The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-08-24
Cstaff correspondence

Oklahoma City, Aug. 23.-The state
council of defense, recently reorganized
under the direction Of Gov. j. II. \, ROB
ortson, I'm special session yesterday, en-
dogsed the proposal to organize county
councils In every county OF the state,
along the lines suggcstcd-that Is, the
county Judge as chairman. county attor'
new and county superintendent with IL
others to be chosen by the three, who
win have direct local jurisdiction over
Investigations into the charges Of prof
iteering. boarding of food, excess prof
its and combinations that result in in
creased cost of living, \ price commit
tee Of five, including representative
of organized labor, a farmer and wom'
an, Is authorized in each county The
Women's Consumers League was en-
dorsed and its cooperation invited. Pit
Hess publicity is to be the primary
weapon against profiteering; flagrant
cases are to be investigated with a view
of determining the guilt or innocence
of the accused. and when one is deemed
guilty he is to be reported to the county
attorney, the attorney general and the
federal authorities for prosecution.
As in the case of the conference of
county lllOIUtNN carry III All' lh'AN'''
the proposed special legislative session
to enact adequate laws to reach the
profiteer occupied prominent place IN
the councils deliberation. With the
understanding that other means were to
be used first and in the event of the
primary program failing to accomplish
the desired results, the state council
went on record as in that event rec
ommendng a special session to enact
cost and selling price, reasonable prot'
its and anti-profiteering laws win
teeth in them"
The reDort of the steering" commit
tee which outlined the method county
organization and operation was receiN'
ed and adopted; and the council, after
some little debate. proceeded to organ
i2e on the basis that the nation still is ut
war with the central powers and that
the state and county councils of de
fense would have the same authority
and power as were delegated to them
during the period of the war. Public
opinion is to be an important factor III
the operation of the councils, and the
attendants at the session were almost
a unit in the belief that sentiment Will
stand behind all reasonable actions OF
the councils. But the state council
members left no loopholo in the estimate
of its intentions; it means business ana
believes it will accomplish the purpose,
the elimination. eventually, of the prof
iteer, and the bringing about, immedi'
ately, of the relief to the suffering pub
lie.
The meeting Of the council was called
to order in the court room of the cor
poration commission at 10 a. m, by
John a. Whitehurst president of state
board of agriculture who is chairman
of the body. The forenoon was largely
taken up with discussion of various
types and instances of profiteerlng'
"gouging the public" as it was fire.
uuently described. The organizations
with Mr.. Whitehurst as chairman ana
H. r. Christopher as secretary, was
made permanent and later in the day
motion was adopted that the chair name
an executive committee of eleven mem
bers the personnel of this committee Will
be announced later.
Shortly before the neon hour com
mittee of five, comprising c. b. Douglas
of Tulsa. Edgar Fenton of Oklahoma
CITY, James \. Wilson of saltwater,
state Senator Luther y. Harrison OF
Ada and Miss \. Larcnmiler Of Shaw
nee was named to draft a set of recon-
mendations upon which the organiza'
ton of county councils their operation
ana the general conduct of the affairs
of the state ANA county councils should
b. operated
Resolutions Cover Ground
This cOtanittee at the afternoon ses-
s.on submitted the following report
Which was adopted:
we recommend the immediate organ
l..tion Of county councils of defense
thi oughout the state of Oklahoma,
a.ong such plans as may have heretofore
been suggested, or as may be deemed
proper by the chief executive of the