Evening journal., 1917-05-12

realize the gravity Of the present situa-
ton. Our Government is of and by the
people; in other words. the Government
is the people. The Government will be
what the people choose it to be. 1t is
now for all of us to be up and doing
Il am depressing from the topic Of
the evening, but ] am sure you Will
pardon me for so doing. Naturally. II
IS subject foremost in my mind be-
ing connected as / am with a COM
pany which has the possibilities Of
playing such an important part in th6
preparation of our country for war in
the supplying TO il OF materials neces-
sary in waging warfare. We have de-
Veloped at Bethlehem and our other
properties located in various sections
OF the country what we believe to be
iirst in Importance as a national asset
IN time like this.
At Service of Government.
I'VE have been rendering a YER
large and important service to the ma
tons in Europe, with whom We have
taken up cause to fight a common en-
eny. We have been highly compli-
mented for the service we have rem
edred TO these countries, and IL is our
Dellef that we are more than fortunate
10 nave had the occasion to build I'D a
plant like ours, which can now be
utilized to advantage for our own gov
eminent. The confidence shown in
us by our army and navy departments
durings the last few months has been
the cause OF much qualification to us,
and it will be our sincere purpose to
be sure that this confidence is not
misplaced. We have said TO them
that our plants are at their COM
mand. II will not be necessary to
commander any Of the Bethlehem
Steel Corporation properties; they
are at the service of the United States
Government at their bidding. They
will be enlarged in any direction nee
essary to meet their requirements
This they all understand. and is the
policy they are exercising in their re-
lations with US.
Stand By Government.
1T would be interesting IL I could
tell you some Of the things we have
under way, and some OF the things we
are doing iNNturally, / do not feel
ditions, because they are all of a mill
tary nature, and should be considered
as a military secret. We are in al
unusually good position to judge and
to know what is being done in the line
OF preparation. and it is without hest
/ tation, from first-hand knowledge Of
conditions, that l publicly commend
the efforts and decisions which al
this crisis are being made by the
heads of our various government de
partments. ] fear, as I inferred. z
little earlier in my remarks, that the
authorities at Washington are not re
ceiving as spontaneous a response anC
hearty cooperation as they should. L
will come, but it should come a
once, and not be delayed.
] 81 could not let this opportunity
pass without saying that you have
within your midst possibly the second
4 industry in importance as national
asset to our own. Naturally I could
not give our good friends, the dupont
people. first position.
Delay Would Be Criminal.
'Now that the European situation
has developed into such a state that
{ we are uulluluB SulpS 10 carry duTOdN
our own products. II augurs well fol-
Wilmington and other cities similarly
situated. If you again postpone the
building of your terminal such
negligence will be almost criminal
say this knowing full we'll the higher
cost OF construction today, but with
what I can foresee as future business
and with a great merchant marine in
the making, our position as a sea-far-
ing nation now being established
must be maintained. II is just such
localities as Wilmington, with their
natural advantages. that must main
: tain our nations position. With you
all pulling together. it will not be
long before che Wilmington Terminal
, becomes an assured fact. and the New
Wilmington will be the city you
dreamed of-but remember things are
never accomplished by waiting.
at has been a great pleasure for
me to be in your city today, and to
be with you this evening. II has not
only been a pleasure, but It has been
an inspiration Your honorable sec
rotary, in asking n to be with you
tom ht suggested that they wanted
so absorb some of my optimism.
feel that l am the one that has been
doing the absorbing. / thank you
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