Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-29
THE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE--L

NJ FREDERICK j. lIASkIN

WASHINGTON. y. G.. April 2S.-Thc
Offices Of the Council for National De-
tense here In Washington are the real
hcart and brain OF America preparing
Tor war Great things arc going for
ward in the War and Navy Depart
ments. and almost every government
bureau is contributing some of it's
energy and knowledge to the cause:
OUT these arc government agencies that
junction as matter of course Tho
Counctl for National Defense is the
creation OF the hour. and in real
sense II Ia an expression OF the coun.
trE's patriotic consciousness: for many
OF the men and organizations that
make II wero already enlisted in tho
cause OF preparedness before the coun
Sil was created. SO Howard l.. Coffin
Wis chairman OF tho Industrial Pre-.
paredncss Committee when he w,.
caien to his present work: nr Mar
TN aircad! had organized the com
mittcc or American Physicians. Tho
p"nc'I. IL larSel! coordination of
nose eHorts to organize the nation for
war which have sprung up spontanc
ousty all over the country.
industrial preparedness agains, war
Appeals strongly to tho American i'm,
a .,. Military service has los,
watched three years of useloss h,,,ch
cry IN Europe: they arc ready 70
uEht hut they have no Illusions ahou,
s"..ns inc war fcrvor Of 1898 is no,
-. eNinencc. But coordination Of
inc powcrs and resources Of tho na,inn
40 that IT may DO prepared 10 az, n.
unit, gathering OF the nation.,
powers for national blow. il a mr.
Je't OF which both the magnitude avn
~. rnanent value arc apparent to
cNer! American. That is WHY tho
council for National Defense h..
from committee appointed by tho
president to an organization with an
once force ~ over hundred. and ncld
".i.'t'eA that arc spreading like
s'rawnerrE vine in MAY
The Council OF National D.,,,
s'r'c''E so-"alled. is merely tho hu.
!t"ucratic hgurehcad Of this orSaniza
non II consists of six cabine, of,,cers
no SKI! nav. all of their usual
n n,;.s,o hhoco,dinsiE an advisory com
n'sS'oh mas oecn appointed to assiS,
tnem. and this advisory comn,ission :.
the lobe of tho national brain ,.hi.h
!. really thinking out the war rrohI,m
'.s Persocnel is the hest possible proof
that the country is In carn.,, ,how,
orEanizins It's Industrial forccs ~
,hls movement has drawn TO -. ia
,ne very best type OF mon in H.
lpted Htates-the type that has al.
Ways heretofore devoted itself ~
.,oteE 30 business and LEFT politics
Zone 10 the great detriment OF noIi.
ucs' Daniel willard Howard r rot.
mn. Hollis Godfrey. julius no..
~ald. Bernard NJ Raruch. Ss,nm.i
m"mpers and Franklin H. Martin ar.
ran,,,,i nave already made thar
rePntations or fortunes or both VI.
>. |inord. the director and Crosy.ro,
~. !arHson the secretary OF tho ar.
S""l%"tion ar" also mon who have NO,
"eeh identihed with politics.
Rave Nothing to CAIN.
fheSe men have little to rain :,
hN
pu'unh through biz deal for m.
sooo OF the country They arc as Az.
torcnt from tho average .conmission
APPOINTED by the President" With IL.
.".ne DUCKS and pompous pronounce
mems. as a modern IRE enrin. !. AZ
ferent from the village huckc, hr,
ead" Although these gentlemen car.
W,'hout pay. they also serve pi,bout
stunt Every one OF them is in hi.
once in the Munscy RuirdinE direct.
ihS his share OF the work
The Council for National Def.,.. O.
American business. science and I,bor
preparing America to PLAY a nowcr.s
part in tho world
hn' IT IL more than thai, I, IS the
oasis or the organization that viii d.
1rc' America in tho ncld OF battle.
rms commission as /, stands has none
nut advisory powers II can eure.,
10 the President and the Cabinet what
10 40, and II can collect information
Al present that is all Moreover. tina,
Is the trouble All tho inertia OF our
un"ieidy Congress must he overcome
and ALI the political and bureaucratic
req tape o, the departments unwourd
before any Of the measures recommend
ed by the advisory commission can bo
put into effect. Eut in this advisory
commission the war executive power
which we must have il We are 10 hrht
is already organized. and constantly J
pertecting its organization. II is gen