The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1918-01-05

InhIterS WOulu move more quichty to-
ward the end of war accomplishment
The press has carried the word that
the national council of defense has
announced new and large "co-ordi-
mating body" to include seven members
of the cabinet and the heads of the
civilian boards which concern them
selves with shipping. food, fuel and
war industries. Can this council bring
nbout complete order and make out
Of the different elements one machine.
all of whose parts will work In unison.
without friction, and turn out rapidly
the things needed?
In a statement made by the council
Of national defense this is said:
"Since the Council of National De-
tense, composed of Secretary Of War
Baker, Secretary Of the Navy Dan
iels, Secretary of the Interior Lane.
Secretary Of Agriculture Houston. Sec
rotary of Commerce Redfeld, and Sec
rotary of Labor Wilson, represents the
military aims of the government, as
well as those federal executive depart
ments dealing most directly with the
vital resources of the nation, this larg-
er co-ordinating body will work toward
unification of the machinery neces'
sary in the prosecution of the war;"
Aims Of New Council.
This new war council, with three
cabinet members added. will deal with
the larger affairs of government en-.
gagged in war. The attempt will be to
see to 1t that there is coordination Of
purchases for the army, navy and the
allied and neutral countries; that
there is quick handling of all war sup
plies ut home; that the direction of the
Industrial energies of the country be
firm in method and rapid in maneuver,
and that In short everyone OF the
great affairs of country at war be
managed without loss of time, without
fear of a duplication of effort and with
view singly to getting quick results.
If such program can be put
through If all friction such as that
which developed in the shipping board.
for instance, can be avoided; IL no two
men do the same work daily, neither
one knowing that the other Is doing
1t, and in short, IL system can be made
master of the situation, expedition VIII
be the result and weight Of worry
will be lifted from the minds OF the
officials of the administration and from
those of the patriotic people.
There is another matter of co-ordi-
! nation of work which Is not taken into
| consideration in connection with this
effort to secure harmony and syste-
matizing of effort by means of high
American war council in Washington.
Bureaus Need Attention, Too.
Things cannot move smoothly nor
| quickly anywhere along the line which
runs from the top of things TO the bot
tom of things unless the rough places
below be smoothed as well as the rough
places above. Every man connected
with this new war council Is chief
of operations so to speak In his own
right. He may direct that things he
done in a certain way and the order
will run down the line, but II 1t Is
found impossible in some of the lower
official spheres to make things rur
smoothly, the whole effort, If not lost
Is delayed in its result.
There are bureaus in the war depart
ment today in which ten men are Ell
gagged at work where the work of onl.
one man was necessary in the times o
peace. Into the charge of these bu
reaus come daSy multitudlnous masses
of material intended for the army ant
the relvy~ and in some few instances
for the pacific branches of the govern
ment.
The different branches of the wa
department have been run for years
along certain well defined lines. Their
was not Il great deal of material L
handle, nor was there mass Of detail
to master. A few officers, trained t
do the woAs systematically, succeeded
in doing it satisfactorily. In times O
peace there was no great hurry in NOV
ing material from one place to anotb
er. Now everything is changed.
When request comes In tor certaJ
supplies Of different kinds 1t means
that they must be forwarded immedl
ately. There are q thousand new mel
on the job and thus far few Of then
have definite information as to the ex
act nature of their duties. Neither 4
there any one man who, as should b.
the case, can tell instantly where thos
things or the other things are stored
The result is delay but there are sign
that King System soon will begin hi
reign.