Norwich bulletin., 1918-11-28

the continuance of the activities or that body. After advocating re- trenchment in expenditure and person. mel, in view of the signing of the arm istice the report recommends tnal to carry on certain activities made necessary while the war continued and during the uncertainties or readJust- ment' In this connection it is. pointed out that war bureaus should continue until need of their services no long CT exists. Tn explaining the respects In explaining the respects in which the services of the Defense Council and the war bureaus will still be need- ed in spite of the end of hostilitieS, the report points out, that the coun- cil was originally created not mere l ly as a state organization, but at the request of the federal government, as an agency of the latter. ,g,,r
 Up to November 1 it was necessary 1 for Connecticut to spend total of. s1e5.8o0 because of war activities, the %A Aprt says. Figures on expenditures ] for a similar purpose in other states show, however, that this amount IS relatively small.
 The report of the Prudential Com. mittee follows: .r In accordance with the instructions of the council, this committee hereby submits for your. consideration and ! action the results of it's investigations of the present activities and plans for l the future, of the various sisb-commit- | tees of the council, having particularly l in mind their future need and use- 1 fitness under the conditions brougnt | about by the signing of the armistiee and the probability of permanent 1 peace.
 In dealing with this subject it seems I to us proper to embody in this report 1 certain phases and conditions of the l problem which in our opinion have a | direct bearing upon the adyisability l of continuing the work cf the com mttee. The Connecticut State Council of 1 Defense is not, as it's name might i'm : ply, an organization to deal only with the state policy and affairs. It came into existence at the request of the federal government to act as its agency
 in carrying out in this state the broad federal programme of safety, educa- tion. and conservation made neces- l sary in most eases, and sttesirable in all, by the declaration of war with | Germany. It consists not only of the twenty one men and women now con. 1 stituting it's central authority, but oi l thousands of volunteer committed workers with an efficient organization | in every city and town in the state. This country and state were utterly
 lacking in machinery adequate to un- dertake the work made necessary by
 war conditions. The fact that a very large percentage, practically all, .oi the work was organized and planned ,t by ElunfAHrs and executed with uni form success by thousands of volun !, teer workers ali over Connecticut is tt the everlasting credit of tne state. Mis- yi takes have been made, of course, whicl could not have been wholly avoided even had the workers been trainet l for the emergency so immense was tn
 task. But the fact that unde- the wise able and patient leadership of Gov erner Holcomb, this council, and tn 1 multitude of loyal men and wonei , constituting it's organization through } ont the state lave been so largely tn means employed whereby Connecti
 cut has. with a minimum of expense ! been placed and kept in the very iron } rank of the states of the nation in it } war work, speaks well for the eficien } cy of the organization.
 'W We all resent the fact that German ! in forcing us into war made it neces sary for this state to spend to NoTefn
 ! our war work, but this sum seem |, small in comparison with the expen litures of other states for siTnNa
 work; for example, Massa chusetts ha $ spent over $694 900, Maryland, $550 co s and Michigan $3,509.090.
 We must consider that there is put . | lie sentiment that the council has don Il its korfl. that the war is over, and tn :. object for which. the council was ere ated has been accomplished and tha - therefore, it's activities should ceas u i We must take into consideration tf y American trait of feeling of reseni Il nent aganst what is considered inter
 ference wth personal 0. husness at
 tivities. This feeling has been large
 | ly laid aside during the war, but E very properly returning perhaI e stronger than ever after having bee e held in restraint We must also COT T. slider the perfectly natural G/ q no e nal desire of the men and women l. this council and it's organization to n n turn to their long neglected busine. # affairs, which they have unseIfish e laid aside, often at considerable re y sacrifice, to undertake this work.
 It would be truly deplorable, hoy u ever, for the American people to fs n back into old ways of se!fshness al s. waste, to lose any of the benefits II the nation, and the individual taug II by sacrifice and labor for others al $ by war conservation methods al 'l habits of thrift.
 n:l Not less than the problems of t 't war period, are the problems of u pr reconstruction period for our be
 thought and efforts. The Iessbns tsug c- us by the war should not be lost sigh1 T. of, but rather should we profit by the or to the future benefit of tf1 estate al
 nation.
 The council came into existence;
 the purpose of service. The signing Y the armistice has removed the ne m of some of dts activities, and furth s. effort and expense along sueh lin i'll should cease. But there are other a e. tivities made necessary by the "; oy which it is of utmost importance c- continue under the uncertainties
 q readjustment, until such time as [ as need has been removed, Or until tn n. can be taken over by duly author ed ed agencies. Meanwhile the Connec 1d cut State Council of Defense organiz
 tion constitutes the only means to cs nj l ry on the work, and the NafioI he Council of Defense has asked i
 State Council to. keep tsieir oFganis
 g tion in full working efficiency to c: s. ry out the federal plans
 The successful carrying on of -aIl work needed will require the asst aili anee of local organizations through, en the state. This need has been il
 by the war bureaus. and the nernb bv of these bureaus should unselfsl
 stand by until their work is finish = or until it can be taken oyer un,
 properly worked out plans looking
 the continuance of non tisan 10 organization valuable for the futl S ' welfare of our state
 It viii. with your approval, be
 policy of this committee in sup
 vising the expenditures of .the va