The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1917-10-04
DEFENSE BODIES
WELL ORGANIZED
Local Councils Have Been
Formed in Practically Every
State in Union.
machine WORKS SMOOTHLY
Value Of Capitalization Is Shown by
the Reports That Have Been Re-
eeived at National Head
quarters.

Nationwide local organization for
war purposes is approaching compile
ton, according to u report just made
to the several state councils by the sec
ton on cooperation with states OF the
national council of defense. In every
state in the Union there is by this
time an official state council Of de-
Tense; and in 43 of the As stutes
chain of county or local councils has
been developed. Two more states have
planned to begin such local Organiza-
tion at once. Every week the section
on cooperation with states hears Of
new districts organized and new activ-
tiles undertaken by the local organiza-
tiOnS.
The reports which come to Washing
ton from the state councils show the
value Of the decentralization thus OBJ
tanned. The most useful sort of war
work is that done locally by individ-
uals who come into personal tOuch
with all the elements in their COM
munity and who know their field like
a book. Not only are the county and
town councils of defense useful in do
ing work for which there is unique
demand in their own locality, but they
are especially valuable in carrying
through projects initiated either In
Washington or in the state councils.
Machine Works Smoothly.
The great machine is now working
smoothly. Suppose Washington wishes
local cooperation throughout the coun-
try in some particular task. Through
the section of cooperation with states
| It calls for the help Of the state cOun'
ellis: the state councils pass on the
work to the county or town councils
and these in turn in some cases direct
the work of subordinate councils and
communities. With minimum Of du
pllcation the work is carried on local
" under federal direction. And the
machine works the other way, too
Any suggestion from local organiza
ton may be transmitted to Washing
ton and be made the basis Of work lr
as much of the country as is prepared
for it.
There are many interesting varia
tiOns in local organization. While the
county is the usual unit of state sub
division, in many of the smaller east
ern states the township or municipal
Ity has been taken as the unit, whi!'
several states have town council!
working under the county councils.
There are three distinct methods o.
choosing the members Of local coun
ellis. In a majority Of the states tn
members were appointed directly b!
the governor or the state council, bu
in few states certain county officials
were ex-ofticiO constituted the count!
council, and in many cases the stat'
council arranged a meeting of prOmi
nent citizens, at which the count.
elected its council members. The rela
ton between state and local OrganlZa
ton varies from Wisconsin, where TIL
work of the state council is law and al
the activities of the county council
are supervised with greatest care, t
Massachusetts, where the municipal
councils are held competent to manag
their own affairs and receive nOthln
more binding than suggestions frol
the StntehouSe. 1t may generally b
said that local organizations are give
wide discretion by the state bodies.
Most Are SeIf-Supporting.
In a majority of cases the local cOur
ellis are self-supporting, sometimes be
ing supported by volunteer contribu
tiOns and in few cases by apprOpr
atiOnS from the local authorities. Tn
general verdict seems to be that tn
financial problem is easier for loCe
than for state organizations.
Detailed information rs to the wOr
that the different states are doing
being collected and filed by the SectiO
on cooperation with states, and is q
the disposal of the public. The sectio
undertakes to act as clearing hOus
for the state councils, transmlttin
suggestions and advice from one
the other and furthering the rapi
growth of the whole vast system c
| at