South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-05-04
WORK FOR
MEN NOT ORAF TED
Reserve Would be Used For
Any Service Designated
by Government.

WASHINGTON, May A. Plans
for a great national service reserve
made OF men not subject TO draft
into the army and Of women, al
ready approved by the war depart
ment were submitted TO the council
Of national defense Thursday at a
conference OF the council with state
governors and representatives OF
state defense councils.
Members Of the reserve would be
available for any service they could
perform for the government.
The plans were presented by
/ George Wharton Pepper. a repre-
sentative of the Pennsylvania state
/ defense council and chairman Of a
/ national committee of patriotic and
/ defense societies.
Board of Nine ut Helm.
| The reserve would be headed by a
board of nine nationally known men
which would operate through a ma
/ tiOnal committee Of members from
all the states. Under the national
I committee there would be state and
district committees and in Washing
ton a permanent headquarters COM
mittee would sit to carry on admin
istrative work
Membership on the boaro OF nine
has been tentatively accepted. it was
stated by former Pres't Taft, Maj.
Gen. George w. Goethals and Henry
L 90
The purpose Of the organization
As outlined 10 the defense council.
would be 70 furnish any military or
civic service which could not be per
formed by enlisted men. to aid in
recruiting to work under any pri-
vate employer engaged on govern
men contract, or on farms and to
supply the army and navy. When not
i'm active service, reserve members
could aid in home defense. They
would be given compensation for the
time spent in government service.
One of Big Problems
One Of the serious problems fac
ing the government. Mr.. Pepper de-
clared, is to utilize the efforts of the
thousands who are volunteering for
any service they can render. Crea-
ton Of the reserve ne said. would
lift a burden from the shoulders of
government officials and give volun-
teers a chance to be of real service.
The defense council Thursday gave
the governors and state representa-
tives an outline of a program for
state assistance TO the federal gov
-, -
They were told that state defense
councils could do these things:
Promote patriotic spirit and edu-
cate the people to the magnitude of
the task ahead: aid in recruiting the
national guard; assist in carrying out
the enrolment for the new army
and in determining exemptions from
draft: maintain labor standards; es-
tablish labor clearing houses; assist
in getting workers to use their
"brokeu time" on the farms: assist
in getting idle men and boys TO the
farms: afford facilities in aiding the
government to collect revenues; help
float the Liberty loan; organize cen
trail food production committees to
work with the state defense coun-
ellis; supply their own food require
ments wherever possible, and reduce
waste i'm the home.
Older Men for Offices.
The state councils were asked TO
induce older and more responsible
men TO enter military training
camps, as men going to the first
camps probably will be advanced in
grade in the near future.
Members of the federal councils
organization outlined at length 10
the governors steps the government
is taking to put the country in a
state of preparedness. Daniel vii
lard. chairman Of the committee on
transportation, described the work
of the general railroad board, which
is now operating the country's rail
road lines as one continental sys-
tenn. Howard Coffin, chairman OF
the committee on munitions. told OF
efforts TO find facilities for an ade-