JOSEPHUS DANIELS - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 06/28/1917 - HFSID 156053

JOSEPHUS DANIELS
Letter of congratulations as Secretary of the Navy
Typed Letter Signed: "Josephus Daniels" as Secretary of the Navy, 1p. 8x10½. The Secretary of the Navy, Washington, 1917 June 28. To Clarence J. Owens, Hotel McAlpin, New York. In full: "Thank you very much for your letter. I congratulate you upon the victory and am delighted to have helped." Owens, most probably, had won the Democratic primary for public office. Daniels served as Wilson's only Secretary of the Navy from 1913-1921. A number of his naval reforms included the introduction of women into the service and the establishment of service schools on board ships and stations. He favored promotion from the ranks and inaugurating the practice of making 100 sailors from the fleet eligible for entrance into the Naval Academy annually. Under Daniels' leadership, the Navy expanded greatly and fought effectively in World War I. Prior to his appointment, Daniels (1862-1948) was a successful newspaper owner and editor. As a partisan Democrat, he used his control of the Raleigh News & Observer to advance the party causes. He launched a "White Supremacy" campaign in North Carolina that led to Democrat victories in 1898 and 1900 and the disfranchisement of African-Americans. In 1898, he was credited with inciting the Wilmington Race Riots-years later he was said to have regretted his stance. While Secretary of the Navy, he banned alcohol from US Navy ships and ruled that no prostitution would be permitted within five miles of any naval base. He later served as Ambassador to Mexico (1933-1941) under FDR. The USS Josephus Daniels was named for him, as are schools and buildings throughout North Carolina. Folds, light vertical fold touches the "n" in Daniels, light horizontal fold touches the "J". Rust paper clip stain at upper left blank margin. Repaired 1-inch vertical tear at upper left blank margin, all intact.