Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1918-03-09

Friends and Fellow Townsmen:
desire to extend to you most cor
dial welcome, with ell that the word
implies in old Virginia and through
out the Southland. We are here for a
purpose The committee on Great
CT Alexandria" formulated a plan to
develop the municipal organization
AMI resources to keep pace with the
rapidly increasing industrial develop
ment of the community CWith which
latter development | am idcntitied.)
Our purpose is to go forward with
that clearly defined plan.
Such campaign as ours is q con-
fess12n of shortcomings in our body
politc-of weakness to be overcome
If I attempt to point out these weak
ncSses. if open the family closet ard
exhibit the family skeleton, remember
that ! 20 it in TO spirit of consorious
criticism, but rather that we may an
alyse our weaknesses and tarn them
into strength be.ore the real strain
epcn them segiHs, Alex.ndris's real
test and Alexandria's real opportuni-
ty Genes in the guiSe Of these war
industries. The Virginia Shipbuild-
ing Corporation, with which am den
titled, and contlacteI TO build, launch
ard deliver twelve ships for the Unit
ed States of America, ten of these
ships to be launched this year. that
is TO say within less than ten months
from today. Can we do this without
your active cooperation? We. have
in view 9 large number Of additional
contracts to, be completed later.
The Secretary o. war has declared
"Ships are the crux Of our problem"
With Roumania out Of the war as
we'll as Russia; with Great Britain
lately admitting that the U-b"at is
sinking her ships faster than she Is
building them, ships have become evel.
more patiently the c"uy of our prob
lem. Hence we be:peak your active
co-operation in our war work and we
pledge our cooperation with you IN
all matters making for civic better
ment. With all modesty permit me
to call attention to what we have done
fo- this town. While other cities com
pete desperately for plants offering
.priviIcgcs worth millions, Alexandria
without an effort obtained the prize.
II means a tremendous impetus to our
in4ustries-,a impetus not yet fully
realized. Our interests are interlock-
inc. You need industrial enterprises
:>or 'Greater alexandria" and we need
"Greater Alexandria for our industri
a! enterpriscs-to feed, clothc. amuse
and house the army Of employees who
are shortly coming to build the ships.
LABOR-always difficult prob
lem for large industrial enterprises,
was never more difficult than now
With several million men withdrawn
from industry for act;ve service in
the ARMY; with other millions with
drawn from ordinary Industry to be
a part of the organization behind that
army. with war necessities demanding
that our annual production be many
times multiplied, for our needs and 10,
our allies-the problem of labor be-
comes the most vital problem we
have to face. We nave openings IN
every trade for Alexandria labor. but
must of necessity bring thousands
from the outside You may not real
izc it.but 30 per cent Of the ability OF
firm to secure proper and efficient Ia
Dor. at reasonable rates, is dependent
upon the living conditions offered to
that Iabor-SchoolS. transportation