The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1917-06-09
AID 4 | OF GOVERNORS OVER
National Defense Council Issues
Warning Against Hysteria.
STATE CENSUS IS OPPOSED.

Operations Designated and Recon-
mendations Presented For Road
BuiIding-ln Certain Contingencies
May Fix Food Prices.
Neutrality-suspicious. who sought
advice from the Council sof National
Defense concerning their war activities
at the national defense conference re-
.cetyed their instruct ions in detailed
statement which covered "a hundred
phases of the work necessary to get
the country in shape for a successful
war against Germany.
The advice was in the form Of an
swers to stated questions on industrial
and military subjects. There ran
through the document an apparent
warning against hysteria in action
which might hamper rather than &C.
complish the desired results. Here are
some Of the important points made:
First.-The national council recon-
mends that the state councils shall en-
courage economy and discourage ex-
travagant living and Che purchase Of
luxuries among the pMple Of their re-
spective states.
second.-1n regard Ito the postpone
ment Of state or municipal works now
under way and notssof pressing i'm
portance the council generally speak
ing," advises that nothing now under
way should be abandoned except I'M
der pressing necessity; nor should new
projects be started not Of pressing i'm
portance. e.. .~..
Third.-The council has not made
any suggestion for the postponement
In any state of work on cooperative
highway projects to, such an extent
that redistribution Of public money
will be necessary. - =.
= Fourth.-The taking Of a census by
states Of men for either military or
industrial service, supplementary to
federal registrations step which has
been contemplated in some other
states-was discouraged. On this point
the document says::.sT The council does
not desire such a#census for the pres
ent. It is, not neededs just now and
when completed and. ready for use
would soon be obsolete owing to rap
idly changing indQstrtal conditions"
Z Fffth.-The council may In certain
contingencies fix either or both mini
mum and maximum food prices If au-
thorized by law, but holds that until
legislation is passed it is impossible to
make definite statement. !.
In reply to advice in regard to the
road building which would make the
location and character Of the highway
better suited for military purposes, the
council furnishes copy of a letter
from Secretary Baker to Secretary
Houston giving in detail the areas like
ly to be the theater Of war operations
and presenting recommendations as to
road building for military purposes.
The areas in question are:
(a) The area about Long Island, in
Guiding most of the states of Rhode
Island, Maine, New Hampshire, Yer
mont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and
New York.
(b) The area about Chesapeake bay,
including much Of the states of New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Vir-
g1n1a, North Carolina and Delaware.
(c) The Pacific coast area, including
California, Oregon and Washington.
(d) The Mexican border, including
the southern part Of the states Of Tex
as, New Mexico, Arizona and Califor-
mia.
(e) The great lakes area, including
the-states Of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan,
Illinois and parts of Wisconsin and
Minnesota.