Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-29

crafty accebtcu that the admiuistr.
ton had Lloyd Georges council ar
business man in mind when II formed
this advisory commission. and that ir
the nation takes An active part in the
war IL Will be made an executive board
This could DO done either by creating
a new Cabinet position for Mr. VIII
lard. or by an Informal extension Of
power to tho commission.
Machinery VIII lie Complete.
IL may be observed that tho advisory
commission Is constantly extending it's
organization. SO that if II should be
endowed with executive powers it's en-
ccutivc machinery will be complete
Thus. fcw days AGO q munitton board
was appointed with membership of
Scientiiic exports. II was announced
that this board would prepare muni-
ton standards to DC distributed to
manufacturers who accept government
contracts. In case the United States
should put force in the field thia
standards committee could be convert
cd at once into municion hoard with
power to make contracts.
SO that tho Council for National De-
fcnsc has even greater Significance for
the future than for the present And
In fact, all OF its works liz directed
toward much more remote future
than the average citizen realizes.
with Congress considering universal
service bill. and War declared we arc
we arc about to fight AS a matter
OF fact. unless somebody. by invading
our home or possessions. knocks off
the chip which we have placed upon
our national shoulder. we will not do
any considerable amount OF fighting
for some time to come. We can draf,
million men and train them in less
than year. hut IT will take eighteen
months to arm them with rifles. II
Will require a couple OF years TO pro-
duce enough big guns TO make our own
coast dcfcnses complete. Such a little
detail as optical glass. for which Ne
have long been dependent upon Ger
many. would rctard our preparations
many m"nths. for pcriscopes and
binoculars and ranEc-findcrs are tho
eyes OF modern lighting forces.
Ginas Expert Onered Services.
\ few days ago an expert in ctsss
manufacture wrote to the Bureau OF
Mines tina, he had ali of the formulas
used by British ma nufacturcrs for max
Ing optical glass since the war began;
that he had hocr applying thcss
formulate and would give them and
i've hours day of his own time To
the government. Here is the germ Of
an American optical glass industry but
hoT long would IL take TO develop Il
into tho large productive capacity
which An army OF millions would ne
csEsitatc'
equally elementary stage Tho most
brilliant plan yet evolved by tho ad.
Nisor% commission "a that OF Mr. Coffin
for the placing Of small annual "cdu.
catiNc orders" with manufacturers all
over the country so that they NAV
learn how to make munitions in ac-
oordancc with government spccifica-
lions. After We have declared war
may seem latc date at which to hc-
gin educating our manufacturers To
make supplies for Us. But. having
begun no sooner. we must begin at the
bottom now. AS Mr.. clifford said. rca,
preparedness must he based no, upon
n superficial conception OF what We
need at the moment. but upon thorough
organization.
therefore education and taking
stock OF our resources in brains and
matcriais-;he most fundamental step.
toward OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES tho present
work Of tho Council for National Dc
fenec II viii take time TO set re-
suits. hu, the work will nc thorough
and of permanent value because /, I.
based upon n broad conception
Modern war is - business proposi-
ton, ana IN prosecuting IL tho blood
OF the soldier must he miNcd with
three parts OF the sweat OF the men
In the mills and mines OF the country
1T arms" says MIR Coffin. and in his
words there Is not only much truth,
hut touch OF inspiration. This is tho
battle slogan Of American business
Md tho men whose muscle and skin
- thus 10 mass Tho strength Of the
nation behind It's army arc ready too
MIR. Sampcl Gompers. president of tho
Federation OF Labor, is a member OF
the advisory commission. and behind
him is resolution Of the federation
offering the services OF tho trade
unions of America for tho defense of
the republic.