Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1918-12-27
The Governors Conferences,

lngton and from Michigan to Louisiana
and even from the far-away territory OF
Alaska, came to Maryland on Monday OF
last week and assembled in the historic
Senate Chamber of the State House Of
Annapolis, where Washington resigned his
commission as the general commanding the
armies which won the war for American
independence, for the discussion of the
problems of reconstruction and the re-
adjustment of the affairs of the nation
that necessarily must follow the great war
in which America has been engaged. The
session lasted until Wednesday evening
GOVERNOR HARRINGroN's ADDRESS.
Governor Harrington in his welcoming ad-
dress referred to the historic features of the
place in which the Governors were meeting,
and to the war problems which the States
have had to face in the last two years,
problems which prevented the holding of
the conference of Governors last year. He
paid tribute to the work of the Allies in
the war, but insisted that if America had
not gone to the assistance of the Allies
their cause would have been lost.
ana now that the war is over" he con-
uhueu, the questions of reconstruction,
restoration and readjustment are demand
ing early solution. A great responsibility,
as wen as great opportunity, now arises
before the American people Old condi
lions can never return. New conditions
now confront US to meet. Bolshevism must
never be permitted upon the Western Con-
tenent, but the surest way to avoid social
ism of such character, Or anarchy, is for
us to have such forms of government with
such legislation that gives equal and just
rights and equal and just opportunity to
every citizen of our country Public cor
porations and big business must now I'M
derstand that they can only exist when
they recognize that their existence is per-
mitted only for service and not for self
and that they are the servants and not
the masters.
Il believe we are going to meet these
great problems in America and rightly solve
them. The war has been of untold bene-
fit to America. Labor and capital, the
man of small and big business have been
thrown into most intimate association in
this great war and each has become better
acquainted with the others viewpoint. The
women of our country have shown them
selves absolutely indispensable and highly
efficient in every form of useful work dur
ing the war. No better time, therefore,
could there be than now for the Governors
of the different Sovereign States of the
Union to get together to exchange views
and to advise each other as to the neces-
sary action or legislation that is now de-
manded to meet the great problems now
confronting US.
II fear that in times past we have de-
voted far more time and money to attempt
ing to alleviate and cure evil physical,
social and political, than we have in at
tempting to find out the causes thereof
and by removing the causes avoiding the
evils. understand that great depart
ment is now being organized at Johns Hop
kins, with DR.. Welsh at its head, for research
work into the causes of physical ills. So
in regard to political and social evils, as
well as physical evils Let us find out the
causes of insanity. the causes of poverty,
causes of crime If il be intemperance, let
us try the prevention as well as the cure.
If it be the social evil. let us remedy the
conditions and remove the evil.
Let us find out the causes for Bolshev-
ism, for socialism. for anarchy, and, if
possible, remove the causes Nearly all of
the isms have some element of right and
are caused by some element of injustice.
A proper study will give better understand
ing. and when we dig into conditions and
causes we find that most of the causes are
social. And thus we come into the light,
and in the marvellous development of the
social vision and unselfshness of our peo-
pie we have the miracle and the gospel of
the new day of our new world
SECRETARY BAKER
The address of Secretary of War Baker
although short, was an inspiring one.
Early disbandment of the draft boards
and State branches of Council of National
Defense as Federal agencies was advocated |
by the Secretary, who urged, however, that |
both remain in existence informally to aid |
local authorities in solving problems of the
readjustment period. He said he wanted Z
to thank the State Executives and through /
them the other State authorities for the |
manner in which the defense councils |
draft boards and other officials had carried /
out the Federal Governments wishes
throughout the war I'd had Initiated meas
uEes Of their 0n~
This demons atan Of the ability of |
democracy TO cary 0dt great undertakings, |
using its constituted authorities. is one of
the greatest lessons of the wal" the Sec |
rotary said Instead of adding to the
aggregate Of centralized power, this war,
has strengthened State governments and
made them more indispensable than ever
in our scheme of government.
Inc war secretary efnphaSlZeu tndt one |
of the principal functions of States here
after must be ito rescue men from the
situation shown during the recent mobili- |
cation. when one-third of the drafted men |
were found to be physically undeveoped |
or defective.
I'VE must realize. he said, that physi- |
cal education is as necessary to the devel-
opment of our youth as mental tanning.
A sound mind must depend upon a sound
body and we should organize educational
systems providing for physical develop
ment."
Draft boards will be disbanded at the
end of this month and State branches Of
the Council of National Defense will cease
Functionind as Federal apencies az soon as