Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-07
MICHIGAN MAKES RECORD
PRODUCING WAR GOODS
Co.Ordinating OF Industrial Re-
sources Brings In Billions
OF Dollars.
STATE POLICE ARE ACTIVE
Constabulnry Organized Of Old Mill
tary Men, and Patterned After
Canadian Northwest Mounted Po-
lice, Docs Effective Guard Duty.
tBy Associated Press.1


DETROIT. MICH. May 6.-Slnce the
United States declared war and called
upon the nation to coordinate It's in
dustrial resources for the cause OF
democracy. Michigan has turned out
moro than $l.O00,000.000 worth Of war
products and raw materials. Michigan
Industries now are working on war or
ders which total hundreds OF millions
OF dollars. 1t Is estimated that Michi-
gan-made products valued at several
hundred thousand dollars, are trans.
ported to the seaboard every week by
Michignn-made automobiles.
All Of this work has been done thus
far without serious labor dislocation.
The amount of damage wrought by en-
envy plottcrs has been comparatively
small Naturally thcre has been con-
siderable attention paid to the Mich
igan system for protecting ita war
resources. and much OF the credit has
been given to a small. well-drilled body
OF men-the state police.
This force. popularity called the State
constabuiary. was organized along the
lines which made the Pennsylvania
state constabulnry so successful Sew
cral rugged features Of the Canadian
Northwest mounted police were incor-
porated; in fact. more than one mem
her OF the constabuiary has served in
the Canadian mounted"
The organization was authorized by
the State Legislature less than year
ago. IT Is composed OF four trcops
and has 200 men. Colonel Roy c. Van
dercook, former Adjutant- General of
Michigan. was placed in command.
Six hundred men applied for enlist
mcnt. They Included army veterans
who had seen service In almost every
part OF tho globe. Some OF the men
accepted were from the navy. some
from the army. some from Great Brit
ain. Holland and Carada'a fighting
forces.
Before the command was we'll or.
sanized. serious reports came TO tho
Capitol ut Lansing regarding l. w "
activities I'm the upper peninsula. II
Is an oren secret now that German
agents tried TO paraiyze rining activ-
tiles In tic copper country at tho he
ginning OF the war. Their effort fail
ed. y troop OF constabulary. command
ed by Robert Marsh. was ordered 10
this district A great deal OF l. w. w.
literature WAS seized. meetings were
broken up or prevented and ringlead-
ers OF the movement to stir up Sc
dition soon left the mining territory.
For months the copper country has
been free from violence. strikes ard
nrcs. state troopers still are en- the
watch there and, SO far as known, not
one shot has been fred.
II has been reported in Detroit thnt
state policemen who have been Euar.i-
| ing docks, terminals and other strate-
sic points, have nipped several plots
In the bud. For military reasons, the
details OF these incidents have net been
made public, but tho State wor pre-
paredncss board has touched upon that
phase OF the constabulary's work in
this statement TO the Associated Preas.
When the United states became in
VOWED In the war. Michigan. with It's
great stores OF grain. It's vast manu-
featuring activities and its command
ing position on the main arteries OF
traffic to the seaboard. waa a field for
spies and propagandists. Water and
rail terminals were threatened. and
actual dynamite plots uncovered Slack.
crs in tho centers OF population and re-
mote lumber camps had TO be round
cd up. and a fuel crisis opened ND an
undreamedot line o; work for the
troopers. The men worked day and
night in bl!zzards that shut off all
other traffic, so that fuel might be
| moved.
In the first few months. at least
dozen lives were saved by the troop
crs along the water fronts and in rail-
way terminals of The State
Small dctachments of the organ!za-
ions have occupied isolated posts far
away from the direct control Of their
executive officers. but in all these
months or trying service, there is We.
to be n complaint as TO tho conduct Of
man wearing the olive Grab and red
Of the Michigan State police"