The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-12
Statement from ecretary Ke-
garded as Variant from Tx
ecutive's Attitude
BELIEVES DEFENSE
BODY WILL PROCEED
ON IMPORTANT WORK
Every Phase of War Activity
Behind the Lines Comes
Within Scope of Duty-Am-
pic f unds Believed Available

Following Governor Davis's pointed
letter TO members OF the state coun
ca Of defense, demanding informa-
ton as to what the council has been
DONG Though It Ia hard 10 nelieNe |
that he could have been Ignorant
o. business transacted by that body
IN his own office while he was pre-
siding the newly appointed score
tary Of the council, G. Il. KELLEY.
sent out to the press OF the state yes
terday lengthy statement IN whicn
this sentence occurred;
This ncaicuiable power thelieved
by Mr.. Kelley and the governor to be
possessed by the council Of defense,
would he unim pressive II there were
rot directing IL a mind fully cogni-
rant Of Its strength and vitality deter"
m med to use II effics ciouslv; hut those
who know Governor Davis are well
aware that he does not make pledges
lightly or consider them as gossamers
TO please the winds"
Then follows reference 70 the gov
crnors speech last Thursday when he
told Assem- hled officials from various
parts OF the state that they Will be
aided in Jaw enforcement by the coun-
eli Of denfense which would overlook
no opportunity in helping 10 win the
war and no agency OF the state IN
realizing that opportunity
Those pho have seen the statement
are waiting with interest TO learn
whether the governor will underta ss
20 reconcile his professed ignorance
or the councils doings with the new
eecretarys eiefr Implication that Gov
evnor Davis mind is the directing
force Of the council in Al that il has
done or may do hereafter.
The immense resources or the state
~ Virginia the organized machinery
OF the state departments and agencies,
the power Of county and city gov
ernments~-every public function with
IN the state is r part Of the Virginia
council Of defense. That IS the view
taken by the governor: and the Law
creating the council certainly war
rants The view says SIR. Kelley. He
- proceeding with that thought In
mind and is beginning a plan Of
campaign intended to weld together
all public r~tiVities to the nd that
Virginia shall PLAY IT'S usual historic
part in wartime
1T is hardly possible to EN- phasizs
unduk the OPPORTUNITIES of the Viz
r'nis council sad Mir. Kelley.
What It's accom- rhshra e.ats may be,
the future must tell hut what 1t may
accomplish is limited oniy by the
brains nut into the work and the
zeal applied 10 It, Not alone is every
mem Der 81 the council each a leading
state offcer, directed nv statute to
use all the means gwen 10 him for
hts once 10 aid II necessary the
councils work. but the governor OF
Virginia has the incontestihie right
10 com ms.ndeer the efficiency OF every
public agency in the state to help the
council do it's part toward winning the
war
This war ls like all others. a mat
ter ~ men and material One Is per
haps just i'm nortant as the other,
hut wars are generally considered in
the light Of man power SO we will
first consider the men The adtutant
general of Virginia Is chairman OF the
council All purely military matters
Of the state are within his ,purview
and subject to his direction. His pre-
roga tives are normally i'm portant. but
they are greatly enhanced in war days
and tremendously increased by the
hacking of the council which can
supplement his froces to any extent
that may he deemed expedient in the
effort to win the war. The health
Of the soldiers and sailors ia a mat
ter Of transcendent interest. the pre-
vention Of communicable diseases
among the enlisted men. This Is
subject well within the power OF the
council as was stated by the governor
at the law enforcement conference
when he promised the visiting digni-
taries OF the army and navy as wen
as the distin Sushed social workers
who were in attendance that the en-
tire resources OF the states health
and police powers would be mohilfxed
under the council to helm conserve
the physical ard moral well-b being of
the nations lighting men
do you appreciate what that mobi-
lization means" incurred Mr. Kelley
and he answered his own question.
1T means that the health department
Of the state. its entire force and re-
sources. are to be utilized in this
cause One visible result already Of
that promise is that for the first time
a public health officer has been de-
tailed by Virginia to look after the
social evil 1t means that every local
health board and commissioner in the
cities ard counties of Virginia will be
specifically charged with the duty Of
preserving the enlisted men from the
menace Of prostitution. No health
,ficer in the state can evade this duty
put upon him by the council because
the law creating the council gives to
1t through executive warrant the
right to commander all agencies that
can aid its PURPOSES
so also with the police powers
All prosecuting agencies must invoke
the law to protect the uniform wear
ers They cannot shirk that rexpon-
sibility or cvade, The vicious women
and the vicious men alike must keep
hands OF Uncle Sans boys or face
the consequences. There will be no
playing of favorites nor laxities Of
enforcement! Every community In
Virginia has its quota OF sincere men
and women who are determined that