Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-10-26
The Meaning Of Navy Day

There is widespread regret that
Governor Baxter of Maine has seen
lit to disapprove the observance of
Navy Day. but there is no fear that
his example will be considerably fol-
lowed. 1t will not interfere with the
observance in the more than a score
OF States which have officially adopt
cd it, and, best of all, in the nearly
fourscore important universities and
colleges which are, preparing for it.
Nor VIII there, we may unhesitating-
~ believe. be any lack of interest and
ealnestness in profitably commence
rating the day on the part of those
who were most Jealous in promoting
and who are most loyal in maintain
ing the principles and the results of
last years Conference on Limitation
or Armament, with which Governor
Baxter strangely seems to imagine
Navy Day will be in conflict.
There were two unfortunate mis-
apprehensiOns expressed by Govern
or BaXter in the reported interview in
which he expressed unwillingness to
give his approval to Navy Day. One
ing at Washington as "disarma-
ment conference" 1t was no such
thing. Itswas specifically a Confer
erce on Limitation of Armament; a
very different thing. Limitation of
armament is not necessarily even re-
duction of armament, though it did in
TACT lead to it; but it certainly is not
abolition of armament There was
no proposal and no thought at that
conference of disarmament. On the
contrary, it was expressly determin-
ca that the nations represented
should maintain very considerable
naval establishments, and that that
OF the United States should be as
powerful as any other in the world.
The other error was the assumption
that Navy Day would mean a ere
lapse into the old ways" of naval
expansion" There is no thought Of
any such thing. On the contrary, one
OF the prime objects of Navy Day is,
in Governor BaXter's own words, to
live up to both the letter and the
spirit of the agreement made at last
years conference. In letter that
agreement was that we should reduce
our fleet to a certain ratio with the
other Powers and keep it there. In
spirit it was that we should not let
our Navy fall below the standard
thus set either in size or in efficiency.
Navy Day does not mean expansion
beyond the limits set, but it docs
mean purpose not to let our Navy
fall below it, 1t does not mean a
relapse to the old way" of big
fleet grossly undermined, but it
means smaller fleet well manned.
well equipped and in the best possi-
bic trim for service.
That is the meaning of NAVY Day.
which the great majority of the Am
erican people will earnestly observe
on Friday next, and that a tribute to
the great and gallant patriot whose
birthday anniversary has been felic-
tously chosen as the name dav of
mat branch of the public service
in which he was so deeply interest
Cd and for the promotion Of which he
did SO invaluable work. No civil
IAN administrator in all our history
dld quite as much for the American
Navy as did Theodore Roosevelt, at
hrst as Assistant Secretary of the
Navy and afterward as President of
the United States, and it will he a
grateful and graceful recognition of
That fact to rubricate his natal ami
Versary in our calendar of patriotism
as Navy Day. for perennial observ-
ance