The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-27

LII LllG r6uGTA1 0uIGdu LII gate of an important plant production and entered with this performance at a second questioned him. He wore no tken toured the entire factt laborerS and technicianS. H, confidential activities, asking curious questions and receiving courteous answers.
 Still no one asked his identity or purpose.
 Fortunately, this person was an agent of the United States govern ment and not of some foreign power which might be interested in imped- ing national defense preparations or learning the secrets which were spread before the agent as he toured the plant.
 Assigned To Plant
 The agent had been assigned to the plant by Director J. Edgar Hoover of the FBI to determine lax ities in protective measures against Saboteurs and spies.
 The plant survey, an integral part of the FBI counter espionage sys- tenn, was started in September, 1899, at the request of the Army and Navy departments.
 A cursory check by these agencies had disclosed a laxfty in certain vital areas of industrial production which, if not eliminated, might constitute a damaging weakness to the internal security in time of crisis.
 The Army and Navy intelligence services designated many key fac- tories then engaged or scheduled to start production on defense orders as a priority list for survey by the FBI. At the present time, more than 1900 of the plants on the priority list have been surveyed. A supplement- ary lits of several hundred others has been furnished for subsequent attention should the seriousness of the present emergency increase.
 Recommendations made by the special agent who strolled unmolest- ed through vital defense plant at typical of the protective measures suggested by the FBI after its sur- veys.
 Credential Cards
 He urged that each employe and official be issued credential card It was suggested that the card be printed on a type of safety paper which would diminish the possibility of alteration. The card would give the employment number, name, physical description. and photograph of each employe, as well as his as- signment in the plant.
 In addition, the FBI suggested that badges with employment num- bers and made in different colors and shapes to designate shop as- signments, be worn by employees at all times on the plant property.
 When those means of identifica- tion were put into effect, stranger no longer could move about incon- spicuously while gathering damaging information" an FBI official said.
 The official asserted that the de- tailed surveys by G-men have veri- fled ito an appalling extent the con- ditions of laxity and gullibility" re- vealed by the preliminary investiga- tions by the service agencies. Tt should be understood that the plant surveys which the FBI is mak- ing have no purpose other than to prevent the impeding or sabotaging of our defense plans" the official ex- plained. We are not concerned with employer employe relationships, working conditions, attitudes relative to unioniSm or wage or labor nego- tiationS.
 Espionage Prevention
 "The FBI is concerned only with the prevention of espionage and sab- otage. This does require that a study be made of employment rec ordS, and it has been found that many factories engaged on the na- tional defense program know little about their personnel.
 Tt is apparent that at a time like this the safety of the nation. of factory, and of its employees, de- mands adequate personnel records. It has been suggested as result of many FBI surveys that appropriate inquiries be made concerning the character, contacts, and background of all employees"
 During one survey, plant officials advised an FBI agent that appli- cants for employment were investi- gated. However, the agent ascer- tained that one employe hired re- gently to work in vital engine room was insane. He had been dismissed from 6 previous job because of his mental condition.
 FBI chief J. Edgar Hoover has praised plant officials for their CO., operative attitude. Most are inex- perienced in methods of combating the saboteur and accept suggestions of G-men, who have been especially trained in the technique.
 Means of Entrance
 For example, in one factory it was found that water drain in the foundry offered a possible means of entrance for a saboteur bent on