The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-06-09
Defense COUNCILS PLANS.
|ARzsANGES GENERAL STRUCTURE
OF ORGANIZATION.
First Active Step Will bc tn Help IN
Campaign for subscriptions to Lib.
crty Loan.

Columbia, June 7.--Preliminar,
steps toward executing the duties O,
the State council OF defense were TAX.
on ut the first meeting Of the council
held here yesterday. In the ab.
sence of specific plans the work OF
organization was undertaken on gen.
eral lines. the idea being to have tho
structure so elastic as easily to be
changed to meet any shift in condi.
tions calling for action. The council
purposes In the main to work through
committees. each of which will devote
Its attention to the special subject
with which Its membership is bes,
qualified to deal.
The purpose of the council. as ex.
planned by Gov. Manning and D. r.
Coker. chairman. is to work for the
proper coordination and mobilization
of the resources II the state In the
great struggle which America Ia now
engaged In.
The first active work will be in
backing up the campaign for the sale
OF Liberty bonds. The finance COM
mittee. to be appointed by the chair
man. will have direct charge Of this
and will begin Its work at once.
| The council decided to ask the
legislature, at its next session. to ap-
propriate $4,000. If so much be need
ed. for the work Of the council. Mem
bers will be sounded as to whether
they will vote for such an appropria-
tion at the next session, and IL a
majority pledges itself in favor of
the project, the council will proceed
with ity activities. In other States.
as Christie Benet Of Columbia. acting
secretary Of the council, pointed out.
sums ranging from $4,000 to 81, 1,000,-
600 have been appropriated for the
verk Of such councils. which have
been established at the request of
tho national council of defense. The
r.efnbers will serve without compen-
sation and all the money will be de-
voted to the expenses Of the work
II is planned to employ secretary
and maintain headquarters.
A most careful system Of expendi-
ture will be instituted. according to
plans suggested by Chairman Coker.
The State treasurer. g. r. Carter. will
be asked to act as treasurer for the
funds Of the council.
The first step toward establishing
an organization was taken with the
election OF william Elliott of Co
lumbia as vice chairman. Mr.. Coker
is chairman by appointment OF the
governor. He will name an execu-
tive committee. to consist of seven
members with the chairman and vice
chairman serving. ex ofiicio. The ex-
ecutive committee will provide for
such other committees as necessary,
the members to be named by the
chairman.
Committees already provided for
are:
Finance. publicity. military affairs,
production and conservation Of food.
transportation. alienation Of need Of
dependent families OF soldiers and
sailors. coordination Of all agencies of
white people whose help will be need
cd. research and education and coop
GRAFTON with negro organizations. The
personnel Of these committees will be
decided by the chairman and an
nounced later. 1t was also decided
that the governor be asked to appoint
six more members of the council
bringing the total to 80.
The council will meet again soon at
tho call of tho chairman. and It this
session 1t Is expected that more def
mite plans can be outlined. as the
committees will be named by that
time and can begin the study Of their
special lines.
Members Of the council who at
tended the meeting were: David r.
Coker. Hartsville; William Godfrey
Cheraw; j. Ross Hanahan. Charles
ton; w. M. Riggs. Clemson College.
William Banks. Columbia; William
Elliott. Columbia; Robert Latham
Charleston; Eugene buckingham
Aiken; John G.. Richards. Columbia