The Washington herald., 1916-09-27
The Armor Plant a Big Asset.

Washington, through group of business
men, is making fight to have~the proposed
sII. 100000 government armor plate plant built
in this city
This fight is the fight of every man, woman
and child in the District for the reason that the
building of the plant here will benefit every one
living in the city its environs.
The location of the plant here will bring
10000 well-paid workers to the city at one time.
These workers must rent or buy houses buy
clothes and food, spend money for amusement,
aid the churches they attend and, in short,
bring all the benefits that come with an increase
of 10000 in the population
In the opinion OF business men backing the
campaign, the building of the plant offers Wash
ington one of the greatest opportunities to aid
itself that has come within a decade. Will
Washington make the best of this opportunity?
Will Washington put forth every possible eff
fort to win the plant?
This question must be answered within the
very near future. The navy officials who will
select site for the plant do not intend to waste
time. The duty that confronts every with
the welfare of Washington at heart is to lend
his aid in the campaign without further delay.
This aid has been withheld in some instances
because individuals and organizations have not
wanted to join in losing fight" and because
it has been believed that Washington's chances
of obtaining the plant slight This belief
has been based almost wholly on reports that
the city or State possessing the strongest po-
litical pull" will win the plant. Such reports
are a sur on the integrity and honesty of the
navy officials charged by Congress with the
duty Of designating army plate plant site.
These navy officials dctest political wire
bay in all
Bile instances that they have resented political
representations from members of Congress and
others possessing what is known as influence
The navy officials may be expected to perform
the task of selecting a plant site with the
regard for efficiency, the same sense of right
and the same spirit of duty that they would
feel in offering their lives in defense of the
flag.
1t is to be regretted that the District has no
representation in Congress but the lack OF such
representation will figure but little in the cam
pagn for the armor plate plant Washington
offers the logical site for the plant and the
duty that confronts Washington is to present
facts and figures in proof of this to the Navy
Department. 1t also is the dury of Washington
to make known to the Navy Department that
the city a whole wants the plant erected
here.
Mr. Moran, who is conducting the campaign,
enjoys enviable reputation a resident Of
this city He has been elevated to the highest
post that the Chamber of Commerce can offer.
He has made careful investigation of all the
factors involved in the fight for the plant He
is authority for the statement that Washington
is not waging losing fight but has remarka-
bly, strong for the consideration of navy
officials
This statement, coming from a man who is
known to put conservatism into the same class
with truthfulness, should be sufficient to con-
vince all skeptics that if Washington fights with
unity and courage, and puts forth its supreme
effort the verdict of the Navy Department will
be in favor of the National Capital as the site
for the big armor plate plant