Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1921-02-27
DENLY Accepts
Navy Portfolio
I'm New Cabinet

ST. AUGUSTINE, F1a., Feb. 26-Ed-
win DENLY, gunner's mate in Hamp-
toms fleet and sergeant of marines in
the war, accepted the portfolio of navy
today, with a pledge to maintain the
naval fighting machine ''at the highest
point of power ready for battle at any
notice."
AS his assistant heads of the service,
Theodore Roosevelt, son of the former
president and he will begin his admin
istration under a policy that calls for
adherance to the present naval build
ing program until the nations may be
brought into a definite agreement to
reduce armaments.
Continuation of the capital construc-
ton program was announced as an ad
ministration policy by President-elect
Harding when he made known the final
desigation of Mr.. DENLY as secretary
and Mr. Roosevelt as assistant
Mr.. Harding will leave tomorrow
night for Marion, where his neighbors
win give him a farewell celebration
Tuesday He expects to reach Wash
ington Thursday, the day before in
auguration.
Confirmation of Mr. Denby's selection
followed a conference in which he laid
before the president t-elect his opinion
of What the next administration should
do. Afterward he would not discuss
detailed policies.
Although he came into the cabinet at
the last minute as a dark horse, Mr..
DENLY brings to the secretaryship> an
unusual background of naval exper-
ience. Besides having been an enlisted
man in war time in both the navy and
the marine corps. he has served as
member of the house naval committee.
Declining to speak of specific naval
policies, Mr. DENLY reminded his ques-
toners that he never had been in close
contact with the larger policies of the
department and so might find himself
a stranger to some important questions
| of policy.
naval policies of the present admins
| tration the secretary be only smiled
ard shook his head. He did take .oc-
casion. however. to declare his unqualt-
fled approval of the antiwine order of
| Secretary Daniels
For Mr.. Daniels he expressed highest
regard and one of his first acts as
secretary was to send a telegram to the
navy department head thanking him
for past courtesies. Going to a tele-
graph stand in the hotel, he scribbled
the following in lead pencil:
Have read withN great pleasure
your kind reference to me in the press
4 Please accept my cordial thanks.
shall see you in Washington in a day
or two, I hope
The meeting will not be the first be-
tween the retiring secretary and his
| successor. During the war, when Mr.
DENLY was serving at the age of As as
a marine sergeant, he broke resula-
tion and went to Mr.. Daniels in an
4 effort to smooth some troubles of the
men serving with him.
Il "The secretary might have court
martialed me-" he said, "but he die
not"
Most of the prospective secretary's
service with the marines was in th'
morale department, though he wa;
sent abroad for a brief period as OBJ
American front. Before the war end
ed he had risen from private to secont
lieutenant, serving with the latter ra,nl
as morale officer at the Paris islanC
training. station. Mr.. DENLY, who Is ;
lawyer by profession, comes of fighting
stock, a grandfather having served a!
; officer in the navy. His father was
Democrat until he refused to supper
{ w. J. Bryan in 1885, was American
I minister TO China uAder Cleveland
! Young DENLY accompanied him an,
) spent nine years in the far east. II
! was in the navy throughout the Span
! ish- American war as gunner's mat
. and participated in the blockade o
! Havana.
Mr.. Roosevelts appointment as as
sistant secretary also falls in with
family tradition. his father fBst hav
ing come to national fame while oc
, cupying that post, and his cousin
. Franklyn ID. Roosevelt having file
: it until he resigned to accept the Dem
: ocratic nomination for the vice -presi
I dency. Mr.. Roosevelt is also a vetera.
of the world war. having served as
. lieutenant colonel in France. He is 8
cId