Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1922-11-16
ORGANIZATION UPON WHICH Mn.
DANIELS FRoW ed AGAIN
COMES TO THE FORE.
DENNY ATTENDS IT'S DINNER
Members, Who Are All Civilians. Are
Trying to Keep the American Navy
as Efficient as is Permitted BY
Congressional Action
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK

II was only sleeping from the eHects
Of q puncn which 1t received a few
years ago from the hand of the then
chief of fhe Navy department of the
United States.
The Navy league is an Organization
Of civilians whose purpose 1t Is to-
keep Interest alive in the sea service
and to ebdeavor through influence and
information to secure the maintenance
os the American navy on as firm
keel as is authorized by law.
Some years ago II Washington there
was a dinner given by an organizations
OF army and navy officers who had
seen service in the Philippines or in.
the waters thereof. Just at that time
the secretary of state, Mr.. Bryan, ana
the secretary Of the navy, Mr. Daniels.
had said some things in a general
way concerning Deace on earth and
good viii toward men. The service
organization seized upon this to mean
that Mr.. Bryan and Mr., Daniels were
opposed to an up-to-date army and an
up-to-date navy.
When the dinner was about half
over two floral battleships were
brought into the room One Of them
bore In big blue letters the name Of
s'Friendship" and the other, If mem
DRY serves correctly. bore the name of
"PifEie.v This dinner raised a row.
The organizers of the affair were
reprimanded and for several years no
further dinners were held.
Swatted by Secretary Daniels.
Just after the United States entered
the war the magazine which was the
organ Of the Navy league contained
an article to which Secretary of the
Navy Daniels took instant exception.
An apology was forthcoming. but 1t
seemingly was not sufficient; at any
rate an order was issued forbidding
the men of the navy to receive direct
certain things which members of the
Navy league were preparing for their
wartime use.
SO it was that the Navy league, be-
ing denied official support and sane
ton, rather dropped out of sight as an
active organization. Now II Il very
much in evidence again and on Navy
day, which was celebrated recently,
1t gave 4 great dinner at which the
present secretary of the navy. Mr.. Den
by, was present, to make the principal
address.
This Navy league matter shows
what changes can come in Washing
ton when one administration succeeds
another. The Navy league was con-
1emned under one President and 1t
las commentator under another.
People who want to make up their
minds as to the rights and wrongs of
the whole thing must go back to the
files Of the war days.
1t seems apparent, however, that the
members of the Navy league today
have accepted In good spirit the die
tum that the numbers Of our ships
are to be limited, but it Is true, never
theless, they have determined appar-
emily that If proper influence can do
1t there shall be no failing away be-
fore the lines Of the limit are reached.
Memory Of Jones Honored.
Interest In the recent celebration of
Navy day was sharpened for residents
OF Washington. not only by the cir
cumstances Of the apparent rehabilita-
ton of the Navy league in the graces
OF the government, but because Of
the marked honor which was paid
to the memory of John Paul Jones,
commander of the Bon Homme Rich
ard IN Revolutionary days, who fought
the FIRST fight at sea in behalf of the
American colonies under the American
flag with Its design as adopted by
law.
The statue Of John Paul Jones
stands near the waters edge In Po-
tomac park. When il was erected
some years ago the intention was to
chisel into the base stone Father OF
the American Navy" but objection
was raised and consideration OF one
kind or another, principally political,
It was charged, prevented the chisel-
Ing In of the inscription.
In Franklin square Ia this city
there Is n statue OF Commodore John
Barry who fought several fights In
Revolutionary DAYS for the American
colonies on the American side of the
Atlantic. PGrtisans Of Barry say he
was the real Father Of the Navy. =
because he had planned several Of
the earlier ships and had been gen
orally active in fhe direction of the
sea-flghting forces. Barry. however
was not the spcctacularly heroic fig.
ure that Jones was Nevertheless the
attempt was made TO secure authoriza-
ton to chip Father of the American
Navy into the base OF Barry,s statue
Il did not succeed.
On Navy day the chief outdoor
celebration centered about the statue
of John Paul Jones. and In the reports
OF the affair the title Father of the
American Navy frequently was used
Ship Subsidy m Doubt
Uncertainty Of the outcome in cor.
gress Of the proposal for ship subsidy
Cor the American merchant marine is
perhaps best s1Own BY specific ref