge said the Secretary aad pcrpe
tiated "a gross insult" to 100000
American women who are members Of
the league, and had "slanderea" an
organization that comprises among it's
members so.ac OF tho most noted men
Oh the nation.
Mr.. Breckenridge asked that Chair
man Butler protect the Navy League
from the unjust application of the
power &C an official of the executive
arm OF the government who by all our
traditions is a servant OF the people
and not master OF the people"
Curb on Secretary Sought
"When he illegally Attempts to dc
privo us OF an equal right to associate
with the man of the navy and to visit
tho ships end institutions Of the navy
upon the same conditions with other
classes of citizens, we ask you, if pos
sible, to restrain him"
''Fhe Secretary of the Navy adj
roitly seeks to make it appear that
the Navy League was opposed TO Of
ticcrs Of the navy and called in 1ues-
ton their motives,' the letter con-
tended. Gle knows in his heart that
the officers and men of the navy
had no sincerer friend or more loyal
supporter than the Navy League. and
that the relations between the Navy
7 G
the navy always have been, are now
and will continue TO be cordial, sym
pathetic and affectionate
"llc tries to make it appear that the
Navy League is opposed to organized
labor, thus reaching out and bidding
for the support of this powerful in
tercst in his attack upon our organ-
zation. He knows in his heart that
the Navy League has never had any
issue or controversy as to naval policy
with any other officials, interests or
class Of citizenship except himself"
After asserting that he had nothing
to 90 with the article relating to
Mare Island, on which Secretary Dan
lels had laid great stress, he sug-
gested that the Secretary publish in
full the proceedings of the board of
navy officers that investigated that
matter.
Regard of Personnel Claimed
The Navy League, Mr.. Breckenridge
said, had enjoyed the friendship Of
every official of the Navy Department
all through its existence, except Soc
retary Daniels. Thousands of dollars
had been spent in affording recreation
and amusement for the men in the
navy. Despite the obstruction of the
Secretary, he said, much was done
along this line.
BY implication, the letter said, Secre-
ttary Daniels carried the charge of "in-
fanny" to many of the most noted men
Of the country. Mr.. BRECKENRIDGE
pointed out that just before his death
Theodore Roosevelt gave $500 of his
Nobel Peace Prize to the Navy League
As Others who must be included in
Mr.. Danielss Characterization" he
named:
Elihu Root, Judge Alton B. Parker,
Lieutenant Vincent Astor, j. P. Morgan,
George B. Cortelyou, the Rev. Ly-
man Abbott, D. D., Ogden Reid, Jacob
II. Schiff and August Belmont, of New
Iork; John W. Weeks, OF Boston;
Clarence Ousley, Assistant Secretary
OF Agriculture; David Jayne Hill, of
Washington; Alba 3. Johnson, of Phil
adelphia; Charles Nj. Schwab, of Beth.
lehem, Penn; Myrop T. Herrick, Of
Cleveland. and II. F. du Pont, Of Della
ware.