Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-05
DEFENSE COUNCIL PLANS
AUTHORIZED HOME GUARD
Wants Militia With Power to Take
Care Of Emergency
Situations.
WILL CONSULT WITH GOVERNOR
Committee Named to Take Up Qucs-
tion-Johnson to Present FARM
ers' Loan Fund to State Bankers
Association at Old Point.

The imperative necessity OF having
duly constituted military bodies.
clothed with all the authority OF State
militia 10 take care OF emergency
situations that may arise after the
"lthdrawal of troops for field service
and TO guard public and strategic
property, Will be brought to the at
tention OF Governor Stuart to-day hy
committee of the Council of Defense.
appointed for that purpose and com.
posed OF DIR. Ennion q. Williams. Rt.
Rev Collins Denny and District At
torney Richard Evelyn Byrd
The hclplessncss of home guard or
ganzations In case OF serious riots
lies in tho fact that they have no mill
tary authority and would be unable
10 make use Of extreme measures in
quellinE disorders II is the worry
earnest belief of the council that ad-
ditional powers should be given them
AT once. powers commen. urate with the
responsibilities they may have to face.
The extent of the Governors au-
thority in creating military organiza-
tions is dehatablc. but leading lawyers
have expressed the opinion that his
authority in tho premises is ample. 1t
is believed that he has full power un-
der the law 10 call into actual military
service any organization which ma,
suit such Il purpose. The council Will
urge immediate consideration OF the
question
HOME; DEFENSE LEAGUES
ARE NOW BEING FORMED
In some localities. especially In the
larger cities. home defense leagues
have been formed or are in process of
formation, but the greater portion of
Virginia may be left entirely without
defense organization when the troops
arc called to concentration camps and
into field service. The situation was
brought 10 The attention OF the council
by II. Lawrence Groncr, one of the
members. and tho following resolution
was passed unanimously
Whereas il is desirable in the
opinion OF the state Council of Defense
that steps should he taken TO organize
AS far as possible in the several coun-
ties OF the State defense organizations
to take the place OF the National
Guard. which, under the call OF tho
President. will probably be shortly
withdrawr from the state. and.
Whereas. under existing conditions;
the Governor has authority to create
such a force.
BE il resolved. That tho chairman
OF the Council of Defense appoint "A
committee of three members OF the
council to take this question up with
the Governor, and. with his approval,
TO present TO the next meeting Of the
council plan TO carry out the pur-
poses Of this resolution"
WILL PRESENT FARMERS LOAN
BEFORE STATE BANKERS
On behalf of the council. l.. t.. John
son. president of the Norfolk and West
crn Railway. will appear before the
state Bankers Association in annual
session al Old Point Comfort to law
BEFORE II the plan OF the council to |
pool fund of S250,00O from which de-
serving farmers may secure loans with
out collateral to carry on their farm
ing operations. Briefly. the plan is
this:
Those banks which agree TO the /
will contribute to the fund
a sum based upon the ratio which their
combined capital stock and surplus
bear TO the fund pooled. This money
Will be deposited in bank in Rich |
mond. and Will he controlled entirely
by central board. appointed by the
council In each county there will he
designated local board acquainted
with the needs OF the individual farmer, |
which will make recomme ndations for
loans to the central board
The Virginia Agricultural Council OF
Sa'ctH VIII maet in the Senate Cham |
Continued on Third PageD