The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-27


 He said, "our own American hcmi- sphere is threatned by forces of de- struction."
 Labor to Hold Gains
 To labor, MT. Roosevelt promised no sacrifice in the administrations social objectives-the wage hours act, old age and unemployment in- surance and labor's rights in gen. eral--but he warned that minority strikes should not disrupt national rearmament.
 To capital, he said that there shall be no war millionaires to grow fiat and rich" on the profits of the emergency.
 To the public he said that con- sumers would be protected against excessively rising living costs.
 MT. Roosevelt made no reference to financing the national defense programs. There has been discus sion here of new taxes, and of raising the existing $45 1000, GOO, ,00C federal borrowing limit. It prob- ably will be exhausted within a year unless treasury income is in- creased.
 Emergency national defense leg islation is nearing completion in congress. And there appears to be general agreement here that bil- lions must be provided and spent quickly if the nation is to be safe.
 The president after completing his address late last night, boarded the presidential yacht for an over- night cruise down the Potomac river. The usual Monday morning conference with congressional lead CTS was cancelled. MT. Roosevelt will not return until this after noon.
 Last nights freside talk was the presidents first since last Septem- ber-when Great Britain and France declared themselves at war with Germany. At that time he promised to do his utmost to prevent a black out of peace in this country.
 Future Peace of Nation
 Last night he said that the future peace of this country depends upon calmly building Up our national de- fense to safeguard democracy from attacks of aggressors.
 He treasured businessmen on two major counts: First, that the gov- ernment now manufactures few im- plements of war and private indus- try will continue to be the source of most of 1t; second, that men en- gagged in private industry will-are being-called iri to help develop the program and they will coordinate 1t.
 Mir Roosevelt insisted again that Isolation for us is impossible. Much of his address was devoted to a de- fense against the suggestion heard here lately that national defense funds for years had gone down a "rat hole" He said he had taken over an army and navy in 1883 sad- ly lacking in men and equipment. Since that time, he said, his admin istration had spent in seven fiscal years approximately $2,779, ,000. .000 more on the military establishment than had been spent by the Coolidge apd Hoover administrations during the previous seven fiscal years.
 High Spots of Defense
 He outlined the high spots of im- proved national defense in the past seven fiscal years--active naval per- sonnel increased 79,000 to 145, ,000: 215 fighting ships laid down or com missioned; 2,892 useful naval air. planes now instead of 1,127 as ir 1888; the army strength almost dou- bled from it's 122,0O0 enlisted mer as of 1883: 5,540 army airplanes ac. tually purchased since the New Dea began; 355 anti-aircraft guns ther and 1,700 on hand or on order; 24 modern infantry mortars ther against 1900 now on hand or or order; 48 modern tanks and armor. ed ears in 1883 against 1,700 now ir use or on order; 1,263 army pilot then and 3,200 now.
 KNUDSEN MAY HEAD LIST Washington. May T.-(UP)-Wil. liam s. .nudsen. Darish-born pres ident of General Motors Corpora. ton, was reported today to be at the top of the list of civilians Presi. dent Roosevelt plans to call into bii administration to coordinate the na. tional defense program.
 We are calling on men now en. gagged in private industry to help u in carrying out this program, and you will hear more Of these in the next few days" the president said iu