Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-03
IQIIIOlVS PLANTS
WYATT GALLO US.
|ational Demands in War
Emergency to Meet I'M
mediate Response
PATRIOTISM DOMINAN T.
pecision Reserved of Discharge
" of Arms Workers of
Foreign Birth


Practical patriotism. with America first.
y the spirit of the manufacturers who were
today questioned concerning what steps
mey would take In the present crisis with
\ 0ermany. Those who are making muni-
Tons, among other things said that their
plants would be at the disposal of the
United States
This hearty spirit Of cooperation was
manifest in Philadelphia and all sections
OF the country All declared they would
throw their plants wide open the moment
the order was given.
1t In known, however. that some of the
manufactures are fearful their plants may
be blown up by the foreign employees. many
Of whom have made no attempt to conceal
their sympathy with Germany. Reports
we're current in New York, Philadelphia
and washington today that the Bethlehem
Steel Company was gravely concefned over
such n possibility.
CLOSE WATCH ON PLANTS
There are about $4,000 employees in the
Bethlehem Steel Company, ana OF THESE AZ
1east 10000 are Germans and Austrlahs
many Of whom have been strong IN syrlps-
thy for their native countries. The COM
many has been keeping close watch on
these men. but has found no reason to as
rense with their services. The fears OF the
company Il is said, were laid before Secre-
tary Lansing. and II is understood Una, SUI
nCient precautions VIII bt tdNch "
the execution Of any plots of destruction,
r,esn,ts the fact that It is running to fun
. sa pacity with foreign war orders. the COM
pany will throw all its strength to the help
Of the United States the moment such an
order is given.
An official of the company said today
I'VE are taking every precaution TO pro-
tect the interest of the nation and the COM
pany"
Asked IL there would be pompt response
n the United States asked Tor AID ne
added: 1--WE are already cooperating in
that direction
Similar spirit was manifested by Ana
B. Johnson president of the Baldwin Loco
motive Works. "The government Will re-
ceive the benefit OF all we are able TO do'
he said
Asked II the Baldwin Company contem-
plated taking any action regarding its FOR
sign employes. he said: I'VE have not con-
sidered that question and Will let IL de-
veiop."
The du Pont company. at Wilmington,
which is rushed to the limit with war or
ders, will also respond heartily should II
be necessary.
"Du Points are ready to do anything
within their power that the United States
Government may ask or them' sara rep
resentative of the company.
ssThroughout the history of the concern,
whenever the American Government mas
called upon the du Points, they nave been
able to serve in the fullest capacity, an
oficial declared.
WAR ORDERS MAY CONFLICT
No decision has been made as to the
fulflment of foreign orders. Should the
War Department of this country-requlre I'M
mediate execution of contracts that would
ounfiict with the contracts of the Allied
~. of a DrODlem
might arise. THAT is question that has
not yet arisen," 1t was explained at the du
Font officers.
At the plant of the j. G. Brill Company.
oixty-second street and Woodland avenue,
one of the largest builders of trucks and
ears In the world, assurances were given
that the company is prepared for possible
war orders from the United States Govern
ment Contracts with the Allies are now
being filed 1t was explained that all of
the German natives in the employ of the
company have ben naturalzed and emphatic
announcement was made that at the present
time no discharge Of foreign labor was con-
templated.
John S. Clark, vice president of the Au-
tocar Company of Ardmore, in brief
statement said:
I'VE stand entirely at the disposal Of the
Federal Government when called upon"
He added the company was not prepared at
this moment to make any statement re-
garding the foreign employees of the con-
'eern and viewed the situation as coolly as
possible.
z UNIFORMS TO BE QUICKLY MADE
Ely X. Seig. vice president of the A. b.
Xirschbaum Company, announced that this
concern would exert all of its facilities
10 manufacture uniforms or whatever the
American Government needed IL the War
Department made any demands upon the
pIant at Broad street and Washington ave-
nue..
This company has received large orders
from the Allied Governments. In the past
vars in which the United States Govern
nnent has been engaged. they have also
executed large contracts
..Patriotism has always been the hrst
consideration OF our factory said MT. Se-
Ne. "and any possible requirements or the
United States will receive our most Nlgor-
o,,s efforts Should contracts win iorelsh
(.overnmen.s conflict with orders from the
American nation. the United States VIII oe
the first to be considered"
The majority of the employees at the
1<irscbbaum plant are of foreign birth.
Germans are employed at the factory as
Vel, as men and women of almost every
Jruropean nationality. The vice president
/. nnounced that the concern was not even
consIdering the discharge of foreign-born
employees.
\ aPersonally" said Mr. Selig, II do not
helieve that the break in relations VIII
mean anything more than just break !
do not think 1t will mean actual warfare"