The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-06-19
Joseph Perrone
 Is Holding Lead
(Continued from Page D

session late this morning, and had not yet reported any recommenda- tions. There were reports courrent that several delegates planned to bring up controversial matters from the floor tomorrow.
 The joint banquet of the V. F. w. and its auxiliary at The Elton last night was attended by more than 300 persons. Several prominent speakers were heard, and the dinner was ended with the impressive memorial service for deprated vet erans who were members of the organization.
 Major Bannigan Speaks Preparedness was urged by Major Thomas J. Bannigan, director of the Veterans Hospital at Newing- ton. Those who urge the abolition of military training, he said, simply do not know history and world conditions. Human nature has not changed since the World War !. We shall remain at peace only as long as we are prepared"
 America, he declared, must be kept American, and steady battle must be waged against those seeking to break down the nations institu- tions. He said he favored the conscription of capital and industry in case of war.
 Concerning the condition of vet erans at the present time, he said
 Far from considering that the World War veterans, whose aver- age age is now about A years have passed their first and best usefulness. I feel that their ex- perience and added stability should appeal, especially to private em- ployers. However, even with all that the government and private industry have done, and are doing there is still an employment prob lem among veterans, as among others, and unless there is a fai greater absorption of veterans into private employment, it will be nec- essary for the government, local state and national to assume the responsibility for their future well fare. It is with no intention of criti- cism, of any group, that I have pointed out these facts. It is merely to suggest, one more opportunity that we have for service to worthy veterans, through the fostering ot conditions which will lead to en- ployment opportunities for them, at reasonable wages, and at occupa- tions suited to their qualificati tions. ' Congressman Smith
 Congressman J. Joseph Smith ot the fifth district called for the or- ganization to support two national defense bills which he has intro- duced in congress. One of the pro- posals calls for the acquisition of large reserve of the metals needed in war, while the other calls for a system of peacetime training for private industry in the manufac- ture of special munitions.
 Waterbury and the Naugatuck valley should be greatly interested in the first bill, said Congressman Smith, for 1t would mean the train- ing of men to direct special manu- facture in case of war and would provide key factories with the nec- essary special tools and equipment.
 The other bill sponsored by MT. Smith authorizes the secretary of war to acquire ore suitable for the production of ferromanganese, chrome ore, tungstein ore and pig tin, in quantities to comprise a national reserve for use in the event of war.
 A vital defensive principle is in- volved in this legislation, because U sudden wartime blockade could easily paralyze war manufacture by cutting of the supplies of such ores from abroad. said Cong. Smith who explained that domestic pro- duction, even in peacetime, does not begin to meet normal demands, and the stepped-up production d,lr- ing war would make the deficiency much more acute.
 Of these metals. manganese is of outstanding significance, Mir. Smith
 I.