The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1917-11-09
VARIED WORK OF
DEFENSE BOARD
Many Activities Connected With
Industrial Organization for
War.
DEFINITE RESULTS ACHIEVED
Organized as Producing Machine
This Country VIII Win the War,
Declares w. s. Clifford, Direc-
tor Of the Council.

OF the many activities In which tht
Council of National Defense and It'll
advisory commission have been en-
gagged during the last two months Ii
the course of the councils work Of
Industrial organization for war, are
these:
The active direction and adaptation
of the nations railway facilities fol
war purposes.
The further development of sources
Of supply for all kinds of war NUM-
lions and their component parts, from
artillery and machine guns to various
forms Of motor transport.
Unusual progress on comprehen-
sive aviation program.
Every material assistance to the
war department In the construction
Of the new army cantonments.
The adaptation and augmentation
Of electric communication lines, both
telegraph and telephone.
The procuring Of leather and tex
tile supplies of all kinds for the new
armies.
The cooperative development of
lumber, copper, aluminium, steel and
other raw material sources for the
war needs of the government.
Notable progress on many phases
OF the difficult labor problem.
Extensive assistance In the con-
summation of the medical prepara-
lions for the care of the military
forces Of the country.
Definite accomplishments in the ad-
justment of commercial conditions and
methods to war needs.
Work Is Outlined.
The work of the council is outlined
In a statement authorized by w. s.
Clifford, director of the council and its
advisory commission. The statement
covers the accomplishments of the or
ganization between May 2S, the date
Of the last report, up to the recent
appointment Of the new war Industries
board Of the council.
Mr.. Clifford says:
1T is difficult to place on paper an
adequate statement of the work Of an
like the council because
30 much Of Its most valuable and i'm
portant work is accomplished through
Its functions Of adjustment. 1t is easy
to point to the definite, concrete re-
suits obtained by the aircraft pro-
duction board, for example, at GER
tain stages of its program for expedit-
Ing the construction of the govern
ment's great air fleet; or to point out
the saving effected by the committee
on supplies in securing from a group
Of manufacturers a price on govern
ment clothing below that paid by the
private wholesaler. Such accomplish
nents as these are comparatively easy
% make clear.
1T is not possible, however, to pic
.ure In black and white the personal
equation; the accomplishment of a
conference, for instance, which may
'esult In smoothing out serious kinks
n the war machinery, and whose
'ffects may reach eventually through |
he whole governmental and industrial
Iystem alike.
Much Of the work of the council
and the advisory commission has
necessarily been of the latter charac-
.er, and its full value can be known
'nly to those Immediately In touch
With It.
"Yet there have been many very
oncrete and definite results Of the
ouncils work during the last two
nonths."
VIII Win the War.
After summarizing the work of the
everal founders of the organization,
fr. Gifford's statement continues:
"Our nation possesses more produc-
ag resources than any other two ma
Ions In the world. Organized as
reducing machine, we shall win the
var. Individual initiative and self
eliance are normally developed in
emocracy to a higher degree than in
ny other form of government. Peo-
les and Institutions have grown under
he spur of competition and freedom
{ action so that we are noted for
ur individual efficiency and enter
rise. l.
IAN army obviously must be highly
rganized and subject to discipline.
ldividual efforts, no matter how
reat, must be organized so as to work
,r a common purpose If they are to
. effective.
mot alone team work but a volun-
Iry acceptance of discipline in the
luse of national defense is impera-
We. We do not wish to Prussianize
merica, but each of us must volun-
rily submit to the rules and regula-
ons of organization in order that we
ay build up fighting industries
hich, with their voluntary discipline,
Ill stand side by side in efficiency
lth our fighting armies.
'The time has come when we must
nix the individual in an organization
which the keynote will be the high !
t efficiency, the spirit will be pa
lotic unselfishness and self-sacrifice, /
ID the accomplishment will be the
alization of democracy In the speedy
Of the war;
Increase In Naval Tonnage.