The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1917-07-06
COUNCILS OF NATIONAL DEFENSE
HAVE BEEN ORGANIZED IN
MOST OF THEM.
WORK UNDER NATIONAL BODY
Promote Numerous Civic Activities of
War Time Importance, Especially In
Regard to the Mobilization Of Men,
Food and Industries,
By EpWARp q. CLARK.

IAc organization OF state councils or
national defense. It will be the duty
OF these councils to promote civil ac-
tlvities Of war Importance. 1t seems
necessary to the national council Of
defense, and to the administration In
washington as well, that the states In
dlv1dually be prepared to take their
part In NE great work that Is ahead Of
the natBn.
The state councils are appointed by
the governors from citizens represent
Ing larger business and Industrial oc-
&upations. They promote, pilot and
supervise official and unofficial war &C.
tivities Of the states. E
In several of the larger states of the
Union laws have been enacted to es-
tablish the councils upon a statutory
basis. In some cases these admlnistra-
tive bodies include in their member
ship the governor and other state cleo
tive officials. The legislatures have
given many Of the councils large ap-
preparations, ranging from $4,000 to
$1,OOO,OOO, and have endowed them
with full powers Of investigation,
power to report to the governor or leg
islature and authority to supervise the
activities Of local bodies.
Generally there are local councils in
places of Importance which conduct
considerable local work and cooperate
with the state councils. Some states
have built up complete, well central
lied local systems with defense coun-
ellis in each county, operating under
the supervision of the state council.
Under such system a council in
every county can be Immediately set in
motion performing any labor desired
by the state council or by the council
Of national defense.
Good Work OF state Councils.
Through the subcommittee by which
they conduct their work, the state
councils have undertaken a variety of
activities in regard to mobilization of
men, food and industries. Much has
been done to boom recruiting and to
lend helping hand to the boys off to
the front. Some councils have seen to
1t that their fighting men are equipped
with well-cared-for teeth and feet, as
well as guns. Other states have I'M
dertaken to give a good time to the
boys in the camps In the hours when
they are not drilling. ..w
Food has been big object Of &C
tivity. Don't waste-dOn't hoard" and
"Plant more-plant better" campaigns
have been undertaken generally, and
often followed up by bulletins of in
struction as to how to save food, and
what and when to plant it. Farmers
organizations have been put into oper-
alton. AS a result more land is under
cultivation and it is more highly cult
waited than in previous years.
Some councils have seen that waste
of labor is as bad as waste Of food and
have prevented ambitious, patriotic
societies from crowding one war ac-
tivity and neglecting another and SO
have assigned preparation Of bandages
to one, care of soldiers families to an
other and enlistment propaganda to a
third One council has forestalled in
dustrial waste by establishing war.
time arbitration board which already
has succeeded in settling big and bit.
ter strike.
Working Hand In Hand.
The council Of national defense has
assisted and generally directed these
local activities and acted as clearing
house for the state councils. 1t has
carried on vigorous correspondence
answering questions, supplying data
and suggesting lines Of labor. In re
turn 1t has called for eager cooper
alton, NJ ling state councils to under
take tie patriotic celebration Of regis
tration day, to aid in floating the Lib
erty loan, and to stimulate the conser
walton of food.
Nation, state and local committees
are thus working hand in hand through
their various councils and bringing tt
the assistance of our country not only
the regular governmental machinery
but the advice and service Of all pa
trlotic citizens. u.
It is possible that the American PEG
pie have no realizing sense of thu
greatness Of the field Of activities o.
the national council Of defense. 1t /.
composed of cabinet officers, but 1t hal
as members of an advisory committee
scores of the great business men of thu
country, of engineers and Of experts
in all lines of endeavor, virtually all o.
whom have given up their work a
home in order to serve Uncle Sam IL
Washington. The pay Of most of thes'
volunteers is 81 year each. The rea
son that they take the dollar Is tina
under the law any man who works fo
the government in regularly assigned
lob must receive compensation and 81
each of these volunteers takes tn
price of ten fair cigars for his yearl!
stipend.