The Redwood gazette., 1918-01-16

change in public sentiment every
where, however, which has been
brought about by the work of the
Safety Commission, aided by its
splendidly organized system of coun-
ty units and various patriotic bodies
| who have assisted in the work.
During the first few weeks of the
! life of the Commission, great deal
, of careful thought and study was
brought to bear on the task of So
lecting county and township chair
men of the Commission who would
cooperate earnestly and conscien'
! tiously with the head office in max
| ing Minnesota ready and efficient
| The result has been something that
! is a source of pride to Governor
Burnquist, and all members of the
| Public Safety Commission, whom We
| all honorably regard as the center
state. Less than five changes have
been made in county chairmanships
and this only because of ill health or
call to a wider sphere of patriotic
| service. This is a record that can
| not be shown by any other state so
! far as can be ascertained
Each and every county or town
| ship chairman responded Loyalty to
the call and have done yeomanlike
service in their particular conmuni-
ties, under conditions many times
that would have brought dismay to
f: the stoutest heart and absolute sur
render to faint heart.
1t is stated, without the slightest
fear of contradiction, that the Mime
| sofa Commission of Public Safety has
the most fearlessly faithful and most
| co1scientiously patriotic set of county
officers that can be gathered together
for any like purpose. Without this
organization the task of coping with
the earlier state of public sentiment
would have been well nigh hopeless.
/ There is yet great deal to be
done and it will be done we'll The
Commission with the aid of its faith
ful members of the county units will
continue to "smoke out the Huns
within our gates" with the great fires
of every loyal American.
Washington Cooperation.
The present day watchword among
the allied nations is unity of action" F."
This will be brought into the war
work in this country and from Wash
ington comes the command to fall
into line. The various loyalized and
reorganized defense bodies of the
state have been directed to cooperate
all war activities under their immedl-
ate supervision. Duplication will be
eliminated and 3 tremendous unified
effort of the United States, individ-
ually and collectively, will be made
to make our whole people practically
of one mind in the desire to make our
world safe for democracy.
Educational Campaign. &
The great drive" will be against
the lukewarm pacifst, those that hes
itate AMI those who have failed to
realize what their danger is or their
personal responsibility in war aCtiv-
ity and preparation. The openly dis
loyal and seditious must be made TO
feel their isolated disgrace. Tons of
literature will be the barrage fire
against anti-war sentiment, speaking
campaign. nationwide in it's scope,
| to carry the var message directly tc
the most isolated individual in the
nation, viii follow as the infantry to
make sure that the trenches of the
public mind are clear of all pro
enemy thought
This is the task that the arganiza
ton of the Minnesota State Commits
sion of Public Safety is prepared in
every detail to assume and discharge
with fine effect and assurance of re
suits Many efforts along similar
lines have been made, but not until
q correlated nationwide movement
was instituted at the suggestion and
official request of President Wilson
in September, was it recognized that
to be permanently effective, all move
ments must be Joined as one body
under the direction of the official de
fense body.
1t has proven fortunate that Mime
sofa was in a position through wei
established organization in lively
working condition to take up this
great work. While it has done splen
did work from the first, it will de
even better with the added prestige
of cooperation and recognition from
the National Council of Defense.
The Commission Needed.
No mention has here been made o
the numberless problems that hav'
been solved by the Commission O.
. the manifold duties that have beer
. thrust upon it. Enough has beel
touched upon to indicate that withou
a defense body of this nature, an.
| state would have been in no position
{ to do herself justice in the discharg
of her responsibilities. The stat
, officials would have been at the mere
, of the demagogue, the charlatan an
selfish political interests who seiZ
+ upon every patriotic issue to cloaI
their nefarious designs.
, Should Recognize Work of Count
nnooniz,tiop