New Britain herald., 1921-10-22

Whether it ia because they do not realize the seriousness of the situation or have become inured to hardship, the people of New England do not seem to regard with any degree of alarm the impending railroad strike. True, efforts are being made to list all automobile trucks which can be mobil- ized in case of emergency, but this means of transportation will be found to be far below requirements in case the railroad men do go out
 New England can be cut off from tho outside world by railroad strike almost as effectually as if vast chasm were suddenly opened on line be- ginning at New York city and running north to the Canadian border. The greater part of our supplies for com mercial and domestic consumption pour in over this imaginary line like a Mag ara. Coal. steel and iron, which form tho backbone ot our industrial enter prises, would be held back and in case of protracted strike their shortage would result in prostrating manufac- turing plants everywhere in New Eng. land. The majority of industries have supply of these products on hand,
 but not enough to tide them over g
 
 While the commercial situation would be bad, the human situation would be worse. New England, once the agricultural pride of growing na- ton, has beaten it's plowshares into automatic machinery and must face the consequences in case of a food shortage. From the garden empirea of tho middle west and the thriving markets of Chicago. we receive most of our edibles. We are absolutely de- pendent on these sources of supply It is unlikely that there are any largo stocks of food in storage in New Eng land warehouses. Should the railroad strike eventuate the situation would become serious and it might become necessary to commander every avail able truck to carry food into the do-
 main of the Yankee.
 However, there ia a ray of hope in the news from the battle front. It is apparent that the leaders of the union ized railroad men have no desire to see tho strike become an actuality and while their words may sound confident they probably do not reveal what is in their hearts.
 So far as New Britain is concerned, the railroad men can look for no sym pathy. Workmen here havo received deep cuts in their pay and they can- not understand why railroaders should not do likewise without whining
 Strike and take a beating in the end" seems to sum up, public sentiment here. Mayor Curtis letter to Secretary
 Hoover of the Department of Com l merce describing how New Britain has handled the unemployment situation makea an interesting document which should be permanently preserved for the benefit of posterity. If possible. it should be incorporated in the next City Report, although, strictly speaking, it is not part of municipal business. In years to come, citizens will be able to read, if the accounting is thua 1 preserved, how New Britain faced the situation and gave a good account of itself. It will be an important chap ter in our history and as such it should not be overlooked.
 Certainly, if any city went seriously about the business of giving work to needy breadwinners, that city was New Britain. Forces were organized well and while blundera were no doubt made and will continue to be made, the work was typical of al industrious Connecticut community. Al {. conse- quence of the efforts of all concerned in tho undertaking, there has been g minimum of want. While it waa im- possible to give aa much employment to everyone aa could be desired, the work was well distributed.
 In other respects, the Hardware City l made a good record for itself. Aliens were cared for along with citizxns. In every case a dollar spent was stretched to the limit. Waste was the exception. The approach of Thanksgiving finds the people in more hopeful mood than year ago. Then they were fac
 ing dark period which even the
 bravest would not predict would be over soon. Now conditions appear | more favorable. The future is bright | AT AMFDI~A