Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-04-29

Defense here in Washington are the
real heart and brain OF America pre-
pairing for war. Great things are go
ing forward in the War and Navy de-
partments, and almost every govern
ment bureau is contributing some OF
its energy and knowledge to the
cause; but these are government
agencies that function as matter Of
course. The Council for National De-
Tense is the creation OF the hour, and
in real sense it is an expression OF
the country's patriotic consciousness
for many of the men and orgsnlza-
tons that make it were already en-
listed in the cause of preparedness
before the council was created. SO
Howard E. Coffin was chairman OF
the Industrial Preparedness commit
tee when he was called to his present
work; DR.. Martin already had organ
lied the Committee Of American
Physicians. The council is largely a
coordination of those efforts TO or
game the nation for war which have
sprung up spontaneously all over the
country.
Industrial preparedness against war
appeals strongly to the American
imagination. Military service has lost
its glamour for a people who have
watched three years OF useless butch
cry in Europe; they are ready TO fight;
but they have no illusions about fight
ing; the war fervor Of 1898 is not in
evidence. But coordination of the
powers and resources OF the nation
so that it may be prepared to act as
unit, gathering of the national pow
ers for national blow, is a project
Of which both the magnitude and the
permanent value are apparent to every
American. That is why the Council
for National Defense has grown from
committee appointed by the presi-
dent to all organization with an office
force Of over hundred and field &C
tivities that are spreading like straw
berry vine in May.
The Council for National Defense,
strictly so called, is merely the bu-
reaucratic figurehead of this organ-
zstion. 1t consists of six cabinet Of
ficers, who still have all Ct their usual
duties. Accordingly, an advisory conf
mission has been appointed to assist
them, and this advisory commission is
the lobe of the national brain which
is really thinking out the war prob
lem. Its personnel is the best pos
sible proof that the country is i'll
earnest about organizing its industrial
forces, for this movement has drawn
TO its aid the very best type OF men
IN the United States--the type that
has always heretofore devoted itself
exclusively to business and left pol
ltics alone, to the great detriment OF
politics. Daniel Willard, Howard f.
Coffin, Hollis Godfrey, Julius Rosen-
valid. Bernard n, Baruch, Samuel
Gompers and Franklin H. Martin are
ncn who have already made their
populations or fortunes or both. W.
5. Clifford, the director. and Grosvenor
B. Clarkson, the secretary OF the Or
ganization. are also mcH who have not
been identified with politics.
These men haze little to gain in
their present Wor!, c"ccpt the salts
faction OF putting through big deal
Tor the good Of the country. They
are as different from thc average
commission appointed by the presi-
dent" with its lame. ducks and POM
pous announcements. as a modern
fire engine is different from the vii
lage bucket brigade. Although these
gentlemen serve without pay, they
also serve without stint. Every one
OF them is in his office in the Munsey
building directing his share of the
work.
The Council for National Defense is
american business, science and labor
preparing America to play powers
art IN the world.
But it is more than that 1t is the
basis of the organization that will
direct America in the field Of battle.
This commission as it stands has
none but advisory powers. 1t can
suggest to the president and the cabi-
net what to do and it can collect III
formation. At present that is all.
Moreover, that is the trouble. All
the inertia of our unweildy congress
must be overcome, all the political
and bureaucratic red tape of the de-
partments unwound before any OF the
measures recommended by the advi-
sorry commission can be put into eff
feet. But in this advisory commission
the war executive power which we
must have if we are to fight is al
ready organized and constantly per-
fecting its organization. 1t is gener-
ally accepted that the administration
had Lloyd Georges council of bust
ness man in mind when it formed this |
advisory commission and that if the
nation takes an active part in the war
it will be made an executive board. !
This could be done either by Great }
ing a new cabinet position for Mr.. !
Willard or by an informal extension
\of power to the commission.
1t may be observed that the adj
visory commission is constantly ex-
tending its organization so that if it
should be endowed with executive
powers its executive machinery will
be complete. Thus few days ago a
munitions board was appointed with
membership of scientific experts. 1t
was announced that this board would
prepare munitions standards to be dis
tributed to manufacturers who accept |
Government contracts, In case the
United States should put force in
the field this standards committee
could be converted at once into mu-
nitions board with power to make
contracts.
So that the Council for National
Defense has even greater sipni6cancc