New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-05-11
DEFENSE COUNCIL
ORGANIZED and
DOING BUSINESS
Ell PAsO AND SOUTHWEST
ERN OFFERS FREE TRANS.
P0RTATION TO COUNCIL
AND EMPLOYEES TEN PER
CENT OF SALARIES

The Council Of Defense organized
Thursday by electing Secundino
Romero, of San Miguel county,
chairman, and Phil. H. LeNoir Sc
Icretary. Both these gentlemen are
of San Miguel county.
Robert F Putney, of Bernalillo
,ounty, rendered his resignation be-
fore the first meeting of the
Council, and despite the urging of
those interested in the success of
the work ahead he remained firm
in his determination not to serve,
and has gone to his home in Al
buquerque.
A number OF necessary employees
were engaged TO assist the secrc-
tary and the work Of the Counci!
began where the work Of the War
Board ended, splendid progress being
made in mobolizing the agricultu-
raj resources of the state, this be-
ing the first work taken up because
of its immediate Importance.
During the sessions of the Coun-
Gil this week it developed that the
i S I II t secretary Of the
department OF agriculture has ex-
pressed himself as very much pleased
with the enterprise shown by this
state in properly organizing for this
work and il is understood that
New Mexico and Iowa are showing
more enthusiasm, and a better TN
derstandinE of the necessities of the
occasion than any other states in
the Union.
The first organization, the War
Board. acting with Governor Lind
sey, sent Mr.. A w. Hawkins to
Washington to consult with the de-
partment Of agriculture, explain the
plans formed by New Mexico. and
report progress. The department
the plans formed by the
gentlemen of the borad and ex-
pressed delight at the progress made
in this state. The assistant to
the secretary said he would cease
to worry about New Mexico, be-
cause he could endorse the plans as
being directly in line with the work
of the department, and from the
and enthusiasm shown he
had no fear of the result. This is
the highest possible praise for the
gentlemen who so freely gave their
time to the work when called upon
by the governor OF this state to ad-
wise him. They not only advised,
but they acted, and that they acted
with judgment is shown by the COM
of the department at
Washington. If the secretary Of
agriculture had been in communi-
cation with the state legislature in
its extra session there would have
been less delay and less jockeying to
secure the legislature finally pas
sed.
Another very gratifying develop
ment of the meetings was the offer
Of free transportation for the men,
bers of the war council by the FL
Paso & Southerwestern System, the
Rock Island and the Southern Paci-
fic. In addition to the free trans
Dortation offered by the corporation,
the employees of the department OF
and maintenance of
way of the FL Paso & Southwestern
system came forward with an offer
Of ten per cent. of their salaries
each month, to be used for the
purchase of seed And they also
that the fund would be
IS much or more than five hun
ired dollars month. This liberal
,ffer strengthens the work just /
hat much, and if every citizen of
he state should do the same New !
Mexico would have a war fund to
,e proud of. The patriotism shown
,y som. of the corporations of the
state, and their employees, has caus-
ID much enthusiasm here, and will
greatly ent ourage the workers.
1t is understood that the first
Effort of the members of the Coun-
ii will be directed to the securing
ii seed beans and potatoes, suffi-
lent to care for all the land Of
cred for planting in the state. This
S a very serious undertaking, be- /
4iaaxa nsacssal afncs