The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-08-07
STATE DEFENSE COUNCIL.
WAR ALLOWANCES TAKE WO-
MEN OUT OF FIELDS.


Council of Defense Memorializes War
Department-Recom Forma-
ton Cotton Corporation-Studen
Should Not Enlist-Sen No Fire
works.
Columbia, Aug. 2.-The adoption OF
four important resolution, the trans
action of much business and the de-
livery of two important addresses
supplemented by intelligent comment
and a general exchange Of ideas, fea-
tured what is believed to be the most
constructive bi-monthly meeting yet
held by the State Council of Defense.
D. r. Coker, chairman Of the State
council, presided at the business ses-
sion of the council, which convened
at 10 o'clock in the library OF the
State House, and at the open meeting
of the county chairmen which follow
ed at. noon.
Two of the resolutions were intro
duced by Mr., Coker. The first re-
quests that competent authorities pre-
scribe a remedy to prevent the wives
and other dependents Of drafted men
from forsaking regular occupations
and subsisting ON allowances RENTED
to them by the war department, there
by aggravating the labor problem Mr.
Coker's second resolution directs the
attention Of the president and con-
gress to the needs and merits OF the
cotton situation and proposes the
Establishment of a government flnanc-
ed cotton corporation.
The other two resolutions, both OF
which were adopted during the second
session, were introduced by Wllllam
Banks, State explosives Inspector, the
first deprecating the sale and use or
fireworks during the period of the
war and calling upon munlclpantles
in the State to forbid either; the sec
ond urging members of county de-
fense organizations to be on the alert
for slackers. for those who abuse the
system of paying allotments and for
Irregularities deserving of punish
ment.
Mr.. Coker opened the business ses-
sion with a short and telling presenta-
ton Of the needs of the State IL
]iteracy commission. The councll,
realizing the need of additional funds
to organize and initiate the work, ap-
propriated $1,000 to be placed at the
disposal of the commission, OF when
DR.. Patterson Wardlaw is chairman.
The executive committee OF the
council has been enlarged by the ap-
pointment of three additional mem
bers. this increase having been ne
cessitated by the increased duties ana
responsibilities incident to wider ac-
tivities. Robert McDougal Of Colum-
bia, w. A. Stuckey Of Bishopville and
Horace Il. Tilghman are the new
members of the committee.
A decision was made to appoint a
committee on reconstruction and read
justment after the war. This com
naittee. at the conclusion of the war.
will occupy itself with problems re-
garding the financial, business and
educational reconstruction. Similar
organizations have been formed in
other States and other oantr1es ana
BY the exchange of ideas and ptans
between these several agencies it Is
thought the work will be expedited.
At the request Of National Council
of Defense officials, a committee VIII
be appointed later whose function Will
be to cooperate with the existing
State committee on vocational train
ing.
A booklet which fixes the financial
obligations and the legal status OF
draftees, both from the State and ma
tiora, viewpoint, is being prepared
under the direction Of State councli
officials md will son be available for
distribution.
In order to aid the recently reor-
gan;zcd woman's division, the councll
has appropriated $3.50, which is to be
used to secure the services Of wo-
man field organizer for three months.
Mr.. Coker's first resolution, which
was introduced at this point and
which will be sent to Washington,
reads as follows:
Whereas the council of defense is
informed that the labor shortage IN
the State is being rendered more
acute by the leaving Oh tnelr dCCoS-
toned vocations and the living in idle
ness of the wives and other depend
ents of drafted men who formerly
were engaged in regular vocatlons but
who also are now living upon the pay
allowances regularly RENTED to them
by the war department, and
Whereas, The crops have always
been largely hoed and gathered by
women and any considerable shrink
age In this class OF labor added to
the already great shortage of labor
would make it impossible to gather
all the crops on time and in good con-
dition, anc would thus affect the
council of defense Of South Carolina;
that the attention of the governor,
war department. and our senators and
congressman is called to this situa-
ton with the request that an appro-
pirate remedy be applied
following the adoption Of the above
declaration, Mr.. Coker offered a. sec
ond resolution which. with the pre-
fo11oUc