Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1921-05-21


presents II life sketch 0f Edwin
DENLY. Secretary Of the Navy, who
probably viii make his first visit
10 Annapolis. since he became n
member of President Harding's
cabinet. on Thursday of next
week. on the occasion of the cere-
monies attending the graduation
Of the midshipmen of the class 0f
1921.
1t was written in the stars,
when Edwin Dcnby was appoint
ed Secretary OF the Navy in
President llarding's cabinet, that
the lj0,000-odd bluejackcts and
marines should. without quibble,
bestow on him that title OF alfec-
ton among fighting men: The
Old Man. For ever since his
fifteenth year, when he was a lad
n China, Edwin DENLY has lived
a lie picturesque in color and rich
in adventure The only veteran
ot the World War in the Cabinet
he has swabbed decks as eob
and done his trick at kitchen
police as a leatherneck. Small
wonder that rank and file acclaim
ed his appointment
College Football Player
A youngster in the service of the
Chinese Maritime Customs. a stalwart
forward on one of Michigan's crack
elevens. gunner's mate under fire In
Cuban waters. member of the Michi-
gan Legislature and then OF Congress,
"A pioneer in the automobile industry
with large financial interests when he
enlisted in the Marine Corps as a
buck private one week after we had
declared war on Germany. A slim
outline that but the framework Of a
career that has made DENLY the most
picturesque Cabinet figure OF his gem
Grafton. And the ink was barely dry
on his commission as Secretary OF the
Navy when he left Washington 10
sling his hammock with the feet and
give the high sign OF comradeship TO
the regiments of sea soldiers doing
duty in Haiti and Santo Domingo.
Native OF Indiana
In more sober fashion Edwin DENLY
began his career in Evansville. Ind,
on February is. 1870. the son OF
Charles DENLY and Martha Fitch
Denby From 1855. for space cf
twelve years. his father served as
Minister TO China and there young
DENLY entered the customs service.
working with English fiscal experts
to put the Mandarin Empire on its
entered the law school at Ann Arbor
and his powerful physique won him a
place in the line when the Michigan
eleven was on top of the football
heap. He won his degree in 1896 and
began the practice OF law and his
naval career as apprentice seaman in
the Michigan naval reserve the same
wear
FRHtllR IHe Spanish DOuS
Truman Newberry was then in the
reserve and their careers ran along in
an odd parallel for both were ship
mates on the II. s. S. Yosemite when
that converted III Rio liner broke out
her Yankee pennant in the spring OF
1898 DENLY was then a gunner's
mate, third class. and Newberry was
in the officers mess. Later. when the
Spanish dons had had enough fight
ing. the gunner's mate won the nomi-
ration for Congress that Newberry
ran for. and now DENLY is occupying
the portfolio that Newberry later held
in Rooseyelt's cabinet.
The Yosemite was no Stacker in
that war. taking part in the blockade
Of Havana. destroying a rich Spanish
prize. and covering the landing Of
Huntington's battalion of 800 marines
from the transport Panther at Guam
tanamo, which they held as base fo-
Simpsons feet aginst the fierce at
tacks of Spanish troops.
DENLY came naturally by his love
for the sea, as relatives of both his
father and his mother served as
American naval officers.
Denby Enters Politics
With the end of the war, however,
DENLY turned his talents to law and
politics. He was elected TO the Michi-
gan Legislature in 1902 and then
Michigan sent him to Congress in
Continued on Page 81 lnnm4