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Show I l PLAN FOR AFTER ' RECONSTRUCTION ANNAPOLIS, Md Dec. 16 Thlr-tv-six state governors or governor.'; -elect In annual conference here today were told bv Secretary Baker that the war had proven the indlspensabillty of strong state governments In peace as veil as war times as the principal agoncies for mobilizing and demobilizing demobil-izing armlese, finding wqrk Tor returning return-ing soldiers and developing better methods of physical training for young men. At the same time he pleaded that state authorities give more freedom free-dom to work out their individual local problems. Early disbandment of the draft boards" and state branches of the council coun-cil of national defense as federal agencies agen-cies was advocated by the secretary who urged, however, that both remain in existence informally to aid local authorities in solving problems of the readjustment period. Those in attendance are Governors hunt of Arizona; Townsend. Delaware; Dorsev of Georgia; Alexander, Idaho; Goodrich, Indiana; Harding. Iowa; Capper, Kansas; Pleasant. Louisiana; Aliniken, Maine: Harrington, Maryland; Mary-land; Sleeper, Michigan; Burnqulst, Minnesota; Gardner, Missouri; Stewart, Stew-art, Montana; Boyle, Nevada; Edge, New Jersey; Lindsoy, New Mexico; Bickett, North Carolina; 'Frazler, North Dakota; Willlamsi Oklahoma; Brumbaugh', Pennsylvania; Beeckman, Rhode Island; Manning, South Carolina; Caro-lina; Bamberger, Utah; Davis, Virginia; Vir-ginia; Lister, Washington: Cornwcll, West Virginia, and Houx of Wyoming; and Governors -elect Campbell, Arizona; Ari-zona; Davis, Idaho; Allen of Kansas: Coolidge of Massachusetts; McElvio, Nebraska; Larrazolo. Now Mexico; Robertson, Oklahoma; Cooper, South Carolina; Clement, Vermont, and Thomas Riggs, Jr., of Alaska. Governor Bamberger will Invito tho conference to meet next year at Salt Lake City. Secretary Houston, addressing tho governors today suggested that state governments ascertain immediately what farming lands might be available avail-able for use of returning soldiers. Ho cautioned, however, against throwing these men indiscriminately into agricultural agri-cultural pursuits without previous cx-I cx-I perlence or adequate training, jj Reconstruction problems, particular - 1 ly those relating to labor, education and public lands will be discussed by (S ihe governors at their meetings to- W. morrow and at tho closing sessions lif Wednesday they wllj hear addresses by Secretaries Daniels and Lane. To ll B night they attended a reception at the I home of Governor Harrington of Mary- ! land. j Secretary Baker said his principal I purpose in addressing the state exec- I I u lives was to express thanks for the I remarkable manner In which state and local authorities, through defense Hh councils, draft boards and other offi- Vr cials had carried out tho federal gov- ernment's wishes throughout the war and had initiated measures of their J "This demonstration df the ability of a democracy to carry out great un- 1 dertaklngs, using its constituted au- I thorities, is one of the greatest les- sons of tho war," the secretary said. Instead of adding to the aggregate of j centralized power this war has strengthened state governments and j made them moro Indispensable than ever in our scheme of government. 1 The war secretary emphasized that 1 one of the principal functions ol states hereafter must be "to rescue k young men from the situation shown 1 during the recent mobilization when J one third of the drafted men were HRj found to be physically undeveloped or IKh defective. JDraft boards will be dispanded at tfie end of this month and state branches of the council of national defense will cease functioning afc federal fed-eral agencies as soon ns possible, Mr.1 Baker said. Hr urged that both cooperate co-operate with employment agencies In finding work for soldiers. Secretary Houston urged states to establish strong centralized agricultural agricul-tural departments, to defino more clearly the function of land grant col- leges, to continue promotion of ngri-j ngri-j cultural extension work, build better roads and promote campaigns in rural districts against preventable disease. Considering the uncertainty of the future of the world's food production, Secretary Houston said: "Congress should make available a; revolving fund of not less than 5600,-; 000,000 to effectuate tho government) guarantee of $2.20 a bushel for wheat1 for we cannot t ell at this time what i the real market prrco will be a year ! from now. It may be as much as ?2-20 j and it may bo as much as fifty cents less than the guaranteed price " ! |