New-York tribune., 1918-03-17
A Stitch in Time.
"A ER. CREEL has managed to get so
vi many centrifugal streams started,
bearing information from Washing
By RALPH BLOCK

HlaHy CcHVIIluSdI SlIchIIlS SldIlcu
bearing information from Washing
ton to the great eXpanse Of the world, that
it may be questioned whether his pipes are
big enough to hold information coming the
other way
That may become at last the great use of
the misunderstood Council OF National De-
fence. The political observer in Washing
ton will prophesy on the subject of the
council that when the administrative rcor-
ganization of war finally gets under way
the couYSll Won have a great deal left to
do. What the council actually has done,
what it has accomplished in the way of pur-
chasing through such men as Rosenwald
and Baruch. is story twice told. What it
has accomplished in the way of co0rdinat
ing, etc, not the departments of Wash
ington. but the energy, the motive power.
the war feeling, the emotions and patriotism
OF the nation at large in freeing the vast
potential will TO war which exists in the
reservoir of The country is a story that still
remains to be told
Creers Labors
Mr.. Cree interprets Washington to the
world BY words. The council goes out into
the country and does its Interpretation by
actual deeds, the organization of local ac-
tivites that put into action the waiting
emotion OF the country. It is kind Of in
terprctation which works both WAYS If
anybody doubts the function of the Council
OF National Defcnce-or rather the advisory
commission which does the work-Mr. Gift
ford Mr.. GARRISON ought to take them
around the country and show them the little
councils all over the United States-the
state councils, .he county and town coun-
cils-that all have been given hand in
making war. There could be no more stop
ping food cf real information cominr
back to the council from sources of This
KIND as to how the country feels about the
war than there could be stopping the war
itself now until it is won. Doubtless Mr.
wilson himself has not scorned TO make use
OF TINS dlvlnng power of the council. even
whil> trusting characteristicaly to his own
sources, when he wanted to feel the nubl;c
pulse.
Council Should Stand
If the OvermGn bill is to spell the obitu
airy OF the council as an active, functoning
body in the industrial, wartime life Of the
nation, certainly it ought to leave il ;n
PREPARATION the existence for which il seams
so we'll fitted at present.
ne experience of the council in tho
pei1o" W us existence has already proved
IT'S evolutionary responsiveness It has AL
ready shed more lives than srv cat fron,
that peace time existence in which if ained
chiefly to bring cooperation to nationa, ra-
sources IN preparedness for emerrences IN
us hrst 1umbling but absolutely essential
actlvlty IN answer to the new problems Of
war. 1T has even given birth in its dav. with
the Aircraft Production Board. the Com.
mlttce on Coal Production and the ;ndus.
trial service section among its otfsnrinc
Work Has Been Valuable
NO" mat circumstances may force it to
pass from ono heaven to the next on tho
ROAD toward Nlrvana, even it's critics will
unite IN asking that its new life bc recoo.
nlzed as valuable and necessary, in . rr;o'7n
sense to the ration at war. Certoin)v - ;s
o''hcuit to deny value to any agency that
reaches out from the capital to almost every
county in the states in manner that !,
particularly personal, particularly close to
the lives OF the people who must fight tbo
war and who must pay for it in blood and
money. The Council of National Defanco
is not at Washington. 1t only comes TO
Washington.
There may be even another dav ,,,ho,
soldiers return and men try to pick up tho
broken ends and take up their wonted yavs
when the Council of National Defence,
living framework touching the United
States wherever they are living and sens-
tive, will be the chief agency for drawine
the nation out OF the hypnotisms cf war
INTO the even progressons of peace