Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-09-25
.NOTEDBUSINESS LEADER OUTLINES
- PLANFORR real PREPAREDNESS
Head of the Mitchell Wagon Company Suggests Practical
Scheme to Utilize countrys Men of Brains and Industry
Would Have President Create Honor Board and Divide
Businessmen Into Groups Each Taking Care OF Feature

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A plan for national preparedness
which has been heard Of with much
interest by army men on Oahu and
which will be Of particular interest
TO businessmen has been suggested BY
Martin J. Gillen. president Of the Nit
chell Wagon Company OF Racine, Wis.
and enc OF the Vests .brainiest men
.of industry. ~ &c.,. -.
. This plan he summarizes as foi-
lows: s1.rts .sr,.-..@-.s.. . -.
"A plan which will organize the na-,
ton for defense on broad and com.
prehensiVe lines, taking full adyan-
tage OF the existing factors which
have made this country what IL is To-
day inherent IN Il Is an organization
whicB wiz Immediately marshal the
resources Of the nation, prevent con-
fusion, provide immediate delivery OF
things now wanting. and save this
nation hundreds Of millions Of dollars
and at the same time UNNECESSARILY
strengthen our national position at
home and abroad.
The plan In detail is given In a.
printed letter which President Gillen
has sent out and which mentions
many big businessmen Of the coun.
try. He says:
Racine, Wis, Aug. 10. 1915,
Al plan for the United States Gov,
eminent, for the mobilization and sup
ply OF army material, beyond that
used Cor the present standing army.
which will provide the materials with
in 80 days from the date mat the or
der Is given, prevent confusion in the
purchase OF materials. which has Oc.
Cured In the case sof the Allies, save.
this government hundreds eof millions
of dollars; and relieve many army Of
fIeers from this line Of duty and per-
NIT them TO centfaIize on the training
and handling Of troops.
I To bring this plan forcibly TO the
attention Of those who have the right
and power to put II into effect cite
as an illustration the following ann
cunt Of material that could be COM
pletely delivered within 80 days after
the order was given:
Sixty thousand &-ton motor trucks.
for trucking supplies or equipping
with machine guns; 10000 to $4,000
two TO fiye-ton motor trucks, for
trucking: machine guns, armored
cars, etc; 1000 to 5000 motor biisses,
carrying from is to Is passengers
each; 10000 Is to 50-h0rsepower trac.
tors; $4,000 U. s. army wagons. and
all other material needed by the Unit
ed States Government to supply the
army ~ fnpidlt "a Il issmobilized, ex-
|ceHtitg only DE SUP of guns. cart.
'ridte8 shelis5 md explosives, which
|snubN. however w8nid be greatly fac
Hilit6te ts under thu plan. without inter
fering with the war orders that are
now placed and being carried out IN
this country.
fTt isa1foposed itoehAve thei PRESIDENT
of the United States create General
Honor Board Of the business, men of
the United States and use their efeay
tive power and business ability in pro.
evfdihS avs ana iileAhs for the mid or
the government. This board shall be:
created az once and maintained in
times of peace, and the men on it
shall be Legion of Honor men,.
There shall Be one man FROM each of.
the following Industries and compa-
piesa Which vii efs necessity supply
the different materials needed by the.
government:
Railroads. water works, sewerage,
motor trucks, motor-pIeasure, motor
buses, motor trailers. tractors. aero
planes. wagons. horses. mules, har.
ness, tents, cooking utensils, KNAPP
sacks, blankets, shoes, stockings un..
Ederwear, shirts, belts, caps, meat,
flour. bread, produce, medical supplies,
small firearms, large guns, armor
plate. shells. cartridges, explosives
Hand.a representative from each of the
other industries supplying needed ma
terials not enumerated
The President OF the United States
shall appoint not less than five rep
resentatiyes from each-0f the above.
industries, which will constitute the
group In that particular industry when
appointed. As an illustration Of how
ID AlngleA ssr0qfiss would work etaka
Me MagVIf Erbpr; y &Ipdl1t eight fep-
resentaffyes, q representative from
the international Harvester Corpora.
tion, 9he Stadebaker Corporation, the
JOHu DccFc sNdSou L., tue MITCHELL
Wagon Co, the Mandt Wagon Co.,
the Balm Wagon Co.. the Peter Schut-
tier Co., and the Kentucky Wagon Co.
These men shall all be Honor men
and shall be- known as the Wagon
Group and this group shall elect one
member from its board who shall be-
come a member of the General Honor.
Board above named.
The government shall present to the
Wagon Group" plans and specifica-
tons of all forms Of wagon convey.
ances used or required by the govern
ment. This group shall then exam.
Inc these plans and specifications and
report to the government within 80
days such changes in the plans and.
specifications of the present army
equipment which cannot be readily
manufactured in our wagon factories,
either because of the present factory
equipment or because of raw material
stock. In a word, standardiZe the diff
ferent types Of army wagons to the
factory equipment and, raw material
available in this country. ~