Connecticut western news., 1918-10-24

State councils of defense and their local agencies throughout the country will have their activities and scope of work increased and broadened in ac- cordanco with the suggestion of Presi- dent Wilson to Secretary of War Ba- ker, just made public.
 The President has asked the Secre- tary of War to communicate with all federal departments and admlnistra- tions his wish that, when they are considering extensions of their organi- cations into the states or new work to be done in the states, they consider carefully whether they cannot utilize the state council system" The letter of President Wilson to Secretary of War Baker was in reply to one writ ten to the President hy the Secretary of War outlining the accomplishments of the state councils of defense and recommending that increased use be made of these war organizations.
 Urged by Connecticut.
 This action is one which Governor Marcus H. Holcomb and the Conncct- cut State Council of Defense have been urging for many months. AS soon as Connecticut's defense council organization was perfected to a degree that made possible its efficient ham, ding of tasks assigned to 1t by the federal government letters were ad- dressed by the Governor to various de- partmcnt heads in Washington advis- ing them that civilian war work in this state should be carried on through the council. The completion of Connecti- cuts organization was in advance of that in majority of the other states. Consequently, awaiting the perfection of these other organizations, 1t was impossible for the administration to suggest that state councils be general ly used throughout the country. In the meantime, however, the organiZa ton in this state, because Washington considered it efficient, has been made use of extensively.
 Connecticut Is Ready.
 When copies of the correspondence between President Wilson and Secre- tary of War Baker were shown to members of the Connecticut State Council of Defense and department heads yesterday the unanimous eXpres- | sion was:
 We are ready to tackle any job that Washington gives us, and we will do our best to put it through. Our whole organization is unreservedly at the disposal of the federal government in carrying through any part of the task of downing the Hun"
 The Presidents Letter. In reply to Secretary Bakers letter outlining the achievements of the state councils of defense President Wilson wrote:
 My Dear Mir. Baker:
 "I have read with great interest your account of the achievements of | the state councils of defense and your general summary of the activities in. which they are now engaged. It is a notable record, and I shall be glad to have you express to the state councils my appreciation of the service they have so usefully rendered. I am par ticuIarly struck by the value of eX- tending our defense organization into the smallest communities and by the truly democratic character of a na- tiOnal system so organized.
 "I believe in the @oundness of your i contention that in the interest Of ecou- Omy and efficiency such machinery as i that provided by the state council sys- ! tenn for the execution of many kinds of war work should be utilized as far as possible by federal departments and administrations. May I suggest, there l fore, that you communicate to the 1 heads of all such departments and ad- ministratiOnS my wish that when they are considering extensions of their or ganization into the states or new work | to be done in the states they deter mine carefully whether they cannot utilize the State Council system, thus rendering unnecessary the creation Of new machinery, and that they trans init all requests for action by the state councils through the state councils sec ] tion of the Council of National De ! fensc?
 Cordially and sincerely yours.
 WOODROW WILSON"
 Secretary Bakers Letter. 1 The letter from Secretary Baker calling attention to the activities CT l thn sfntn cnmncils of defenSn and nni.