“WHITE HOUSE
Washington, D. C.
March 19, 1903.
“My dear General Tracy:

“It seems to me that all good Ameri-
cans, interested in the growth of their
Country and sensitive to its honor, should
give hearty support to the policies which
the Navy League is founded to further.
Furthermore, there is a special need in a
matter of such importance to all of us,
which is yet not the special business of
any of us, that a society should be formed
to watch with a jealous eye the general
interest.

“No district is specially concerned in
adding to the strength of the Navy—no
public man has any pressure of concrete
interests brought to bear upon him in its
behalf.

“For the building and maintaining in
proper shape of the American Navy, we
must rely upon nothing but the broad and
far-sighted patriotism of our people as a
whole; and it is of great importance that
there should be some means by which this
patriotism can find an effective utterance.
Your society offers just the means needed.

“IT congratulate the Country because it
has been formed.

“Sincerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.”
“Gen. Benjamin F. Tracy,
President of the Navy League,
New York, N. Y.”