JOSEPHUS DANIELS - TYPED QUOTATION SIGNED CIRCA 1920 - HFSID 291653

JOSEPHUS DANIELS
His ink signature on a typed excerpt from a speech or written statement by Daniels, praising New York's contribution to the World War and its remembrance
Typed Quotation signed in ink: "Josephus Daniels" as Secretary of the Navy, 1 page, 7¾x10¾. On official War Department letterhead. File copy with receipt date stamp of the Victory Hall Association, February 16, 1920. Pencil note (unknown hand) in upper left: "Endorsement book." In full: "From the beginning to the end of the war, indeed even before beginning when we were making ready for the great part America took in the World War, the spirit of American wholeheartedness was exemplified in New York in a way that heartened the whole country. The erection in the metropolis of a Victory Hall to commemorate the consecration of the young men of America would be in keeping with the spirit which New York showed during the war." Josephus Daniels (1862-1948) served as Wilson's Secretary of the Navy from 1913-1921- prior to which he 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 Democratic Party victories in 1898 and 1900 and the disfranchisement of African-Americans. In 1898, he was accused of inciting the Wilmington Race Riots; years later he was said to have regretted his stance. As Navy Secretary, he instigated a series of administrative reforms and oversaw a modest expansion of the Navy from the summer of 1915, although many critics deemed these measures insufficient. 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. Creased. Multiple mailing folds. Multiple pencil marks and notes (unknown hand) on face. Otherwise, fine condition.