The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-04-10
State DEFENSE COUNCIL,
URGES MORE ADEQUATE LAWS
TO DEAL WITH SPIES AND
DISLOYAL.
South Carolina Delegation Will be
Asked to Have Congress Take Prop
er Action.

Columbia, April 4.-The State
Council Of Defense, as reorganized un-
der the act passed at the recent ses-
sion of the general assembly, which
met here today, went on record as
urging tightening up the federal
laws dealing with persons guilty of es-
p'onage. disloyalty and sabotage. A
committee, composed of Christie Ben
ct. Of Columbia, as chairman, AMI
John l.. McLaurin, of BennettsvilIe.
and William Banks, of Columbia, edi-
tor Of the COlumo oia Record, was in.
structed to prepare set of resolu-
tons memOralizing the South Caro-
lima delegation in congress to work Cor
measure tightening up the prevail,
ing unstringent laws.
The meeting of the council today
was the largest attended Of any since
its inception at the beginning of the
war Various government agencies.
actively working in the interests o.
various war measures were represent
ed by their South Carolina agents
Speeches on the drive for the thirt
Liberty loan were heard from Rober,
a. Copper. Of Laurens, chairman of
the central Liberty loan committee
and Edwin w. Robertson, Of Colum.
bia, chairman of the general State lib
erty loan committee. Joe Sparks, O.
Columbia, field agent for the war saw
ings stamps campaign, told of thu
plans he and his associates were
| working out. The Rev. Hugh Muir.
Gibson, field agent for the State Coun
Gil of Defense, briefly stated the con
ditions he found in various parts
South Carolina in respect to the wa
and war activities. Various of tn.
chairmen Of the county councils of de-
fense described the local problem.
found in their counties.
| The council, at it's business meeting
appropriated $1,000 to pay the ex
penses of the chairmen of the variou;
women's county councils of defense
when they attended their quarterly
general meetings. Also $3.50 was ap
propriated for maintaining an office
Columbia and pay the salary of al
executive secretary and other clerca
help for the women's section of the
state council. If so much be needed
an additional appropriation of $40 wa.
made to pay the expenses of Mrs. F
Louise Mayes, of Greenville, chair
man Of the woman's section, in main
tanning her office at Greenyille. Mrs
Mayes at present receives $50, but this
amount was found to be insufficient.
The chairman of the State council
was authorized to communicate will
the various institutions of highei
learning in SOuh Carolina and ascer
tain from them the members of thei
faculty who would be willing to worl
on committee of research into thu
undevelOped resources of the State
He was also authorized to appoin
this committee, a member of which
will be A. G. Summers, commissions
Of agriculture, commerce and indus
tries.
1t was decided to hold meetings
the council every sixty days, instea,
OF monthly, as at present. The mex
meeting will be on the first Thursday
IN June. subsequently regular meet
ings will be held on the first Thurs
day of each succeeding two months
to be called to order some time in tho
forenoon, designated by the chairman
IL the occasion should arise necessitat
ing a special meeting, the chairman
or the executive committee is author
lied to call it.
| motion by DR.. James Adam.
Hayne was adopted authorizing tn.
executive secretary to have designed
and to buy suitable button to bt
worn by the members Of the STATE
Council Of Defense.
| In the absence Of David r. Coker
or Hartsville, chairman, the meeting
was presided over today by William
Elliott, of Columbia, vice chairman.
|
AMERICA TO GIVE GERMANS SUR
PRISE