The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-05-03
Of
STATES N FOOD
PROBLEM ASKED
Definite Plan to Be Worked Out
by Council of National De-
Tense at Once
DANGERS OF UNDER
SEA WAR PICTURED
Secretary Daniels Asks Aid in
Recruiting Navy Personnel
Up to 10000

Washington, May S.-The federal
government today took into its con-
fidence governors and other state rep
resentatives here for national de-
tense conference and outlined the
problems the nation faces in making
war on Germany. Cabinet heads ex-
planned the situation and asked aid
in putting into effect the govern.
ment's war measures. La.
At a second conference today, the
Council of National Defense will pre-
sent definite program to the states
for co-ordinating their work in carry
ing out military and economic plans.
President Wilson received the dele
gates today at the white house and
urged that the states draw all ener'
gies and efforts together into common
action.
Discuss Submarines and Food.
The submarine situation was
brought sharply to the front when the
governors gathered at the state, war
and navy building, and heard Secre-
taries Lane and Daniels picture the
dangers that beset the country in the
German undersea war. Secretary
Baker and other war department off,
cials explained the new army bill, and
said that the success of the war army
rested with the states and depended
on their cooperation. ai9IAt a later
meeting Secretary Of Labor Wilson
and agriculture department officials
discussed food problems and labor
needs and their relation to success.
Tomorrow Secretary Redfield will put
before them commercial conditions.
Lane Predicts Long War.
k Secretary Lane advised the COVER.
nors to let their people know the gov,
ernment is preparing for long war
and that every resource of the coun'
try must be developed to its utmost
il the United States hopes to win.
Germany, he declared is putting up
the greatest fight of history and, fight:
ing on the defensiive,,iAMI be hard
~ Secretary Daniels lli1lls 3aaskesa1 the aid Of
the states in recruiting the nava! per.
sonnel to 100000 after the new naval
bill is passed.
Plans for the new army were out
lined by Secretary Baker. No fore
cast, he said, Is possible concerning
the length of the war and prudence
directs the country to enter on it as
if it would be long.
Baker Favors Home Guard Units.
Mr.. Baker defined the war depart
ment's policy concerning home guard
units and said they would be encour-
aged. The department, he said, de-
sired to preserve the identity OF the
national guard and hoped to attach to
their regimental designation the states
from which they come. He deplored
the prejudice against conscription and
asked the governors to do what they
could to overcome it.
Adjutant General Mccain nd<Judge
Advocate General Crowder OF the
army told how the selective draft
would be made, and the purpose OF
the officers training camps.
Factory Men for Farm Labor.
Food and labor questions occupied
the entire time OF an afternoon meet
ing. Secretary Wilson told what the
labor department was doing to find
men for the farm and put forward a
plan for drawing men from the fac
tories to do farm work during harvest
time. Industrial establishments, he
said, plan to shut down for repairs
when crops are to be harvested and
release a vast army of men for the
work.
Conscription of labor for farm work
or any industrial work never will be
in the United States, the
secretary said, as long as the farms
and Industries were in private hands
and operated for profit.
Increased Spring Acreage.
Food problems will be taken up
again tomorrow. Discussion today
showed largely increased acreage OF
spring crops throughout the country.
but a prospect of labor shortage in
many states. Department of agricul-
ture officials said crops could not be
too large, as the allies for the next
two years would take every spare
bushel of grain this country can fur.
nish and still go hungry.