Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1920-09-23
CALM ON THE DEEP.

Something is the matter with the
Honorable Josephus Daniels Months
have passed since he has been able to
make the front page of the daiIes for
more than a dozen lines.
II ia not that the Honorable Jose
plus has no ability in the great polit-
ical game of disporting before the
grandstand far from 1t. The kindly
but efficient secretary Of the navy may
he said 10 be quite adept in this pop
reign until few months ago
ular pastime But for the first OF his
reign until few months ago he dis
played his talents along this line in Il
marked and forceful manner.
TO begin with Mr.. Daniels was a
newspaper man Then he became a
lawyer, and later an editor. With
such experience to guide him it is no
wonder that he was chosen in 1918 to
act as head of the American navy.
The surprising thing about it all is
that he was allowed to remain I'M
noticed by former presidents.
OF course the fact that he was born
with the delay in placing him as chief
of our navy. Had he lived his life in
Tennessee or Kansas instead of near
the sea he would have been better
qualified for his present post
When Mr.. Daniels entered the cab.
met March ), 1913. the world was soon
notified that the navy was in compel
ent hands. Until the Honorable Jose
phus accepted the portfolio. the navy
had been in careless hands. 1t had
been allowed to run down at the heel
80 to speak
Customs which originated some cen.
turtles ago were still in use, The off
GERS and men of the ocean forces
spoke in queer terms of their duties
and details of shiplife. They used d
nautical dialect which has been in use
from the beginning of mans life on
the seas. In short there was nothing
very original in their conceptions of
what navy. naval life and a naval
language should be.
Why should the left side of ship
be called the port side or la-b'd?"
the secretary desired to know when it
stand and so much easier for the dear
public to understand and so much
easier For everyone to say, if the left
side Of ship was called the left
side"
And so the port" and sta BID" be-
came the left and right, and matches"
were made doors" ana Zines" be
came ropes and everything became
different 1t is not known for certain
that he attempted to make the
bridge" "stoop' or "veranda .
but from his attitude toward the navy
and its life there is little doubt that
he made the attempt.
There is really no reason why the
language Of the navy could not be
changed. While drawing the same
breath II might also be said that there
Is no reason why it should be changed
o II the iilander doesn't understand
navy talk he can read "Treasure Isl
and or peruse "EXqueming," or re
main in ignorance.
II would be infinitely easier tc
teach the inlander the language of the
seas, than the seafarng man the Ian
- ii
order, however, was not done thought
lessly and without motive Whatever
else josephus may be. he has been
newspaper man and he knows the val
ne of publicity within such orders.
TO change the language of the nav,
by official order was to strike at tn,
rootS or custom and tradition. ant
coming from a cabinet officer wa
good for banner" on any newspape
in the world. where "streamers" ar,
used across the front page.
Finally came the war. MIR. Daniel
was constantly before the public eye
Then came his verbal battle with AID
hlirai SIMS, For weeks every pane
IN the land shrieked Daniels" to tn
world from front pages
Since that time the Honorable SEE
Rotary has been keeping still. He al
tempted to chirp in the Maine car
patgn but his voice was drowned h
the election officials tallying iRcpul
hcan votes. Why he has been keel
ing silent for SO long Is inexplainahlt
Inc faCt That he was in Alaska fo
several weeks during the summe
may be responsible for his silence
may be that satisfied with his las
performance in the arena with A,
mirHl Sims, he Ia reluctant to destro
the effects Of the spectacle by appea
ing In production of meaner pr,
portions. II cannot be because ne
afraid that something he NAV say wi
hurt him politically. Personally IL
secretary may be charming GENT
man. but politically he has been lor
dead
March j. the Honorable Joseph,
became secretary of the navy.
week later there was strange cd
which wreathed thru the corridors
the navy building II was the unm
taxable scent associated with the d
cay " political hope Disinfectant
the form of propaganda skillfuly =
Piled concealed the truth from t
public for months but when the w
came. the secret was disclosed Da
iels was. politically speaking, corp
long past the stages of rigor mort
10 ..l,. 1.