The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-01-01

d summary of the part which their own state has played during the days when America was moving sfitly from peace to war and through the first months of the nations preparation to perform a real service to mankind by throwing 1 its whole weight against the enemy. 1 Connecticut was the first state in | the Union to make an inventory of it's resources for war in men and ma terials. This inventory known as the military census, was begun three days after the United States broke diplo- matic relations with Germany. The | Connecticut Home Guard was the first organization of its kind established in the country-and has been com mended by the federal war depart ment for it's efficiency. l Prompt response was made by this state when the problem of increased production and conservation of food stuffs became acute, and the appoint ment of the Committee on Food Sup ply followed.
 When the federal government de- cided that the wartime civilian activ- ities in the several states should be controlled by state councils of defense, the Connecticut State Council of De- fense was appointed. The beginning of the new year finds the council com
 pletely organized and carrying on it's work with such efficiency that it has
 been commended frequently by au-
 thorities in Washington. The coun-
 cil now has subsidiary organizations
 in every county and in every town,
 with a strong headquarters organiza . ; ton at the State Capitol in Hartford. The legislature, which was in ses-
 sion from January to May, passed
 much important war legislation, in-
 cluding the law which became Chap
 ter A of the Public Acts of 1917, prob
 ably the most far-reaching law ever
 passed bya General Assembly of Con-
 necticut. This act authorizes the gov
 ernor, in the war emergency, to take
 any steps he may deem necessary. Un-
 der 1t Governor Holcomb, among other
 things, appointed the food supply committee, the state council of de-
 fense and ordered the Waterbury war
 rent Investigation. Connecticut has been engaged in war. work every day during 1917 {, with Germany were broken to the end of the year. The summary which fol lows gives some of the more important dates-though it is by no means com plete-in Connecti ut's war record for
 1917:-
 JANUARY
 S-Governor Marcus H. HoIconb, Connecticut's war governor, inaugur- , ated for second term. , 25-Biu providing for reorganiZa-
 ton of State Militia introduced in Sen , ate,
 FEBRUARY
 3-United States breaks diplomatic l relations with Germany. 5-Governor Holcomb wires Pres1- 3 dent Wilson: You mayArely upon the 3 loyal support of Connecticut" l Ex-Governor reads preparedness ) message to joint session of legislature l which passes bill providing for inven- 9 tory of states resources in men and :. materials.
 ! 7-Governor names Census Com ? mittee.
 ] 9-Census Committee opens head. :, quarters. Mayors of all Connecticut = cities meet to plan military censu. y work.
 y 19-Governor He nb signs frs . census blank
 y Estate leader of Republican and Democratic pE les endorse miH = tary census.
 19-Census work begins in New Ha. Il ven with enrolment of former Presi t dent William H. Taft r 22-Volunteer census organization 7, completed in all the 16S towns in tn, l, State. More than 5000 census agent d named.
 27-Thirty towns complete the1 1t census. Special committee makes frs e report to governor. 2S-Industrial census begins
 MARCH
 1-CoIoneI Roosevelt gives out in !. lterview in New York endorsing Con
 nect1cut's census plan.
 2Mayor Aitchei of New York cit s- calls upon Governor Whitman of Ne1 e York State to follow Connecticut # military census example. { 3-Enrollment of nurses begins.
 4-Bin for New York military cen O sus introduced at Albany. q S-Bin which became Chapter "a of the Public Acts of 1917, passe l. both Houses under suspension of tn l. rules in response to request of gov g ernor in special message asking fc et legislation authorizing him to take an @ necessary steps in the war emergenc
 Bill for reorganization of militia, 1T
 clUding separation allowances for de pendents, is signed. s 9-Biu creating Home Guard } Connecticut passes both houses unde suspension of rules and is signed b } governor.
 S 1o-Governor appoints Militar Emergency board. 12-Census committee makes sec ? ond report to governor - 955,74 e blanks returned-1O7 towns complet u ed. Home Guard recruiting officer r. named
 h 1S-First enlistment in Hom IIoo Guard reported. ,e 14-Chapter A signed by the gov n ernor.
 h Rehabilitation of Connecticut Ns
 tional Guard for guard duty begin -s First Home Guard Company dri II 1T held.
 ro n 2S-Cards sent out by State Secrt iy tary for automobile registration rh Connecticut Chamber of CommerC Of has first conference on food produc B. tion at Hartford. m
 m APRIL es 2-Census committee makes fin Y report to governor. Total number II, persons enumerated is 500,0OO. S S-Home Guard Machine Gun Corr F. organized.