New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-02-06
|HOLCOMB EXPORTS
STATE TO PREPARE
Reminds Assembly of Con-
necticut's Brilliant Past
and Is Ordered to Take
Census of Men and Indus
tries.

I1oI CIOI Il cU. O-OONC1uOI MdICuS
Holcomb today addressed a joint con-
vention of the general assembly,
calling it's attention to the crisis and
asking the body to give the chief
executive of the state all the power
necessary to prepare for eventualities.
The scene which may become an his
toric one, will be long remembered by
the few spectators, aside from the
members of the general assembly,
who heard the address. The joint as
sembly had been requested by the
governor and after executive session
Secretary Maltbie had appeared in the
senate chamber, Senator Klett offered
the resolution which both branches
adopted at once, suspending all other
| business. Previous to this, Governor
| Holcomb ins~the executive chambers
had meet a number of prominent men
! who had been hurriedly called to-
| gether and to whom the governor had
| announced his intention of adj
dressing the general assembly on the
| question of the states preparations.
! Senators Bartlett and O'Sullivan
| notified the house that the senate was
| ready and in turn Representatives
Peasley and Geary told the senate the
lower branch was in readiness. Gov
ernor Holcomb appeared in the house
chamber and addressed the joint con-
ventiOn as follows:
Governors Address.
"The world is face to face with the
gravest crisis in modern history, II
not the history Of all times. A world
conflict of titanic proportions is rock
ing civilization to its foundation ana
the laws Of the nations wrought on
fixed by the sanctions of organized
society. are being violated with reck-
less abandon. Hitherto it has been
the official view of our government
that the interests of the United States
In this crisis is that of a neutral, al
though profoundly concerned, spec
tator. and we have not witnessed the
immediate approach of the confiagra-
ton to our shores. But the swift
march of recent events has compelled
us to view gravely the imminence of
our enforced participation IN the
mighty conflict. 1t, therefore, be-
hooves us to reflect seriously and
act wisely.
"The scheme of government set up
by our fathers vests the power of de-
claring war and making provision for
the national defense in the federal
government, but it also imposes upon
the several states Of the union certain
subsidiary obligations of serious NOM
ent, AS members of the American
family, each must perform its full
part. Both patriotism and common
concern prescribe this memorable
DUTY.
Conn. Arsenal of Nation.
aside from the general consldera-
Of of country and state re-
sponsibility our state has its own dl-
rect and peculiar interest in the ma
tionaI defense. 1t might almost be
said that Connecticut is today the ar
senal 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
means of numerous and powerful
undersea fleet and a foreign force
should reach our shores, among the
first blows to fall would be aimed at
the highly organized industries OF TINS
state. 1t would be the purpose of the
invading strategist to destroy or con-
troll the munitions plans Of Hartford
and march up the Connecticut valley
to the federal arsenal at Springfield.
The great munitions plants Of Bridge
port. New Haven and the Naugatuck
valley would also be made immediate
targets for like attacks
I'm our preparation for this cont1n~
gency, we should like counsel OF the
unhappy experience of one or the
great nations now at war. when
found itself unprepared at the begin
ming and learned from costly expert
ence that a prerequisite of the moblll-
zation of men and industry was the
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