The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-05-05
Mobilization Of the industries of
: the Country Is Its Princi-
+ pal Function.
MADE up OF LEADING EXPERTS
Will Lay Down Policy Of Industrial
Preparedness for the NatIon-To
Point Out to Manufacturers
the Part They Can Play.
BY EDWARD q. CLARK.

6y eDW%hD b. CLARK.
washington Correspondent of the West.
ern Newspaper Union.)
Neutrality-suspicious. time ago the
United States congress created a coun.
Gil Of national defense. The body owes
Its creation to the fact that the law.
makers held that the country which
best is prepared for peace is also best
prepared for war. Whether peace
broods over the land or war strides
through 1t, 1t is necessary that the in
dustrial fabric Of nation 'be organ
lied In the most effective way"
The council Of national defense con-
sists of six members Of the presidents
cabinet, the secretaries of war, of navy.
OF agriculture, Of the interior, of COM
merce and Of labor. An advisory COM
mission OF seven persons "each Of
whom shall have special knowledge of
some industry, public utility or the de-
velopment of some natural resource, or
De otherwise specially qualified" has
been appointed. Its members are Dam
lei Willard, Samuel Gompers, Howard
y. Coffin, Julius Rosenwald, Bernard B.
Baruch, DR.. Franklin Martin, and DIR.
Hollis Godfrey.
The council Of national defense has
two lines along which It must pro-
gress. Its endeavor Is to lay down a
complete policy Of industrial prepared
ness for the nation, and It is now en-
deQyoring to determine facts concern
Ing the personnel, the material, and
the economic and industrial resources
70 give effect to Its policy and to be
able to maintain 1t. The members Of |
the council are determining facts con-
corning nitrates. All things necessary
20 make powder In abundance are to |
pc found within the United States ex-
cept nitrate salts.
To Build Nitrate Plant.
Congress has appropriated $4,000
W. to build nitrate plant. The sole
source Of these salts today is Chill.
The council of national defense will
undertake the study which is intended
to make the United States government
Independent In the matter of produc-
hon of this absolutely essential eIe-
ment OF proper preparedness for de-
tense. Fl
All kinds Of Industrial problems are
being studied by the members Of the
council. The attempt Is to get thor
,ugh knowledge of all the facilities
u the United States for comprehensive
Industrial work. so that preparedness
long these lines may keep pace with
lctual military preparedness. Indus
rial organizations all over the United
states have made offers of assistance
0 the government.
President Wilson not long ago
ummed up the duties of the council
nd the advisory commission In
'orls which pd the case succinctly: /
The council of national defense
as been created because congress has
ealized that the country is best pre-
AIRED for war when thoroughly pre-
AIRED for peace. From an economic
ofnt of view there is now very little =
Inference between the machinery re- 3
aired for commercial efficiency and r.
lat required for military purposes. o.
i both cases the whole industrial g.
echanism must be organized In the q
ost effective way. Upon this concep- fc
,n of the national welfare the coun- al
Is organized In the words of the act al
T s'the creation Of relations which tie
II render possible In time Of need re
. Immediate concentration and ntili- FIR
don Of the resources Of the nation" Sc
le organization of the council like wi
se opens up new and direct chan pl
Of communication and cooperation CO
tween business and scientific men no
q all departments Of the govern pc
Mt and II Is hoped that it win. In or