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Show s DUELS EXTOLS COUNCIL H National Defense Body Organizes Or-ganizes Many Essential Essen-tial Agencies. Secures Direction and Inspiration In-spiration of Women in War Duties. WASHINGTON", Dec. S. Appended to the annual report of the secretary of the navy ia an account of some of the work accomplished by the council of national defense, from which the following excerpts ex-cerpts of Interest are given: On August 29, 1916, congress authorized the organization of the council of national defense, composed of the secretary of war, N'ewton D. Baker; the secretary of the y" navy, Josephus Daniels; the secretary of 1 tiie interior. Franklin K. Lane; the secretary sec-retary of agriculture, David F. Houston; the secretary of commerce- William C. Redfield, and the secretary of labor, William Wil-liam B. Wilson. The council as soon as organized began a thorough study of the problems act forth in the act. The organization was created for the "co-ordination of industries and V resources for the national security and t welfare" and for the "creation of re-' re-' lations which will render possible in time of need the Immediate concentration and utilization of the resources of the nation." na-tion." Advisory Commission. Under the terms of this act, the president presi-dent named as members of the advisory commission the following gentlemen, specially spe-cially qualified by reason of their trailing trail-ing and business to give wise counsel: Daniel WUlard, transportation and communication, com-munication, chairman; Howard K. Coffin, munitions and manufacturing (including Htandardizatlonj and industrial relations; Julius Rosen wajd, .supplies (including cloth Inpt-, etc; liernard M. Uaruch, raw materials, minerals and metals; Dr. Hoi- , lis Godfrey, engineering and education;,! Bamuel Gompers, labor, including con- . servation of health and welfare of work- ' firs; Dr. Franklin Hart In, medicine and surgery. Including general sanitation; Walter S. Glfford, director, and Grosvenor B. Clarkson, secretary. From the day of organizing, the council, coun-cil, without executive power, had the vision of the country's needs, industrial j and military. It met weekly and some- j , times more frernienlly, and gave consideration consid-eration to every problem that could strengthen the industrial and military j power of America. Studies Activities. The council of national defense formed a number of subcommittees which gave thorough study to every line of activity, industrial and social, and as the needs of the war developed. it was instrumental instru-mental in pointing out to the executive ,, and to congress new functions which war conditions made desirable and nec-i nec-i essary. Largely by their study of indus-' indus-' trial and war problems, there were or ganized such potential and essential agencies as the war industries board, war I trade board, United States food adminis- ! tra tion, United States fuel administra- I tion. and the development of Increase in ; tonnage, stimulation of production, bet- ' ter distribution, proper safeguards for! young men In the military service, and! n. the complete co-ordination of the facili-I lties of the existing departments with the newly created agencies. One of the early far-sighted steps taken by the council of national defense was the organization of the stale councils of defense. de-fense. The purpose was to secure In ev- cry state a nonpolitlcal organization, com- posed of members of al! parties, who, j wiihout thought of anything excent vir- ! tory for national ideals, would to organize or-ganize I he states that they would bear 1 the same relation to the national council coun-cil that the states bear to the national government. Trie pood work of these fcta te councils, led by the governor of eai-li commonwealth. Stimulated every war activity and brought unity, without which the work of the national council and trie national government could not have been ; carried on so efficiently and so satisfac- ; torily. j It is not fitting that in the report of! the secretary of the navy any detailed ffcount of the work of the council of national na-tional defense should be presented. The law provides for a special report of the council to congress. I wish, however, to express appreciation of the valuable service, ser-vice, both before our entrance into the war, and of the wise council during ev-tv ev-tv staue of t lie war, which the council and commission have given to the navy department. Women's Inspiration. This war has been a war not only of sailors and soldiers, but of all Americans, Ameri-cans, and the contributions which women have made to it are beyond ail praise and honor. They early mobilized themselves. them-selves. Long before governmental recognition recog-nition was given them they had been the inspiration of practically all patriotic action. On April 21. 1 f17. the president recognized the essential need of securing secur-ing the wise direction and inspiration of the women's work in winning the war and named the organization "woman's committee of the council of national defense," de-fense," composed of the following: Dr. Anna Howard Shaw of New York City, chairman; Mrs. Philip N. Moore of Ht. Ivouis, Mrs. Joslah E. Cowies of Los Angeles. Cal.; Miss Maude Wet more of Xew York City. Mrs. Carrfe Chapman Catt of New York, Mrs. Antoinette Funk of Chicago. 111.; Mrs. Stanley McCormick of Boston. Mrs. .loseph R. I .a mar of Atlanta, At-lanta, Ga.; Miss Ida M. Tarbell of New York, Miss Agnes Nestor of Chicago and Mrs. Ira Couch Wood, secretary, of Chicago, Chi-cago, III. Mobilize Women. j Under the direction of this woman's ! committee, women in every state have ! strong organizations, and these organiza-! organiza-! tions extended into cities, towns and j townships. It is indeed true that they have mobilized American womanhood for every character of service at home and abroad, from work in munition factories to nursing the wounded under the very fire of t he enemy. When the story of the war is written, the vision of these women translated into service, both in the national and state councils, and in the local organizations, will demonstrate to all the world that It was their splendid consecration and sacrifice that was the leading force and influence In the unified America In time of its struggle. |