The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-06-20

WILCOX ON COMMITTEE
Sales Manager Of Mississippi River
Power Company 10 One Of
<. Five Who Constitute
Board.

Industrial Preparedness posters are
appearing on the local bill boards,
calling attention to the fact that in
dustries as well as the men must be
prepared for service to the country.
The bills are being sent out by the
committee on Industrial Prepared
ness. Howard E Caff1n is chairman
of this committee, and N. T. Wilcox.
sales manager Of the Mississippi Riv-
er Power company is one of the five
members OF the board. Mr.. Wilcox
represents the American Institute OF
Electrical Engineers.
The Iowa organization Is In the
hands Of Mr.. Wilcox and the Hawk
eye industries are being lined up for
preparedness along the lines set out
by the committee which is part of the
naval consulting board of the United
States.
A story sent out by the committee
says:
The returns from the vast indus
trial inventory now being made In
every nook and corner of the union
by the committee on industrial pre-
paredness of the U. S. naval consult.
ing board mark a new and vital re-
lation between the business men OF
America and the federal government.
The information gathered is the first
fruit of the work OF the army of 3d.
900 American engineers, members of
five eminent scientific bodies, who
form the field force of the committee
organized to find out for the gov
eminent the real Industrial re-
sources of the nation in time of war.
Country 10 canvassed.
For this sweeping canvass, which
is headed by Howard q. Caffin, chair
man. and w. s. Clifford. supervising
director the whole country has been
highly systematized, with directing
boards of the leading engineers in
every state, the District OF Columbia
and Alaska. Hawaii has not yet been
organized but prominent business
men and engineers of that distant
poss ession are writing the committee
that Hawaii, too, has Industrial re-
sources available for Uncle Sam and
would like to play her part. Many of
the states have been split up into
counties, with chief field aides in
charge. This marvellous smooth.
working organization of unpaid ex-
perts has already accomplished def
mite results, and the great inventory,
as shown by the reports of state
chairmen now being received, Is NOV
ing swiftly and satisfactorily to its
end.
The manufacturers of the nation,
recognizing the highly qualified and
personnel of this move
ment, which has the strong support of
the president, the military heads and
the chamber of commerce Of the
United States, have almost without
exception responded with the most in
teligent patriotism and the deepest
interest in this closeknit movement
for a thoroughgoing Industrial pre-
paredness. They we're called upon to
give very comprehensive information
on the adaptability of their factories,
mills and mines to federal uses from
the hour of military mobilization, the
data to be held in the strictest conf
dence for the sole scrutiny and bene-
fit of the war and navy departments
Of the United States. The Business
men have met the committee on In
dustrial Preparedness-who chair
man as vice president of the Hudson
Motor Car company, is himself busI-
ness man-and the engineers at least
half way in this far,flung effort to
establish backbone for the national
defense.
Everyone Can Help.
A few manufacturers nave doubted
the ability of their plants to aid the
government in wartime. They have
almost Invariably changed their
views when shown how little doub: |
here is that on the outbreak of war
all concerns not engaged
n lines of work essential to the ma. |
,ional needs would be stripped of
heir labor, either for the army or for
manning other industrial plants vital |