Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-03-20
Material AT Hand
On Reconstruction
(By S. Hunter Walker.)

Approximately two years after
Great Britain entered the war she
took occasion to consider the prob
lem Of reconstruction and formed a
committee in her cabinet to study the
subject: and it was not until a wear
later, August, 1917. that her minis
try of reconstruction was established.
The work in this direction in France
was almost co~incidental with that of
England. America did not take so
long to set her reconstruction engine
in motion after she entered the war,
for she made use Of the experience
Of he rallies. 1t was in May, 1918,
that the first real step toward Great
ing an agency for reconstruction was
taken.
The initial move was made by Gros-
venor B.. ClarkSon. then secretary,
now director. of the United States
council of national defense. Mr.. Clark
son had been with the council since
Its permanent organization in March,
Wilson early last June a memoran-
dunn in which he stated the need for
making a survey of, reconstruction
and readjustment problems against
the soldiers return. The time was
at its darkest for the Allies: France
and Britain's backs were at the wall,
they confessed, and only the coming
" q AAAA~IA SOuIO save them.
Americas troops were just stepping
into the fighting ring; the future
was unknown. and it looked to all the
world as though the strife were to
be a lons one. The question of recon-
structions and reimbursement to peace
time conditions lay far in a, future.
But: President Wilson and Secretary
Baker, chairman of the council, knew
that a day of victory~wouldacome, and
knew also that the country must pre-.
pare for it. The president answered
Mr.. Clarkson's letter accordingly, en-
~couraging the council of national de-
Tense to take up its study of recon
struction. From that day IN the
council Of national defense has been
building up a foundation for the in
vestigatton Of reconstruction prob
lens. taking advantage Of what other
countries have done to add to its W
research.
Director Garrison organized a staff
which began the assembling of valua-
BILE data. Its photography on the
subject Is regarded a most compre-
file of matter selected with minute
care. This matter has been digested
and indexed for reference by trained
men and women In assembling its
foreign material an examination has
been made by experts Of the recon
structlon research division OF official
publications Of this and other govern-
ments. of the daily press, and other
periodicals of this country and Eu-
rope. The preparation of this matter,
relating to forty-eiEht foreign coun-
tries and groups Of countries, has
included its classification and ar
arrangement for reference in a series of
a dozen or o pamphlets, indexed
according to countries and chron-
ology.
The council selected men qualified
to study the nations problem of re-
adjustment. One Of these"is o. M. W.
Sprague. professor Of finance and
banking at Harvard. The council
has also built up q substantial work
ing library on reconstruction and re.
lated subjects.
The dissemination Of this informa-
ton has Nbeen carried on effectively.
Original matter has been sent in
pamphlet form to government ON
cials and others especially concerned
with the subject Of reconstruction;
charts have been sent out and a daily
digest goes to the desks Of the six
members Of the cabinet who are
members of the council of national
defense. to the director of the council
and to such ohicials Of the council or
federal departments as find it Of spe-
cific service.