The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-01


energy, initiative and leadership q
plant with 100000 square feet Of
floor space. In tour months II was
In operation turning out $4,000 shells
and 5000 rifles from sunrise to sunrise
every day. In the war period that
plant did business Of $1s,es6.0o0.
When, in March OF 1917, 1t became
apparent that the United States was
headed for the conflict, and all the
sceptics were alarmed over the posi-
bility Of Uncle Sans getting into the
fray before several years preparation,
II was Sam Vauclain who rent the
clouds Of doubt and dissipated the
gloom with this statement anent mu-
nitions:
I'm the event Of war with Germany
the United States not only can make
all the munitions 1t needs for its own
use, but have enough left over to sup
ply the Allies II every factory closed
down in England, France, Russia
Italy and the other nations embroiled
In the struggle.
Pennsylvania alone can furnish
enough munitions to carry the cour-
try through the present crisis.
tories in the country have finished
their foreign contracts and are ready
at moments notice to turn out ma
terial for our own Government.
An immediate supply Of $4,000 900
worth Of munitions, or three months
'rations,' should be laid in by the
Government as an insurance policy"
And the Government did-with the
help of Sam vauclain. Serving his
country as a member Of the Council of
National Defence, he became a member
OF the munitions standard board, CHIEF
or the section on production Of finished
products and a member Of the car and
locomotive Standardization committee
AS chairman Of the Ordnance Commit
tee in the Var Industries Board, he
vitalized. THE whole munitions pro
gramme and stood back of the steady
stream Of shells poured into Europe.
1t was he who made possible the
famous million dollar barrage" and
other famous barrages by the thou
sand that carried death and dismav
into the ranks of the Hun.
AS to the ethics of locomotive build
ers switching, to the manufacture Of
the marian Instruments Of warfare.
Mr.. Vauclain delivered himself OF a
Characteristic viewpoint. Long before
the United States went into the war
around the time when Germany was
sinking the Lusitania and heaping
maledictions upon America for her
exports OF munitions to allied couu
tries. Mr.. Vauclain addressing his
men,. when they came to present him
with loving cup for thirty three
years service with the company, sail :
1t Is just as honorable to be en-
gagged as you are as to be engaged in
the manufacture of locomotives. be-
cause without these things We VIII
never have peace. The harder YOU
fellows work and the more you turn
out and the quicker it is delivered the
sooner we will have peace"
out to Win the War.
When this country broke into the
war Baldwins. under the able leader
ship Of Sam Vauclain, plunged to the.
limit-and all the world knows what
followed. Gov. Sproul, Pennsylva-
Mas new executive. whose beautiful
home at Lapidea Manor in Delaware
county overlooks the big Baldwin
plant at Eddystone. summed It up the
other night at a dinner rendered Presi.
dent Vauclain when he said:
THE service given to the country
by this great captain OF industry, who
could translate thought into action and
action into material quicker almost
than you can tell IL. has been the
greatest factor in winning the great.
est struggle of the ages. He did moi
worry about balance sheets and
profits: he saw the great need Of the
nation, and he did not care whether
| the Baldwin Locomotive Works or any
other industrial organization came out
solvent or insolvent after the war. He
was able to achieve what he die
achieve because he is a do-things man
because he is able TO order men to dc
things he can do himself"
But Sam Nauclain, the mystery man
Of surprises. the big man Of big loco
motives and big contracts. had another
big card to flash on the Central Pow
ers before the curtain was rung down
on the theatre OF war One day just
about year ago he startled the world
by announcing laconically:
''The greatest engine OF destruction
that has yet been produced in artillery
by the great war Will move out OF one
OF the munitions factories on the Del
aware River in a day or two"
And, sure enough, out IL novel and
across the Atlantic-the great Amer.
can naval gun mounted on a railway
carriage. OF which Rear Admiral
Plunkett said: when the Navy frs
conceived the idea. OF using fourteen
| inch navy rifles as railroad guns there
was a general chorus that 1t could moi
be done. But the splendid ability and
patriotism OF Mr.. Vauc!aln came to the
front. and he insisted that II could b.
done. And II was done. without tn,
Baldwin organization thinking OF cost:
or the risks entailed in testing TIM
guns"
Vauclain-once the machinist's help:
er In overalls. in the worlds great
| crisis became the master mechanic
who:
Prepared to cope with war betori
war was declared.
Cut all Government red tape" 10
| the safety OF the fighters.
Changed the machinery OF the Bald
| win plant TO make rifles the minut
this country went to war.
Built new plants that produced
needed munitions for our allies toni
| before they were our allies in arms.
Got the first $50 "Pershing" loco
motives built and to France before tn,
| Government ever hoped it could b,