The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-02-06

s'In0 WOrIO IS ldCS u A0NO "AoA' the gravest crisis in modern history if not in the history of all times. world conflict of titanic proportions is rocking civilization to it's founoa1iolls' and the laws of the nations, wrought on the anvil of experience and renoelv ed sacred by the sanctions of organ ized society, are being Violated Wi.n racL1ess abandon. Hitherto it has been the official view of our govern ment that the interest of the United States in this crisis is that of neu- tral. although profoundly concerned. snectator. and we have not witnessed the immediate approach of the con- f1arration to our shores; but the swift march of recent events has compelled us to view gravely the imminence or our enforced participation in the mighty conflict It, therefore, be- hooves us to reflect seriously and act wisely.
 a"The scheme of government set up by our fathers vests the power of de- claring war and making general pro- vision for the national defense in the federal government, but it also i'm poses the several states of the Union certain subsidiary obligations of ser1- ous moment As members of the American family each must perform it's full part. Both patriotism and common concern prescribe this inex- crable duty.
 "Aside from the general considera- tions of love of country and state re- sponsibility, our state has it's own d. rect and peculiar interest in the na- l tional defense. It might almost be said that Connecticut is today the arsenal of the nation. If the naval ] stockade which may shortly be called upon to protect us from attack should be broken through or destroyed by l means of a numerous and powerful ] undeAsea fleet and a foreign force Eshould reach our shores, among the l first blows to fall would be one aimed
 at the highly organized industries o1 1 this state. It would be the purpose of the invading strategist to destroy or control the munition plants o1 Hartford and march up the Connecti. cut valley to the Federal arsenal. al l Springfield. The great munttior plants of Bridgeport. New Haven and l the Naugatuck valley would also be made immediate targets for like at l tacks.
 1 '.In our preparation for this con tingency we should take counsel o1 1 the unhappy experience of one of the great nations now at war, whicf 1 found itself unprepared at the be- l ginning and learned from costly ex l perience that a prerequisite of tht
 mobilization of men and industry wa. l the collection and classification of in 1 formation as to the available re. sources of the country. Modern war. l fare calls :nto% requisition with fever. ish intensity the complex agencies o1 man power. materials, production l finance and transport, and if thi.
 Land of Steady Habits is to serve 1 itself and the nation bravely and eff. I ciently it must begin early and ac, 1 promptly.
 "In view of this situation and thes, l considerations, I recommend tha l power be given to your governor tt l take census, classified with viev
 to their availability, of the variou, activities of the state which wa
 would call into requisition. If I an granted this authority I may from 1 time to time consult you further :, I the work progresses, especially if 1 1 I believe that sufficient information
 for our immediate needs can be SC cured at small expense. Much O it is already in the possession of vari l ous state and municipal departments | chambers of commerce and simila l civic organizations and can readi1.
 be collected and made available ant
 I am confident that volunteers can b.
 secured to do whatever is necessar.
 outside of the clerical work involv 1 ed. f1
 l 'tI make this recommendation witt
 confidence because of the high tra 1 ditions to which your honorable bod ies are the heirs. Throughout tn
 whole history of the people of Con
 necticut, whether in the Colonia
 times, or under the existing fedora
 constitution, this state never has fall | en short or been found wanting il 1 the hour of danger. When the new of Lexington was brought over tn