The Washington herald., 1917-10-29
State Councils Busy.

The man who conceived the idea OF
organizing state defense councils and
county and town defense councils as
subordinate to those bodies deserves
a medal.
For up and down the line OF Con-
grcssional and executive officials who
have had to do with I.aking America
strong internally for this war it Is
generally admitted that the State and
lesser councils have done Il wonderful
work This Is true in every State.
And the men who have reviewed the
doings of these bodies are quite will
ing to admit that without them it is
doubtful if Americas position in the
strife would be even h-f as strong
as II is at the present time.
In many of the States obviously
there have been difficulties attendant
upon the organization of these bodies
just as here and there were difficult
ties attendant upon the organization
OF the national defense council But
the wrinkles have been ironed out in
snguarIy good fashion on the whole,
largely because the sole aim of all
members. no matter how widely d.
vcrgent their views upon contempo-
raneous subjects, was to organize
America i'm the shortest time and with
the utmost efficiency for the success
full prosecution of the war.
The flame of patriotism has burned
with a steadier and stronger glow
than the flame of discord and jcal-
ousy in all States, and all councils,
therefore. have been able to settle
their petty troubles without seriously
inconveniencing either the state or
national governments. and without so
much as detraCting from America $
cause even a tiny portion.
The idea for the organization of
the State councils will probably
never be credited to any one per-
son. The idea seemed to have sprung
simultaneously from over the land
If credit belongs anywhere it is due
to President Wilson as much as
any other man, for 1t was he who
thought out the possibilities of such
plan of internal organization and
talked it over confidentially with
some of his aides. But before his
plan came to the surface some OF
the States of the country had ac-
tually started on an organization
program Of this nature which
State and county and township de-
fense councils.
The matter of arousing interest
in Americas cause and Of making
it plain to the country at large
just why we are in this war was
the first mammoth task which tho
state bodies took upon themselves.
That task is well nigh finished now
for from very few sections of the
country. indeed. do stories come
now to the effect that the people
are re- united and behind the war
VITA all their vigor.
The duty which confronts the
councils now is more tangible in
nature-it is the problem of coop
Grating with the Federal food and
fuel and other administrations in
obtaining the best possible results
in the States. Not only that but
the councils are proving their
strength in the Second Liberty Loan
drive, and in the continual cam
paigns for Red Cross funds and for
various kinds of soldiers comfort
funds. These duties will continue
during the war, and the longer the
war lasts, SO the promise of most
of them is, the more insistently and
persistently will they stand by their
guns and continue their labor. The
state defense councils are the or
ganized power which stands ready
to carry out the Federal govern
ment's demand upon a moments no
tice and which can set in motion
upon mere call, a wonderful ma
chine to do good work for any cause
Uncle Sam may suddenly decide
upon as needing attention. The
State defense councils are not ham
pered by State duties. as State Of
ficials are, and they are in the work
because of their excessive patriot
ism, and because of this can at all
times be depended upon to greatly
aid any move which they get be-
hind.
In many of the States the defense
councils have been of the greatest
value to their people on account of
their coordination of all efforts to
meet the demands of labor They
hase surveyed the field and brought