New-York tribune., 1917-05-04
Defence Council
In Friction with
Advisory Board
Charges of Incapacity May
Force Resignation Of Cabi-
net Members-Comn Issues
an Ultimatum
iFron lie rrlhune Bureaul

From Tie Tribune Buresul
Washington, May 3.-The Council OF
National Defence and its Advisory
Commission are on the verge of clash
which. if it occurs, may result in
shunting into private life several mem
bers Of President Wilson's official fam
lily.
The Council is composed of Secre-
tsries Baker, Daniels, Houston, Lane,
Redfield and Wilson.
The Advisory Commission is COM
posed of volunteers from private life,
including Daniel Willard, Bernard NJ.
baruch, Howard +. Coffin. Hollis God
frey, Samuel Gompers, DR.. Franklin
H. Martin and julius Rosenwald.
For some time trouble of serious
nature has been brewing in the Ad-
visory Commission. The cause has
been, it is stated, the alleged utter in
capacity of certain members Of the
Wilson Cabinet to deal with the prob
lens coming before them as members
Of the Council of National Defence.
The situation, which has been fast
approaching the breaking point, came
to head the last few days during the
conference of Governors and state rep
resentatiyes with the council to perfect
the plans for cooperative defence work
between state and Federal govern
ments.
Governors Complain of Inaction
Governors and their representatives
complain bitterly of inaction on the
part Of the Federal government. The
present conference, from which they
hoped for real aid, has developed little
but oratory. Several state execatives
declared their Official communications
had gone unanswered, and that even
appeals for military protection OF state
public works have received no atten-
| ton, in several instances being fol-
lowed by the destruction Of property
! The state representatives seem to
; have devided into two camps. one
( group, saio TO oe a minority sym
pathizes with the difficulties OF the
: Federal government in Strengthening
out the administrative burdens imposed
by the war emergency. The 0tner
croup. it is said, is openly rebellious
and threatens to open offices IN Wash-
/ ington to handle state business.
When protestations have been made
during the conferences to members OF
/ the Cabinet, almost invariably the re-
snonsibilitv has been shunted to Con-
eress. the charge being made that Con-
9ress has tied the hands of the eXecu-
| tive department through its failure 70
provide funds and war authority. Inc
members of the Civilian Council or
! oanization have been in a difficult posi-
fion throughout. Numbering in It's
membership some of the most capaDle
1 administrators and business men In the
! country. it could not speak without
/ censuring members of President WI
/ sons Cabinet, whose failure to rise 10
/ the needs of the war emergency mas
{ rendered it impotent.
Coffin Issues Ultimatum
! The storm of complaint, however, has
reached such proportions that members
! Of the advisory commission, among
/ them Howard +. Coffin, chairman OF
the Committee on Industrial Relations
and Munitions Standards and the i've
wire of the entire organization, In sen
defence have been forced, IL Is sara,
/ 10 take d positive stand IN support Oh
/ the representations OF the state deie-
! gates. IL is understood that Mr. Col-
/ fin. who has spent thousands Oh dollars
of his own money in promoting the ae-
/ tivities of the council, mas issued an
IL nf !
his resignation. Other members OF the
: advisory commission, rated as leaders
in the several industries and who con-
slider their regulations at stake, IN the
/ Council Of Defence work, have gwen
similar intimations, il is stated.
One of the present difficulties IS the
question of funds. The nationai de-
fence act. passed last August, appro-
nriated 5000 900 for the work Of the
rouncil. Only Director W. 5. Clifford
and Secretary G.. +. Clarkson are IN
der salary. Other members OF the eN-
/ ecutive staff. including such men as
Howard r. Coffin, Daniel Willard, ber-
nard NJ Baruch, julius Rosenwald ana
a score of other equally capable as
: s,stants. are serving the government
without remuneration.
Shipping Board Criticised
The shipping board has come in for
violent aenunciation during the state
conference. Much criticism has been
directed against the wooden shlpbuild,
ing programme. and rumors oil internal
friction between General Goethals and
Chairman Denman seep out of the con-
ferences. One leading New England
shipbuilder. visiting Washington on the
invitation of the shipping board the
last week. after failing to secure any
action at the shipping board Offices
entered into negotiations with the
members of one OF the visiting com