Daily Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1918-191?, 1918-08-13
CHAIRMAN
OUTLINES PLAN
IN A LETTER
August 8, 1918.

Mr.. X. 4. Cooper,
Chairman Christian Co. Council Of
Defense. Hopkinsville, Ky.
My Dear Mr.. Cooper:
In our conference ON Tuesday last
you told me that only one person
in your county had refused to answer
the questions propounded in the gen.
eral registration Of the people Of the
county by school districts, and much
20 my surprise you described the man
refusing as one Of the most prosper
Gus and best educated citizens Of
Christian county. II some ignorant
man had refused to answer these
questions should not have been
surprised but il is incomprehensiblc
how any enlightened man can refuse
in this crisis to state in answer to
questions propounded by Govern
ment agency what he has done 10
help TO win the war unless he ls
pro-German.
Il seems clear that the Kentucky
Council Of Defense has the right un-
der the broad powers conferred up
on il by the Kentucky Legislature
to require every citizen to state just
what financial support he has given
to the Government in the war and to
the various war charities indorsed
by the Government. The Act Great
ing the Kentucky Council Of Defense
expressly aughorizes the Council to
make full investigation as TO all ques-
tion directly or INDIRECTLY bear
ing upon the purposes referred TO In
the Act, and the purposes for which
the Council Of war was created are de
elared to be ito assist the State and
Federal Government during the con
tinuance Of the war" and IL is made
the duty Of the Council ito bring
about the highest efficiency within the
State" in everything relating d.
feetly or indirectly to the war" IL
witnesses refuse to answer questions
they may be punished by the circuit
court for contempt
The information you are asking
could be complied without requiring
the citizen himself to give the infor-
nation. but the Inconvenience and
expense Of doing so would be so
great. as to make il impraeticable.
But why should any patriotic citizen
wish 70 put any Government war
agency to Inconvenience and expense
to obtain information which IL ought
to haveG That is Of great Importance
that the Council Of Defense should
have this information is apparent.
The approach to be made to a man
in soliciting his subscription depends
to a large extent upon whether or
not he has already done all he could
reasonably be expected to do. n
a man has done very little in pro-
portion TO his ability the indication
is that he needs to be enlightened.
and solicitors will act accordingly.
The refusal Of one man to answer
the questions propounded is Of but
small moment except for its in
fiuence, but when that man is one
Of wealth. education and social prom
inence. the refusal is demoralizing
in its effect upon the community.
When men are being called upon
to make such great sacrifices for their
country. every man is entitled to
know what every other man Is doing
to help our soldiers, and the mere
fact that there is public record
Of what every man is doing, must
have a most wholesome influence.
Besides the soldiers themselves will
be entitled to know when they re-
turn what the men and women at
home were doing to back them up
while they fought.
II you have occasion TO 20 In to
court TO have any man or woman
punished for contempt or for failure
to answer the questions propounded.
Il will give me pleasure to 20 to
Hopkinsville and argue the matter.
Yours very truly,
tsigned) Edward W. Hines.
/ Chairman Ky. Council Of Defense.