Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-07-20
GOVERNOR HARDING PREDICTS
STRUGGLE MAY LAST THREE
TO FIVE YEARS.
DISCUSSES PROBLEMS
ARISING FROM STRUGGLE
In Address Before State and County
Defense Councils, Governor Outlines
lowa's War Prosram-Preparins
War Army and Producing Foodstuffs
to Feed WorI of Major importspce.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
| Des Moines, July 20.-Problems con.
| fronting Iowa growing out of the pres.
emit war were discussed by Governor
w. L. Harding in an address before
| the state and county council defense
members in session at the state house
| that the present war would last from
| three TO five years. He declared thai
| two things were absolutely necessary
! to the winning of the War--to have az
army of sufficient size and training tf
| cope with the enemy and to produce
foodstuffs to feed the world. His ad.
| dress follows:
The object for which the state coun-
Gil of defense, the county councils OF
defense and the womcn's council OF
defense were organized ought to be
thoroughly in the mind of everyone.
The state council of defense was
first appointed by me after trir
which | made to- Washington on invi
tation of the national council of de-
Tense and the secretary of war In
picking the state council of defense
the thought was to get body of men
together who could advise with me on
the various matters that might come
before me for attention, growing out
Of the war, and for their cooperation
in matters that might need attention
at Washington.
Object Of County Councils.
THE object in organizing the county
councils of defense, which were later
appointed by me, was to have body
of men in each county that would keep
us informed of local conditions, that
would handle matters that were pre-
scented to US by the federal govern
ment, and to assist in all of the things
growing out of the war that might need
attention.
THE women's council of defense is
to do among the women the same
things that are to be done thru the
other councils among the men.
"A further object in organizing the
state and county councils was to CO.
ordinate, as far as possible, all or
CARNATIONS in the state and direct all
Of the volunteer activities so that re-
suits would be accomplished and not
so much time and money spent in per-
fecting the organization.
Prepare For Long War.
From my contact with those In au-
thority at Washington, and from other
sources, | have for some time been Ct
the opinion that the war we are now
engaged ii, unless the unexpecIcd hap
pens, will last for period of from
three to five years. Realizing this,
have felt that two things we're abso-
lutely necessary for ! the successful
winning of the war: One was to have
an army Of sufficient size and training
to cope with the enemy; the other, to
take care Of our people at home by
seeing to it thar all were employed al
good wage under the most favorable
circumstances. that the dependents OF
the soldier who has gone out be taken
care Of, and that we produce especial
ly in this state-aH of the foodstuffs
that it is possible for us to produce.
THE question of an army need not
bother us. That matter was finally
and successfully settled when on June
5, 10,000,000 Of the young men Of this
country registered, thereby saying that
they were ready and willing to serve
their country anywhere on the globe
that they might be sent. The federal
government has in It's direct charge the
matter of an army and navy, so that as
far, as the state is concerned we nee1
not bother with the question Of troops
to do the fighting.
I'VE are concerned, however, with
matters here at home. They are di-
rectly in our charge and we are abso-
lutely responsible for the social and
economic conditions that exist in our
state. The burden Of this situation
rests primarily on the shoulders OF
those who are in official position in the
state, county, and city governments.
The officers who are clothed with au-
thority can do little in crisis like
that which now tconfronts us unless the
citizen is active and energetic in all
Of the undertakings that are necessary
to successfully carry on the affairs
here.
Owe All to Country.
"Tllis is not "a time for any citizen
to be thinking about accommodating
wealth. Every patriot, regardless Of
age or condition, must now realize that
he owes his all to his country. The
man or set of men who do not act upon
that theory today are not patriots. The
people Of this country areS now divided
into two classes, those who are for the
country. and those who are against it.
No man. or set of men can success
fully argue or maintain that they are
for their country periodically unless
they are willing to give. everything for
that country.
Whenever the time comes that the