Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-01-20
PASTORS CHARGES
BRING INQUIRY IN
NAVY METHODS"
Full Evidence to Be Called For
by Subcommittee of
Senators.

Charges made by the Ministers
Union of Newport, r l., and John r
! Rathom, editor of the Providence
I journal that vile methods have
been employed by the Navy Depart
| ment for the alleged purpose OF
searching out degenerates, will be in
vestigated by a subcommittee of the
senate naval affairs committee. it was
determined yesterday by the full
| naval affairs committee
! y telegram addressed to members
OF the naval affairs committee by Mr.
Rathom alleges a condition of affairs
IN the Navy Department rotten be-
yond description" in which a secret
division of the naval intelligence was
created and maintained for the spe-
cine purpose of using young seamen
Tor the most vile and nameless prac-
tees in order to entrap innocent
| men, to the grave injury of the rep
utation of the city of Newport. Ar
engagements have been made for the
submission of full evidence and a list
of witnesses to be summoned before
the naval affairs subcommittee.
Letter Sent to the President.
The charge is made that Secretary
Daniels has had full knowledge of the
action of the Navy Department in this
particular. y letter of protest against
the conduct of the Navy Departm ent
was sent by the Ministers Union of
Newport to President Wilson more
latter to the President, signed by
James De Wolf Perry, Bishop of
Rhode Island, and ten other minis
tiers. follows:
The acquittal and vindication of the
Rev Samuel Neal Kent, first in the
district court in Newport. in August.
1919, and second in the United States
court in Providence. in January, 1920.
on charges of immoral conduct pre-
ferred against him by the Navy De-
partment, prompts US. who have been
associated with him in social and re-
ligfous work among the enlisted men
of both Army and Navy, to call to
your attention certain deleterious and
vicious methods employed by the
Navy Department.
The testimony submitted by the
prosecution in this case reveals the
facts: Two men, who claim to possess
the unusual power of detecting sexual
degeneracy at sight, were given
charge by the Navy Department over
score of youths enlisted in, and
wearing the uniform OF, the onlteo
States Navy These boys they then
instructed in the details of name
less vice and sent them through the
community to practice the same III
general, and in particular to entrap
certain designated individuals; ana
nent citizens of Rhode Island made In
person strong and continuous protest
directly to the Secretary and ASSIST
ant secretary of the Navy against
this Ubiquitous procedure
1T must be evident 10 every
thoughtful mind that the use OF SUI
vile methods cannot fail to undermine
the character and ruin the morals OF
the unfortunate youths detailed lot
this duty render no cltlzen OIL inc
community safe from suspicion ana
calumny, bring the city into unwar-
ranted reproach and shake the iaith
of the people in the wisdom and IN
tegrity of the naval administration.
I'VE. vitality interested in the morai
welfare of the young men OF the
service who are in our mloSl, un-
biased by any political partisanshlp.
feel it our solemn duty to request you
TO take at the earliest moment such
measures as will eliminate from the
Navy all officials. however hlsnIy
placed. who are responsible lot the
of such execrabie meth
ods-methods contrary alike to the
dictates of morallty, palrIolishi anu
religion
."The people of the United States are
entitled to the assurance that mere
after no boy who enlists in the Navy
will be consigned to career OF VICE
Declines to Comment.
Secretary Daniels declined TO COM
ment on Mr.. Rathom's charges, de-
claring that he did not desire to make
a statement until he was more familiar
with the allegations Assistant Secre-
rary Roosevelt, who was said by MI
Daniels to be more familiar with the
matter. asserted that the special board
of inquiry appointed by the judge advo-
cate general of the Navy two weeks
ago. had full authority to investigate
the methods employed by naval intelli-
gence officers in securing evidence
against persons under suspicion of moral
delinquency, and to inquire into all judi
cial procedure of the Navy at Newport
While charges of improper methods of
obtaining evidence in such cases have
been in the hands of the Navy Depart
ment for two months, Mr.. Roosevelt said,
the department had withheld action
upon them until the cases Of several
civilians brought to trial upon evidence
furnished by the Navy. including Rev.
in the federal courts. The board of in
uuiry, the assistant secretary said,
will proceed at once with its investiga-
ton with full power to subpoena wit
nesses and get at all the facts.
Board of Inquiry Appointed.
A board of inquiry. headed by Rear
Admiral Dunn. commandant OF the
first naval district, has been appointed
by Secretary Daniels to Investigate
conditions at the naval station at
Newport which led to the charges.
1t was said at the Navy Department
today that the board had been named
several days ago and that it would
conduct a thorough investigation.
To Cure a Cold In One Day
-rota IA PROMO OTIININE 1sahlefsl