Report of the 
 Executive Committee 
 
 Mayor's Committee on National Defense 
 
 New York City 
 November twenty-first, 1917 
 
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 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 MAYOR'S COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL DEFENSE 
 
 Lewis L. Clarke (Treasurer) 
 Cleveland H. Dodge 
 William N. Dykman 
 Francis G. Landon 
 Maetin W. Littleton 
 John Mitchell 
 William Fellowes Morgan 
 Morgan J. O'Brien 
 E. H. Outerbridge 
 
 Herbert Parsons 
 George W. Perkins 
 Elihu Root 
 Mortimer L. Schiff 
 Alfred E. Smith 
 John B. Stanchfield 
 Henry L. Stimson 
 Alexander M. White 
 George W. Wickers ham 
 George T. Wilson 
 
 Thomas L. Chadboubne, Jr., Chairman 
 Philip J. McCook, Vice-CTtairman and Director 
 
 -.3 VM 
 
MAYOR'S COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL DEFENSE 
 
 Report of the Executive Committee 
 
 Honorable John Pueboy Mitchel, Mayor. 
 Sir: 
 
 IN making this report of the work of tho Mayor's Committee on National Defense 
 since its organization more than two years ago, the Executive Committee of that 
 Committee feels that it should introduce what follows with several general state- 
 ments. 
 
 The first of these is that this Committee was organized, and its work has been 
 continuously conducted, with one animating purpose, namely, to serve the nation, in 
 so far as a local organization can do so, without regard to partisan political consider- 
 ations. The Committee is made up of men of all parties, races, creeds and groups, 
 resident all over the City, and each of them has served as patriotic citizens should 
 serve in time of stress. 
 
 The second generalization we wish to make is this: that our work has been 
 financed primarily by private subscription in and out of the Committee. When, how- 
 ever, the extent of the undertaking became apparent, appeal was made to the Board of 
 Estimate for sub-authorizations out of the special fund of $250,000 created by the Board 
 of Estimate for special war purposes. These appeals covered not only work properly 
 ours, but also the expenses of the Director of the State Census for New York City and 
 of the Employment Clearing House. In no case, however, has the salary of any 
 employe of the Committee been paid by the City. The services of the staff have been 
 wholly contributed by members and friends of the Committee. 
 
 The third matter to which we call specific attention is that at no time since the 
 Committee was organized have you as Mayor attempted to dictate its policies or to 
 use it for any ends save those for which it was organized. Our policy, once established, 
 has been directed and developed solely by the Committee. 
 
 We think it proper that these facts be placed on record in this our final report 
 to you. At the same time we feel that the Committee owes you a debt for the un- 
 failing support you have given it in all matters which it has undertaken affecting the 
 public weal and the conduct of the war. 
 
 FORMATION OF COMMITTEE. 
 
 Pursuant to a statement issued by yourself as Mayor on October 6, 1915, the Execu- 
 tive Committee of the Mayor's Committee on National Defense held its first meeting 
 October 7, 1915, and announced its purpose to develop in this City an understanding of 
 and a sentiment for an effective national defense, and to sustain the hands of the Na- 
 tional Government in asking for the adoption of a strong program by the Congress 
 of the United States. 
 
 On October 29, 1915, you issued a call to one thousand citizens of New York City, 
 asking them to become members of the Mayor's Committee on National Defense. This 
 general committee held its first meeting December 16, 1915, and adopted a resolution 
 pledging the Committee (1) to the support of the President of the United States and 
 Congress in their efforts to provide for the common defense through an adequate in- 
 crease in the forces of the army and navy; (2) to cooperate with all organizations and 
 associations having for their object the completion and perfection of an adequate navy 
 and a sufficient army; (3) urging upon other cities and municipalities and their citi- 
 zens to organize associations and committees having these objects in view, and pledg- 
 ing cooperation to such associations and committees in any manner which, in the joint 
 judgment of all, would more surely attain the ends in view; (4) empowering and in- 
 structing the Executive Committee of the General Committee to communicate with other 
 associations now in existence or which might be formed thereafter, to the end that such 
 associations might be convened at a suitable time and place for a surer and more effec- 
 tive organization. 
 
ST. LOUIS MAYORS' CONFERENCE. 
 
 As a result of this resolution, the Executive Committee, with your approval, sug- 
 gested and helped arrange for a defense conference of mayors and mayors' committees, 
 which was held in St. Louis, March 3 and 4, 1916. Twenty-nine mayors of leading 
 American cities were present In person and 58 cities and 22 states were represented by 
 a total of 299 delegates. A permanent organization called the National Defense Con- 
 ference of Mayors and Mayors' Committees was formed, with headquarters in St. Louis, 
 and adopted resolutions demanding the immediate authorization by Congress of an 
 adequate military and naval program; further, the Conference approved and recom- 
 mended the immediate formulation of plans by the Federal Government for the organ- 
 ization and mobilization of the physical resources of the country, with certain specific 
 recommendations. 
 
 The organization of this Conference and the adoption of these resolutions un- 
 doubtedly had an effect upon the first Session of the 64th Congress. The local effect 
 of the work of the Mayor's Committee in this direction was refiected in the vote on the 
 Kahn Amendment to the Hay Bill which fixed the total enlisted force of the line of 
 the army at 250,000 instead of 140,000 men. Out of 24 Congressmen whose districts 
 are wholly or in part in New York City, 21 voted for the Amendment. 
 
 HOME DEFENSE LEAGUE. 
 
 During the winter of 1915-16, the Committee devoted its efforts not only to the 
 program already adopted, but to the development of the Home Defense League (a large 
 body of volunteer police to supplement the regular force), and to the working out of an 
 effective plan of mobilizing the transportation facilities and other civilian resources of 
 the City in the event of war. 
 
 BORDER MOBILIZATION REPORT. 
 
 The mobilization of the National Guard in the summer of 1916 upon the Mexican 
 border seemed to your Committee to afford an excellent oportunity for a constructive 
 study of its effects upon the economic life of this community. As a result, after a care- 
 ful study for a period of five months, during which time a number of trained in- 
 vestigators were employed, a report was issued, and copies were sent to you and widely 
 distributed throughout the country. 
 
 DECLARATION TO PRESIDENT. 
 
 When Germany announced on February 1st of this year that a campaign of un- 
 restricted submarine warfare would be put into operation, and the President of the 
 United States severed diplomatic relations with the Imperial German Government, 
 there ensued a period in which the activities in the United States of pro-Germans and 
 professional pacifists were so extended and elaborate, so vociferous and so entirely 
 foreign to the true sentiment of our people, that the Executive Committee circulated 
 and obtained signatures to the following declaration: 
 
 "To the President of the United States: 
 
 As an American, faithful to American ideals of justice, liberty and humanity, 
 and confident that the Government has exerted its most earnest efforts to keep 
 us at peace with the world, I hereby declare my absolute and unconditional 
 loyalty to the Government of the United States and pledge my support to you 
 in protecting American rights against unlawful violence upon land and sea, in 
 guarding the Nation against hostile attacks, and in upholding international 
 right." 
 
 Upwards of a million persons in New York City signed the declaration in about 
 three weeks, and the President was so notified on April 2nd. The signed sheets were 
 transmitted to the President and were before him in time to show him that approxi- 
 mately one million New Yorkers were behind him in his stand for international justice. 
 The same plan was followed in other cities with excellent results. 
 
RECOGNIZED AS HOME DEFENSE COMMITTEE. 
 
 Immediately following the declaration of war, the Committee undertook the task 
 of coordinating the work of the various organizations and citizens in New York City 
 who desired to be of service in the crisis. A number of committees were being formed 
 both by Individuals and organizations, and it was thought desirable in the interest of 
 all that their work should be as far as possible harmonized and coordinated so that 
 overlapping, unnecessary duplication and waste might be prevented. During this period 
 the Executive Committee was in close touch with both the State and Federal authori- 
 ties. Governor Whitman prepared a comprehensive scheme for activities throughout the 
 State. The plan contemplated the appointment of a home defense committee for each 
 county. Under the direction of the State authorities, the Mayor's Committee on Na- 
 tional Defense was designated to take charge in New York City as an organization al- 
 ready formed and equipped to do such work. From that time this Committee has been 
 recognized as the Home Defense Committee for the five counties constituting the Greater 
 City, under the State and National Defense Councils. 
 
 SPECIAL COMMITTEES. 
 
 Following are the special committees with their chairmen and secretaries; the title 
 is usually indicative of the purpose, which in any event is shown later in this report: 
 
 Recruiting Committee — Alexander J. Hemphill, Chairman, Lewis K. Brown, 
 Secretary; Committee on Industry and Employment — Rev. Percy Stickney Grant, 
 Chairman (succeeding Professor Henry R. Seager), J. B. Buell, Secretary; Com- 
 mittee on Speakers and War Instruction — Ernest Stauffen, Chairman (succeeding 
 A. H. Spencer and George B. Compton), W. Franklin Edwards, Secretary; Com- 
 mittee on Hospital and Medical Facilities — S. S. Goldwater, M. D., Chairman, 
 Joseph J. Weber, Secretary; Committee on Aliens — Archibald E. Stevenson, Chair- 
 man, Joseph E. See, Secretary; Committee on Organizations — George T. Wilson, 
 Chairman, Wayne L. Randall, Secretary; Committee on Relief — Thomas Cochran, 
 Chairman, Edward T. Devine, Vice-Chairman. 
 
 Mr. G. Osgood Andrews is Manager of Films under the Committee on Speakers and 
 War Instruction. 
 
 Mr. C. E. Mellon is Manager of the Joint Information Bureau of the Red Cross and 
 the Mayor's Committee on National Defense. 
 
 The other departments are as follows: 
 
 Transportation Department — E. B. Cochems, Manager. Draft Information 
 Bureau — Waldemar Kops, Manager. Publicity Bureau — Heber Blankenhorn, Man- 
 ager. 
 
 The Director, Mr. Philip J. McCook, is the executive officer of the Mayor's Committee 
 on National Defense, as well as its Vice-Chairman and a member of the Executive Com- 
 mittee. His duty has been to take charge of the staff and to secure unity of action 
 by the committees and departments and a proper distribution of work and assignment 
 of assistants. Hamilton Owens, Esq., is General Secretary of the Committee. 
 
 Reports from each of the committees, departments, etc., are to be found in an 
 appendix. 
 
 BOROUGH COMMITTEES. 
 
 There are advisory committees in Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Richmond Boroughs. 
 Except in the case of Bronx and Queens, where a different course was desired by the 
 Borough Committee, they have been called upon for little work outside of local co- 
 operation with the special committees. The Chairmen are as follows: 
 
 Bronx Committee — Edward R. Koch; Brooklyn Committee — William N. Dyk- 
 man; Queens Committee — C. G. M. Thomas; Richmond Committee — William G. 
 Willcox. 
 
 The reports of the Bronx and Queens Committees appear in the appendix. 
 
 FINANCE. 
 
 Lewis L. Clarke, Esquire, the Treasurer of the Committee, has kindly detailed to 
 our headauarters as his assistant Mr. T. Frank Bennett, who passes on the details of 
 
office expenditure. The funds were obtained primarily by private subscription, second- 
 arily, except in the case of salaries, by segregation from the $250,000 appropriation for 
 war emergencies under the control of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment. The 
 Treasurer's report forms part of the appendix. 
 
 WOMEN'S COMMITTEE. 
 
 From the beginning the patriotic work of the women of New York was conspicu- 
 ous. The IMayor desired to recognize this condition, and the only question was whether 
 to do so by joint action or through separate committees. The latter course was finally 
 decided upon at the wish of the women most concerned, and the Mayor's Committee of 
 Women on National Defense was formed with Miss Ruth Morgan as Chairman, Mrs. 
 Willard Straight as Vice-Chairman, Mrs. Henry Moskowitz Secretary and Mrs. V. 
 Everit Macy, Treasurer. Since the departure of Miss Morgan for Europe some months 
 ago, Mrs. Straight has been Acting Chairman. The relations between the two Com- 
 mittees are intimate and cordial, and in many phases of their work they have acted 
 together. 
 
 RECRUITING. 
 
 The scheme of organization was adopted none too soon. There was pressing need 
 for a comprehensive recruiting campaign. This Committee, therefore, suggested that 
 you appoint Alexander J. Hemphill chairman of the Special Committee on Recruiting. 
 His Committee immediately established relations with the recruiting offices of all 
 branches of the National service — Army, Navy, Marine Corps, National Guard — for the 
 stimulation of recruiting. 
 
 The Recruiting Committee has used military parades, patriotic rallies, speakers, 
 newspaper advertising, posters, music and other media of publicity on a large scale to 
 make the needs of the service known. Since the beginning of the War it has not only 
 distributed many thousands of posters for the recruiting offices (which were without 
 adequate means of distribution), but has supplemented the relatively small number of 
 Government posters by printing hundreds of thousands of posters and window and wind- 
 shield cards and a very large number of leaflets giving detailed information. 
 
 LAND BATTLESHIP "RECRUIT". 
 
 A subcommittee of the Recruiting Committee erected in the park at Union Square, 
 through funds provided by special popular subscription, the land battleship "Recruit". 
 The ship has been manned by the United States Navy with a captain and crew and is 
 the central point of navy recruiting in New York City. 
 
 SPECIAL RECRUITING ACTIVITIES. 
 
 Another branch of the Recruiting Committee — the Battalion of Service Men — 
 organized a recruiting battalion of fifteen hundred men who had seen service under 
 the Government. They covered more than one hundred meetings held under the aus- 
 pices of political, labor, fraternal, civic and social organizations, and about the same 
 number of street meetings. The Recruiting Committee cooperated with the British 
 Recruiting Mission in carrying out their program of "British Recruiting Week" when 
 armed Canadian troops with their bands and pipers visited New York, increasing as a 
 result British enlistments by one hundred percent. 
 
 THE QUOTAS FILLED. 
 
 About the first of August the required quotas of the Regular Army, Navy and 
 Marine Corps were reached, and shortly afterwards the National Guard attained its 
 approximate war strength. Since that time the Recruiting Committee has devoted its 
 efforts to securing recruits for certain specific branches in the National Army — various 
 sections of the Engineer Corps, such as the camouflage section, gas and flame section. 
 Ordnance Corps and Quartermaster Corps. 
 
THE FUTURE OF RECRUITING. 
 
 When the United States first entered the War recruiting consisted of a "rush to 
 the colors." The campaign was extensive. Now it must be intensive and reciuires on 
 the part of our Recruiting Committee a correspondingly greater exercise of judgment 
 and intelligence. Plans are under way and in actual operation for securing the enlist- 
 ment of specialists as they are needed by the nation. 
 
 FEDERAL REGISTRATION. 
 
 When the Federal Selective Draft became law, you, as Mayor, having been desig- 
 nated by the President and the Governor to devise a scheme to secure the registration 
 of all male residents of New York City between the ages of 21 and 31, delegated this 
 duty to this Committee. The Director suggested to you that the machinery of the 
 Board of Elections, under the supervision of a City board consisting of one public 
 official to act as executive head and another as custodian, with five additional members 
 appointed from civil life — one lawyer, one doctor, one relief expert, one employer and 
 one labor man be used, with similar borough boards and smaller assembly district 
 boards. The plan was accepted at Albany and Washington and this Committee acted 
 as unofficial adviser throughout the registration both to the Mayor and to the Boards 
 of Registration. 
 
 The registration of over 600,000 men was completed without a hitch and there was 
 not the slightest hint of scandal or serious disorder. At one point in the day (June 
 5th) the Committee was called upon to find more than a hundred additional registrars 
 of high type, who were supplied to the Board of Elections on an hour's notice. Our 
 Transportation Department, the development of which is outlined below, by that time 
 in active operation, supplied about 85 automobiles throughout the day. For these 
 services Provost Marshal General Enoch H. Crowder conveyed to the Mayor and the 
 Committee the special thanks of the War Department. 
 
 STATE MILITARY CENSUS. 
 The next great task laid upon the public authorities was that of taking the State 
 Military Census in New York City, as pi'ovided by an act of the Legislature which you 
 supported. The Governor appointed Mr. E. P. Goodrich to take charge of the work 
 in New York City. The registration of approximately three and one-quarter million 
 men and women in New York City between the ages of 16 and 50 was accomplished 
 by the State Military Census Bureau with the assistance of this Committee and the 
 Mayor's Committee of Women on National Defense and dozens of other civilian asso- 
 ciations. After weeks of preparation the Census was completed on June 25th, 1917. 
 The work required the services of fifty thousand volunteers. Our Transportation 
 Department furnished for the Census about $45,000 in time value of free automobile 
 service. The Mayor's Committee received the thanks of the Governor for its part of 
 the work. 
 
 THE FIRST SELECTIVE DRAFT. 
 
 You, as Mayor, having charge for the Federal authorities of certain details under 
 the Selective Draft Law, placed the matter in the hands of the Director of this Com- 
 mittee. 
 
 It had been expected that the boards which were organized for the purpose of regis- 
 tration would be continued as Exemption Boards. The Act in the form in which it 
 finally passed Congress, however, provided for a local exemption board of three men 
 in each district of 30,000 inhabitants, or 189 local boards in New York City. This 
 Committee assisted you in suggesting to the Governor names for members of these 
 local boards. The first appointments were announced by the President on July 4th. 
 
 ORGANIZING THE BOARDS. 
 Shortly thereafter the local boards received their credentials and immediately 
 sought help from us. We organized a temporary Bureau of Information, assigned to 
 the work every available member of the staff, obtained one hundred and fifty volun- 
 teers and extended our work late into the night. When the organization of the boards 
 
was about eighty per cent, complete the Adjutant General sent a Deputy to represent 
 the State in New York City in the matter and thus establish direct contact; he took 
 up his headquarters in our oflSce, and our staff was placed at his disposal. After two 
 weeks' anxious and arduous work the diiriculties were mastered and New York City 
 answered ready in time for the Draft, which took place July 20th. Under Mrs. Henry 
 Moskowitz of the Women's Committee and Miss Moskowitz, whose services were lent 
 to us by the State Labor Department, we secured the services of volunteers to assist 
 harassed boards in their work. Under Mr. H. F. Ives, also a volunteer, and a staff of 
 four assistants, copies of the registration cards from the boards were received, checked 
 and stored, about 600,000 of them, until they were called for by The Adjutant General. 
 Under Mr. E. Herzfeld and his successor Mr. Rosebery, each a volunteer, a force of clerks, 
 for the same critical period, answered the thousands of questions which poured 
 in daily over the telephone, by mail, by telegram and through visitors. We had also the 
 constant help and advice on legal matters of the War Committee of the Bar and of the 
 Legal Aid Society. 
 
 The task of supplying non-legal advice for local boards and registrants and their 
 families has been continued and is still continuing. We have long since taken over 
 for the Adjutant General the duty of allocating cards of out of town registrants and 
 others to their proper local boards. We have continued likewise to suggest to the 
 Governor the names of persons for service on the local boards in filling vacancies. 
 
 As the time for the second Draft approaches, our duties are becoming heavier. 
 Only a short time ago the Provost Marshal General called for the compilation of a 
 certain kind of information from the records of the local boards, and we supplied in 
 a few days the voluntary clerical assistants (several hundred) necessary to get the 
 material out in the required time. 
 
 TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT. 
 
 Mention has been already made of the Transportation Department. This has been 
 so important a part of our work as to deserve special notice. It began originally 
 at the time of the campaign in connection v/ith the Declaration to the President in 
 March, 1917. The need for automobiles and other means of transportation was then 
 so great that a request was made through the newspapers for the loan of cars. The 
 response was instantaneous, and was followed by an effort to put the matter on a busi- 
 nesslike basis. This Department now has on its lists many thousand owners of 
 pleasure cars, motor vans, trucks of all tonnage, all the sightseeing buses and taxicabs. 
 The Department is called upon continually, not only by our own special committees 
 and the Director, but by the officers of patriotic organizations of all kinds. For 
 instance, we have supplied automobiles for the Federal Registration under the Draft 
 Act, the State Military Census, the two Liberty Loan campaigns, the various recruiting 
 campaigns, the United States Army, Navy and Marine Corps, the Red Cross, the 
 National Special Aid Society, the British Recruiting Mission, the transportation of a 
 number of the special foreign missions which have come to the City on official business, 
 the United States Food Administration, the Surgeon-General's Department of the Army, 
 the Government Film Service, and for innumerable non-political parades, speaking tours, 
 meetings and campaigns. In six months this Department has secured free of charge 
 over $250,000 worth of automobile service, and has served over 60 patriotic and war 
 service organizations. 
 
 THE INDUSTRIAL PROBLEM. 
 
 Late in the summer it became apparent through information received from many 
 sources that not only were a number of citizens — particularly on the East Side — out 
 of sympathy with the aims of the Government in the war, but also that among the 
 more excitable members of the community there was even danger of some unpatriotic 
 demonstration. Investigation disclosed that one source of trouble was the lack of 
 employment among garment workers. The combination of unemployment, high prices 
 and uncertainty as to the Draft had v/rought upon the nerves of a considerable section 
 of the population. The Committee on Industry and Employment found that contracts 
 for the manufacture of Government uniforms had been let without due regard to the 
 
 6 
 
Importance of New York as a centre of this industry, and that while ill-equipped firms 
 In other and less accessible places were being given contracts larger than they could 
 handle, perfectly equipped modern shops in this City, fully capable of meeting the 
 Government terms, had been overlooked. The scarcity of cloth had rendered it impossible 
 for the shops to run at full time on civilian work and almost fifty per cent, unemploy- 
 ment resulted. 
 
 FEDERAL BOARD OP CONTROL. 
 
 The Committee, first through its Chairman, and then with your aid, brought the 
 matter to the attention of the Secretary of War, with the result that a Federal Board 
 of Control was appointed to draw up a form of contract which would not discriminate 
 against New York workers and employers, and to supervise in general the manufacture of 
 army uniforms. Under the form of contract proposed, not only does the Board hope 
 to conserve the health of the workers and prevent their exploitation, but to insist that 
 well organized modern shops, such as those in New York, are given their proper share 
 of the Government work. 
 
 MEDIATION OF STRIKES. 
 
 The industrial activities of the Committee did not stop with this matter. When 
 in September the longshoremen of the City were on strike, the Committee con- 
 ducted an immediate investigation and was able to give the Federal authorities infor- 
 mation which aided them in bringing the matter to a successful and speedy end. It 
 was also helpful with the butchers' and milk drivers' strikes. 
 
 THE EMPLOYMENT CLEARING HOUSE. 
 
 It needed no great foresight to see that one of the big problems to arise soon after 
 this country entered the war would be the shift in industry resulting from the removal 
 of many men from their regular pursuits by volunteer enlistment and the action of the 
 Draft Law, and the transformation of manufacturing plants hitherto working for com- 
 mercial purposes into munitions producing organizations. The Mayor's Committee of 
 Women, through its Committee on Employment, established, under the direction of the 
 Joint Committee on Industry and Employment, presided over by Professor Henry R. 
 Seager, then Chairman of our Committee on Industry and Employment, a clearing house 
 for non-commercial employment bureaus. Hitherto the non-commercial employment 
 bureaus had acted independently, with a good deal of duplication and unnecessary effort, 
 resulting not only in exaggerated expense, but great hardship upon the persons seeking 
 employment. Under the clearing house system, the calls for help and the workers avail- 
 able in one employment bureau were, by a system of transfers, made available for all. 
 This plan worked so well, that the Mayor's Committee and the State Defense Council 
 agreed to establish a joint clearing house for men and women. This clearing house was 
 put in operation about October 1st, and has already proved its usefulness. It has handled 
 thousands of calls both for workers and for employers and often supplied hundreds of 
 trained workers on short notice. For example, when the stringent regulations for 
 water-front zones became effective, work was provided for the Germans so ousted, 
 without great loss of time. The continuance of this employment clearing house is 
 insured for a period of one year, because the State has appropriated $10,000 and the 
 City $5,000 for its support. 
 
 THE AMERICANIZATION CAMPAIGN. 
 
 In a city like New York, with eighty per cent of the population either foreign 
 born or the children of foreign born parents, the process of national assimilation does 
 not advance with encouraging speed during peace times. When war breaks out, national 
 and racial differences are accentuated. 
 
 It seemed necessary to this Committee that such war emergency steps should be 
 taken as were best fitted to meet the situation. With the full cooperation of the State 
 and local authorities and the leading mercantile and civic organizations, an American- 
 ization campaign was planned and put into operation, the chief aim of which was to 
 
teach as many of our alien citizens and residents as possible the English language and 
 the essential principles of American democracy. Numerous classes have been estab- 
 lished in day and night schools, factories, settlement houses and community centers, 
 and volunteer leaders have been enrolled and trained to do the work. In this matter, 
 as in all others undertaken by the Committee, the support we have received, not only 
 from the Federal, State and City Governments, but from the people of the City gener- 
 ally, has been whole-hearted and sincere. 
 
 PUTTING THE HOSPITALS ON A WAR BASIS. 
 
 There being no possible way of knowing to what extent the hospital facilities of 
 the City would be called upon by the National Government in time of war, it was 
 thought advisable to make a special study to ascertain, in the first place, the reason- 
 able needs of the Government, and second, what previous arrangements might be made 
 to supply them with the minimum drain upon the already none too adequate resources 
 of the City. To this end, the Committee on Hospital and Medical Facilities called 
 together and organized a Council of Associated Hospitals of the City. The Chairman 
 and Secretary of this Committee, Dr. S. S. Goldwater and Mr. J. J. Weber, after numer- 
 ous conferences with the proper service ofiicials, made a trip to Canada and a study 
 there of the Government hospitals and convalescent homes established for the care 
 of wounded and incapacitated soldiers and sailors. 
 
 TABULATION OF BEDS. 
 
 A careful tabulation was made of the available beds in the hospitals of the City 
 (outside a few private institutions), and this information was forwarded to the Surgeon 
 General. At the request of the Committee several hospitals were made especially avail- 
 able for naval patients, and a uniform system of pay established, the Committee being 
 authorized to act as agent for the hospitals in their dealings with the Government. 
 
 CENSUS OF NURSES. 
 
 Under the direction of Dr. Goldwater, the Mayor's Committee of Women on National 
 Defense, through its Committee on Nursing, undertook a census of the nursing resources 
 of the City for the Government and took steps to meet the increased demand by per- 
 suading hospitals to stimulate enrollment. The plan of this survey was adopted for 
 the country at large by the Council of National Defense. 
 
 DRAFTED MEDICAL STUDENTS. 
 
 The operation of the Federal Draft brought to the attention of Dr. Goldwater and 
 his Committee a serious situation. Facts were gathered from all parts of the country 
 showing that the Draft was actually so operating as to take out of the medical schools 
 about thirty per cent of the students in the upper classes, and that an equal number 
 would undoubtedly come under the second Draft. Hospital internes who, like medical 
 students, are almost without exception men of Draft age, citizens and in good physical 
 condition, were likewise being called out in disproportionately large numbers. As the 
 result of a newspaper campaign and the public expression of the views of prominent 
 educators, showing the military importance of maintaining a constant supply of medical 
 graduates throughout the period of a possibly long war, President Wilson authorized 
 the promulgation of supplementary regulations providing that hospital internes and 
 medical students, when drafted, may be enrolled in the Enlisted Reserve Corps. While 
 remaining subject to call for military duty at any time, these men will now be per- 
 mitted to complete their studies, and in due course will take their place in the Medical 
 Corps of the Army. 
 
 COORDINATION OF CIVILIAN WAR ACTIVITY. 
 
 While these special tasks were under way, the Committee did not lose sight of 
 one of its main purposes, namely so coordinating the patriotic effort of individuals and 
 organizations in the community that their efforts might be used with the utmost 
 
 8 
 
efficiency and the least possible duplication and waste. The Committee on Organiza- 
 tions, composed of representatives of various bodies affiliated with the Mayor's Com- 
 mittee, epitomizes from that point of view the Committee as a whole. There is in 
 New York City, as our records show, an enormous amount of patriotic energy which 
 awaits only intelligent direction to be used for the good of the City and the country 
 at large during the war. Our records show who the patriotic organizations and indi- 
 viduals are, what they desire to do, and what they can do. These files are so arranged 
 that any organization or any individual may be called upon at short notice for such 
 work as may have been entrusted to the City of New York through this Committee by 
 Federal or State officials, or such other work as, in the view of the Committee, or any 
 group of citizens, may appear necessary. 
 
 WAR INSTRUCTION. 
 
 The Committee has been frequently called upon from many quarters to supply 
 speakers on patriotic subjects. To meet this need a Committee on Speakers and "War 
 Instruction was established, with a completely equipped speakers' bureau. This Com- 
 mittee has about two thousand speakers on its lists, and has supplied hundreds of 
 public and semi-public meetings, not only all over New York City, but throughout the 
 State, and in other States as well. The bureau has been of inestimable value in the 
 recruiting and Liberty Loan campaigns, and is able through the medium of its intelli- 
 gent and willing speakers to assist the Government in making clear to the people the 
 meaning of the various policies which have been adopted for the carrying on of the 
 war. All the speakers have served gratuitously. The Film Service is operated under 
 the auspices of the same Special Committee. 
 
 In all matters requiring widespread information to the public, and particularly in 
 special cases arising under the State census, the Federal registration and draft, as well as 
 in the case of the declarations to the President, we have had the hearty and successful 
 cooperation of the clergy of all religious creeds, 
 
 FILM SERVICE. 
 
 About October 1st the Committee was requested by the Committee on Public Infor- 
 mation at Washington to become a subscribing cooperator in the Government Film 
 Service issued by Mr. Creel's Committee, and to underwrite for New York City the 
 cost of distributing and exhibiting official films showing the many pharos of the Gov- 
 ernment's preparations for war. The Government felt that the pictures should not be 
 shown in commercial motion picture houses and so provided in its contract. This 
 meant that the Committee must not only go into the business of distributing film with 
 an overhead charge of $300 per week but also find customers for such pictures. Having 
 undertaken the task we were fortunate enough to secure the services of Mr. G. Osgood 
 Andrews, who attacked the problem from a broad business viewpoint, apportioning the 
 expense to those organizations and individuals who signified their desire to use the 
 films. Thirty-three clubs, churches and similar organizations throughout the City have 
 already shown or arranged to show the pictures to their members. It is now hoped 
 that not only will the Government's desires in the matter be met but that the Com- 
 mittee will be able to reimburse itself for its weekly outlay and possibly extend its use- 
 fulness. 
 
 ENEMY ALIENS. 
 
 The importance of regulating properly the menace of enemy aliens within the 
 City has been apparent to the Federal Government since the beginning of the war. 
 The establishment of the first barred zones found this Committee in a position to assist 
 the Government in the registration of enemy aliens. The Committee on Aliens acted, in 
 effect, as a Deputy United States Marshal, and assisted approximately 1800 aliens affected 
 by the first regulations to prepare their papers. Moreover, we were able, through our 
 translators, to observe the utterances of the foreign language newspapers and their 
 attitude towards the war. The information thus gathered is regularly supplied to the 
 
National authorities. The Committee has recently been fully sustained by the Treasury 
 Department in its vigorous fight against German insurance companies. 
 
 By virtue of being recognized as the official war organization of the City, the Com- 
 mittee has been the recipient of many communications delivered verbally or by letter 
 bearing upon the complex alien enemy problem, and is in frequent conference with the 
 Federal authorities concerned with its solution. Other phases of this work are covered 
 elsewhere in this report. 
 
 FIRE PREVENTION. 
 
 The Committee on Industry and Employment of this Committee was requested by 
 the State authorities to supervise the inspection of munition plants and warehouses 
 in this vicinity, with the idea of minimizing the danger of fire loss, either through 
 accident or incendiarism. The inspectors of the Board of Fire Underwriters under 
 the direction of Mr. F. J. T. Stewart were placed at the disposal of the Committee, and 
 frequent inspections made of all plants and properties concerned. The inspectors, men 
 trained to the work, were instructed to offer specific suggestions to owners and mana- 
 gers as to the steps they should take for the better protection of their property. 
 
 NEW YORK MUNITIONS FIRES. 
 
 For the most part these suggestions were well received, but it soon became appar- 
 ent that the real need was an adequate force of guards, and Mr. Stewart so reported to 
 our Committee. The extent of the danger was proven by the great losses which had, 
 already occurred. The report was brought immediately to the attention of the Adju- 
 tant General of the State, and at his suggestion taken up directly with the Secretary 
 of War, being now in the hands of the Secretary's official advisers. Since then the 
 President has announced a much more stringent set of regulations for controlling the 
 movements of enemy aliens throughout the country, with particular emphasis upon the 
 safeguarding of piers and warehouses. It now appears that military guards are to be 
 placed at various points in and near New York whose safety is a matter of special 
 concern to the nation at this time. 
 
 RED CROSS JOINT BUREAU. 
 
 At the suggestion of this Committee you, as Mayor, wrote to the Secretary of War 
 suggesting that information bureaus under the direction of the War Department be 
 opened in all largely populated centers from which the families of men in the service 
 could secure information, and obtain answers to the numerous anxious questions asked. 
 The publication of this letter resulted in a conference between the representatives 
 here of the Division of Civilian Relief of the Red Cross and of this Committee, at 
 which arrangements were made to conduct a joint information bureau operated by 
 the Red Cross and the Mayor's Committee. This bureau is now in operation. It is 
 already equipped with full data as to soldiers' insurance and family allotments. As 
 the war goes on and the casualty lists begin to come in, it is expected the bureau will 
 be made an official means of communication between the War Department and the 
 people of New York. 
 
 THE LIBERTY LOAN. 
 
 Mention has already been made in this report of our cooperation with the Liberty 
 Loan Committee and its two flotation campaigns to date. The extent of this coopera- 
 tion was so marked, particularly in the second campaign, that we feel some special 
 record should be made of it. Our Committee on Organizations arranged and carried 
 through the initial meeting of the campaign, held on the steps of the City Hall on 
 October 1st, and addressed by yourself. The parade which preceded the meeting was 
 arranged by us, and the bands and military escort which accompanied the salesmen 
 on their parade were brought in by our efforts. The Committee on Speakers and War 
 Instruction not only set aside certain of its speakers for the sole use of the Liberty 
 
 10 
 
Loan Committee, but gave all other speakers instructions to mention the Liberty Loan 
 campaign, no matter what the occasion of their appearance. 
 
 The Transportation Department supplied the Liberty Loan Committee with bands 
 for twenty-three separate rallies and was largely instrumental in getting eleven bands 
 to serve free in the Liberty Loan Parade on October 23rd. Sixty-four owners of auto- 
 mobiles lent their cars to the Liberty Loan Committee. The Fifth Avenue Coach Com- 
 pany lent the Committee for the Liberty Loan sixty-eight buses during the same period. 
 The Mayor's Committee was also asked to take charge of the erection of the reviewing 
 stand for the Liberty Loan Day Parade. Through Mr. Stephen N. Bond we did so, 
 and assumed half the expense. Mr. Bond also acted as chairman of special committees 
 In charge of the civilian features of National Guard Day and National Army Day. 
 
 NATIONAL GUARD DAY. 
 
 • We offered to underwrite the arrangements for the civilian end of the celebration in 
 connection with the departure of the National Guard August 30th. A large grandstand 
 was erected by us in front of the Public Library and turned over to the National Guard, 
 Veterans of the Civil War, Spanish War Veterans and distinguished citizens. The 
 parade was reviewed from this stand and that of the Union League Club by the Gov- 
 ernor and the Mayor. The Committee also arranged to have the best vantage points 
 along the line of march reserved for the relatives of the marchers. In the evening 
 motion picture theatres were thrown open to the men wearing the National Guard 
 uniform. 
 
 NATIONAL ARMY DAY. 
 
 On September 4th, less than a week after the National Guard celebration, this 
 Committee arranged or supervised three separate parades of drafted men — one in 
 Brooklyn, one in the Bronx and one in Manhattan. Fully fifty per cent of the drafted 
 quota appeared in line and made a splendid showing. The stand erected for the 
 National Guard Parade was used again on this occasion. In the afternoon, through 
 the courtesy of the New York Baseball Club and at the suggestion of the New York 
 World, the men were permitted to see a game between New York and Boston without 
 cost. The Committee served luncheon to the drafted men at the ballground. In the 
 evening there were numerous dances and entertainments in social and recreation cen- 
 ters. These parades were the first general gatherings of drafted men and gave the 
 City of New York its first opportunity to see the splendid spirit Avhich has animated 
 the National Army from the very beginning. Our efforts were designed to encourage 
 this feeling. 
 
 SOUTHERN COMMERCIAL CONGRESS. 
 
 The Committee was requested by the Mayor to arrange a reception on October 
 16th for the diplomats of the thirteen allied countries scheduled to come to the City 
 as guests of the Southern Commercial Congress which was in session here at that time. 
 Arrangements were made and carried out befitting such an occasion. 
 
 BRITISH MINISTRY OF MUNITIONS. 
 
 At the request of the Council of National Defense and the State Defense Council 
 the Committee undertook the arrangements for the reception here of a special mission 
 of the British Ministry of Munitions comprising Sir Stephenson Kent, Mr. H. W. 
 Garrod, Mr. G. H. Baillie, and Captain Cyril Asquith. The Commission desired to keep 
 its visit as informal as possible consistent with meeting the representative employers 
 and workingmen of the City and northern New Jersey. Accordingly about twenty 
 different appointments for them were made through the courtesy of the Merchants' 
 Association, Chamber of Commerce, Central Labor Union of Brooklyn and Queens, 
 Central Federated Union of New York and Bronx, Executive Committee of the New 
 York Committee on Industrial Training for the Council of National Defense, State 
 Industrial Commission, United Engineering Societies, Local Exemption Boards, Com- 
 
 11 
 
mittee on Women in Industry of the Council of National Defense and the New York 
 Editorial Conference, at luncheons, morning and afternoon conferences, dinners, etc. 
 
 The Mayor received the mission upon its arrival at the City Hall, and there fol- 
 lowed a small luncheon at the McAlpin Hotel under the auspices of this Committee, 
 to which were invited persons especially interested in the problems under discussion. 
 
 The Committee feels that the visit of the British Ministry of Munitions is one of 
 the most important single events with which it has had to do. We were given a 
 great opportunity to enlighten our citizens upon the vital subject of man-power in the 
 war through Great Britain's experience. 
 
 JAPANESE SPECIAL FINANCE MISSION. 
 We are preparing for the visit to this City on November 23d of a special Japanese 
 Finance Mission consisting of Baron Magata and his distinguished colleagues, all special- 
 ists in financial, industrial and governmental affairs. They will be welcomed on that 
 day by the Mayor and a reception committee at the City Hall. 
 
 PUBLICITY. 
 
 The Committee desires to thank the press for its cooperation with us in making our 
 facilities known, and particularly for conveying to the public emergency information on 
 a large scale (as in draft and recruiting matters) which otherwise could not have reached 
 the people. 
 
 PENDING AND FUTURE ACTIVITIES. 
 
 It has been the experience of the Committee, as this report indicates, that the 
 number and importance of its operations grow daily. From an organization devoted 
 to agitation for national preparedness we have become an integral, though not strictly 
 official, part of the national, state and municipal war machine. 
 
 Some idea has been given of the work done by the Committee at the time of the 
 first draft. We are now facing the second draft, a more highly organized and complex 
 problem. If called upon again, we shall be glad to serve as before. 
 
 We are prepared to continue our broad campaign for the Americanization of oui" 
 alien residents. We are prepared to continue a public discussion of the issues of the 
 war in support of the President. We are prepared to continue as a clearing house and 
 coordinating force for local patriotic activities. We are prepared to continue our in- 
 tensive recruiting campaign, and the Bureau of Information for the families of men in 
 the service. We are prepared to continue our fight for the proper recognition of the 
 importance of the industrial problem. The Committee on Industry and Employment is 
 preparing a fuller report. We are prepared to continue our fight against the menace 
 of the enemy alien. 
 
 We hope to turn the attention of the employers of this neighborhood to the prob- 
 lem which will confront them when our men come back from the front, to the end 
 that these men may have preference in employment. 
 
 And finally we shall, as in the past, hold ourselves in readiness to undertake such 
 duties as may be laid upon us by the Government of the United States, the State of 
 New York and the City of New York. 
 
 Respectfully, 
 
 T. L. CHADBOTJEira, Jr., 
 
 Chairman. 
 For the Executive Committee. 
 
 New York, November 21st, 1917. 
 
Appendix 
 
 Reports of Treasurer, Director, Committees 
 and Departments 
 
 Dated on average Nov. 15-21, 1917 
 
 and presented to Thomas L. Chadbourne.Jr. 
 
 Chairman of the Executive Committee 
 
 and of the General Committee 
 
Report of Treasurer to Close of Business, November 21, 1917 
 
 LEWIS L. CLARKE, Treasurer 
 H. N. ARMSTRONG, Assistant Treasurer 
 
 Receipts 
 
 Amount collected to date through Treasurer $100,328.53 
 
 Amounted collected to date by Borough Committees: 
 
 Brooklj.-n 2,368.95 
 
 Bronx 692.00 
 
 Queens 617.50 
 
 Richmond 5.00 
 
 Amount collected towards use of automobiles 2,225.00 
 
 Amount collected for Film Account 250.00 
 
 Reimbm-sement by City of New York on account Military Cen.sus. . . 21,752.88 
 
 Reimbursement by City of New York on account Sundry expenses. . . 56,228.39 
 
 Balance from Original and Mobilization Accounts 7,081.60 
 
 $191,549.85 
 Disbursements 
 
 Total Expenses to Last Meeting Nov. 14, 1917 S175, 187.15 
 
 Bills paid since last meeting to date 4,557.14 
 
 $179,744.29 
 Balance in Treasurer's account in American Exchange National Bank, 
 
 N. Y 9,436.61 
 
 Balance in People's Trust Co., Brooklyn, N. Y., Brooklyn Division, 
 
 Finance Committee of Mayor's Committee on National Defense 2,368.95 
 
 $191,549.85 
 
 Recapitulation of Payments Account Respective Committees 
 
 AUen $ 6,455.55 
 
 Bronx 2,550.45 
 
 Brooklyn 1,951.88 
 
 Clearing House for Employment Office 1,546.51 
 
 Film Account 1,500.00 
 
 Declaration Account 33,548.45 
 
 Head Office 56,698.68 
 
 Hospital and Medical 251.26 
 
 Industri' and Employment 695.00 
 
 Military Census 27,173.34 
 
 Organizations 1,634.26 
 
 Queens 534.40 
 
 Recruiting 43,015.87 
 
 Richmond 50.00 
 
 Speakers 2, 138.64 
 
 $179,744.29 
 Alien Account 
 
 Cash .1; 220.00 
 
 Postage 40.00 
 
 Printing and Stationery 1,144.18 
 
 ♦Salaries 3,389.98 
 
 Simdries 1,077.79 
 
 "Salaries, Special Fund 583.60 $ 6,455.55 
 
 Bronx Account 
 
 Postage $ 9.98 
 
 Printing and Stationery 239.58 
 
 Simdries 1,132.43 
 
 Telephone and Telegraph 217.96 
 
 ♦Salaries 950.50 2,550.45 
 
 Brooklyn Account 
 
 Cash $ 58.60 
 
 Printing and Stationery 484.37 
 
 Simdries 1,098.67 
 
 Telephone and Telegraph 65.43 
 
 ♦Salaries 244.81 1,951.88 
 
 * No reinbursement of salaries of the Committee employees was asked from or obtained from the City. 
 
 15 
 
Clearing House for Employment Office 
 
 Printing and Stationery $ 919.53 
 
 Sundries 626.98 1,546.51 
 
 Film Accotjnt 
 
 Underwriting 1,500.00 
 
 Declaration Accoxtnt 
 
 Cash $ 1,069.25 
 
 Postage 145.66 
 
 Printing and Stationery 27,044.61 
 
 Sundries 1,555.38 
 
 Telephone and Telegraph 560.40 
 
 Typewriter Supplies 64.50 
 
 *Salaries 3,108.65 33,548.45 
 
 First and Original Account 
 
 Cash $ 336.79 
 
 Conference of Mayors at St. Louis 2,000.00 
 
 Hon. Henry Curran 1,000.00 
 
 Postage 33.00 
 
 Printing and Stationery 1,011.40 
 
 Sundries 65.82 
 
 Telephone 169.75 
 
 *Salaries 2,860.00 7,476.76 
 
 Head Office Account 
 
 Cash $ 1,065.00 
 
 Postage 213.24 
 
 Printing and Stationery 5,370.38 
 
 Sundries 25,152.07 
 
 Telephone and Telegraph 2,075.09 
 
 Typewriter Supplies 44.75 
 
 *Salaries 22,778.15 56,698.68 
 
 Hospital and Medical Accounts 
 
 Cash $ 198.45 
 
 Printing and Stationery 52.81 251.26 
 
 Industry and Employment Account 
 
 Cash $ 21.80 
 
 Sundries 64.88 
 
 *Salaries 608.32 695.00 
 
 Military Census 
 
 Cash $ 213.63 
 
 Postage 270.83 
 
 Printing and Stationery 20,575.89 
 
 Sundries 4,011.99 
 
 Telephone and Telegraph 2,101.00 27,173.34 
 
 Mobilization Account 
 
 Cash $ 1,664.57 
 
 Postage 359.23 
 
 Printing and Stationery 1,734.08 
 
 Sundries 545.58 
 
 Telephone and Telegraph 22.52 
 
 Typewriter Supplies 107.79 
 
 ♦Salaries 5,233.99 9,667.76 
 
 Organizations Account 
 
 Printing and Stationery $ 81.67 
 
 Sundries 118.32 
 
 Telephone and Telegraph 9.27 
 
 ♦salaries 1,425.00 1.634.26 
 
 Queens Account 
 
 Cash $ 257.62 
 
 Printing and Stationery 71.28 
 
 Sundries 205.50 534.40 
 
 * No reinbursement of salaries of the Committee employes was asked from or obtained from the City. 
 
 16 
 
Recruiting Account 
 
 Cash $ 784.45 
 
 Postage 302.50 
 
 Printing and Stationery 13,933.88 
 
 Sundries 11,696.66 
 
 Telephone and Telegraph 3,582.41 
 
 ♦salaries 12,705.22 
 
 Typewriter Supplies 10.75 43,015.87 
 
 Richmond Account 
 
 Cash $ 25.00 
 
 Printing and Stationery 25.00 50.00 
 
 Speakers Account 
 
 Printing and Stationery $ 95.09 
 
 Sundries 275.33 
 
 Telephone and Telegraph 16.32 
 
 'Salaries 1,751.90 2,138.04 
 
 Total .$196,888.81 
 
 Expenses Original Accooiit % 7,47U.7S 
 
 Expenses MobiMzation Account 9,667.76 17,144.52 
 
 Total $179,744.29 
 
 Report of Director 
 
 PHILIP J. McCOOK 
 
 I have the honor to submit herewith ruy report as Director of the Mayor's Committee on National 
 Defense. 
 
 It is not for me to recite the history of the Committee, and I mention no activity which took place 
 before my connection with it, which began about February 15, 1917. 
 
 Declaration to President 
 After the break in diplomatic relations with Germany it was believed that a declaration to the Presi- 
 dent of the sentiment of the citizens of New York might be useful and effective with Congress. The fol- 
 lowing statement was therefore prepared: 
 
 "To the President of the United States: 
 
 As an American, faithful to American ideals of justice, Uberty and hiimanity, and confident 
 that the Government has exerted its most earnest efforts to keep us at peace with the world, I 
 hereby declare my absolute and unconditional loyalty to the Government of the United States 
 and pledge my support to you in protecting American rights against unlawful violence upon land 
 and sea, in guarding the Nation against hostile attacks, and in upholding international right." 
 These documents were printed by the himdreds of thousands, distributed for circulation among 
 churches, schools, hotels, stores, offices and in many other pubUc and private places, as well as in the news- 
 papers. At the end of three weeks a million signatures had been obtained and were sent to the President 
 following a telegram on April 2nd, in which the fact was announced. The signing of these declarations 
 stimulated the patriotism of the commimity and conveyed its views to the authorities at Washington. 
 
 Headquarters Organization 
 
 Up to this time there had been no oflBce or organized office staff, the few employes of the Committee 
 being used as occasion offered in the City HaU, the Municipal Building and (for the purposes of the Declara- 
 tions) at 50 East 42nd Street. When war broke out, however, it became evident that the need for the 
 permanent services of such a Committee was great and urgent and that a staff must be organized. Ac- 
 cordu:gly two large rooms were taken at the Mimlcipal Bioilding, and an office force employed. It is the 
 work of this force for general purposes, and of the Director for certain special purposes, first tmder Mr. 
 Straight and later under yourself as Chairman, which this report wiU attempt to cover. 
 
 The duty of the Director was first to organize and then supervise the work of the headquarters staff, 
 to furnish assistance to the various special and borough committees, to co-ordinate the work of the com- 
 mittee secretaries located at headquarters, and personally to take charge of various special or emergent 
 activities — all, of course, under the Executive Committee. 
 
 About Jime 1st, 1917, owing to lack of space, offices were temporarily rented in the Stewart Bmld- 
 ing, and soon after October 1st headquarters were moved to the Hall of Records, where the space now 
 occupied was offered by the City and became available. 
 
 At the time of this last removal the persormel of the staff was as follows- Benjamin M. Day (form- 
 erly General Secretary) Assistant Director, Hamilton Owens (formerly Secretary to the Chairman) 
 General Secretary, W. L. Randall, Secretary Committee on Organizations, WiUiam Franklin Edwards, 
 Secretary Committee on Speakers and War Instruction, Lewis K. Brown, Secretary Committee on Re- 
 cruiting, Joseph E. See, Secretary Committee on Aliens, J. B. BueU, Secretary Committee on Industry 
 
 * No reinbursement of salaries of the Committee employes was asked from or obtained from the City. 
 
 17 
 
and Employment, Heber Blankenhorn, in charge of Publicity Department, Edward B. Cochems in charge 
 of Transportation Department, Waldemar Kops in charge of Draft Information Bureau. G. Osgood An- 
 drews, in charge of Film Bureau, C. H. Mellon, in charge Joint Information Bureau of Red Cross and 
 Mayor's Committee and J. P. Fitzpatrick, head stenograplier. Messrs. Kops, Mellon and Andrews are 
 volunteers. The Departments and Bureaus mentioned do not fall imder any particular committee, but 
 perform special work under the Director and co-operate with the appropriate committees. Mr. Day has 
 since resigned as Assistant Director, and his work has been divided among other members of the staff, 
 notably A. E. Sheehan, now Secretary to the Director. Each committee and department has one or more 
 stenographic or clerical assistants, and there is a sraaU headquarters staff of stenographers, typists, clerks 
 and office boys. We have also the valued help of a changing force of volunteer helpers, ranging from half 
 a dozen in normal times to many times that number in cases of emergency. 
 
 General Work 
 
 The general activities of the Committee and the particular specialized activities will appear more 
 appropriately under the report of the Executive Committee and the separate reports of committees, de- 
 partments and bureaus. 
 
 A Home Defense Committee 
 
 Like the Governor of the State, the Mayor of the City was at an early date con-vinced of the neces- 
 sity of a State Census, and supported the bill then before the Legislature. At that time it was by no means 
 certain that there would be a Federal Draft, but imder e.dsting legislation the State authorities were bound 
 to prepare themselves for State conscription, which is authorized by such law, and to learn the State's 
 resources. This and other considerations developed by the war decided the Governor to form a Resource 
 Mobilization Bureau and to summon representatives from the various counties to a conference in Albany. 
 This conference was attended by the Director with other representatives of the City who showed that 
 the Mayor's Committee on National Defense being an existing body, should be the Home Defense Com- 
 mittee for the five coimties constituting Greater New York. From that time on the Mayor's Committee 
 on National Defense has been recognized as the Home Defense Committee for Greater New York, under 
 the State Resource MobiUzation Bureau, now the State Defense Coxmcil, which in turn is under the Coimcil 
 of National Defense. 
 
 State Census 
 
 At the conference just described the various Home Defense Committees were asked to co-operate 
 with the State authorities in the coming Census. Under the law Mr. E. P. Goodrich was appointed Direc- 
 tor for New York City, and became a State official. For that reason the projected Census Committee 
 was never organized, nor is there any report from Mr. Goodrich herewith submitted. This Committee, 
 however, records with pride the part we played in assisting the Census takers. It is estimated that under 
 the head of transportation alone we furnished free the equivalent in time value of $45,000 in pleasure 
 automobiles, trucks and buses. Witiiout this assistance the distribution of the many tons of cards and 
 documents would have been impossible. We also helped furnish volunteers for the whole Census. Nor 
 did our work end with the completion of the Census. Through the Merchants' Association and the Chamber 
 of Commerce we furnished volunteers to the Military State Census Bureau in the tabulation of its records 
 and the preparation of its card inde.x system. From its list of three million, tlu-ee himdred thousand men 
 and women the State has repeatedly furnished to the United States Government names of persons desired 
 as members of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, or as civil employes from many fields, as is more fully 
 set out in the report of the Recruiting Committee. 
 
 Federal, Registration 
 Responding to a request from the Secretary of War, in the latter part of April, the Governor called 
 upon the Mayor to submit a plan for taking the Registration imder the projected Draft law. The Direc- 
 tor was asked by the Mayor to draw such a plan, and after conferences with the Governor and the Adju- 
 tant General did so. It was telegraphed to the Governor and accepted in full by the War Department. 
 The scheme was for a City-wide Board of Control with Borough and Assembly District Boards, and, of 
 course. Election District Registrars. It was at that time contemplated to continue the Registration 
 Boards as Draft Exemption bodies. Everything moved smootlily on Registration Day, June 5th, and the 
 names of about 600,000 persons in Greater New York were quietly taken within twenty-four hours. On 
 the afternoon of Registration Day we furnished at an hour's notice 150 volunteers, caUing on our 
 local banks and clubs. The reports of the Speakers and Aliens Committees and the Transportation De- 
 partment will show how the ground was prepared by patriotic meetings and activities, again with the 
 help of the cars furnished by patriotic citizens. 
 
 The Selective Draft 
 The law of May 18th upset all calculations for the continuation of the Registration Boards by creat- 
 ng sub-divisions of 30,000 population, each to be presided over by a board of three persons, required to 
 be residents of the respective sub-divisions. The law also provided specifically for only one other ofiQcial 
 body to conduct the Draft, namely, the District Board. Oiu- plans were necessarily adjusted accordingly. 
 The Adjutant General of the State with our assistance worked out the boimdaries of the sub-divisions 
 and also joined us in requesting that the District Board, unlike any other locahty in the United States, 
 might cover the Greater City of New York as a whole, instead of the Southern and Eastern Judicial Dis- 
 tricts, which are partly in and partly out of the City. The Governor and the Mayor called upon the Com- 
 mittee to suggest nominations for members of the Local Boards; this was done on consultation with the 
 Judges who had been serving on the respective Borough Registration Boards. Similarly in the filling of 
 all vacancies since occurring, the advice of the Committee has been asked. At the suggestion of the 
 
 18 
 
"War Committee of the Bar, the Legal Aid Society was asked to open, and did open, a Draft Informa- 
 tion Bureau on the East Side, also oflering all its existing offices for similar purposes. At the same time a 
 Draft Information Bureau was opened in charge of a volunteer and assisted by four other volimteers, and 
 has been ever since operated at these headquarters, often under high pressure. 
 
 Under the Selective Draft Law the organization of the Boards and the execution of the Draft were 
 functions left wholly to the members of the Local Boards. This Committee had no authority to inter- 
 fere with them in any way. Nevertheless, representing the Mayor and in aid of the Adjutant General 
 we offered our services for all purposes, and on July 12th, when the special representative of the Adju- 
 tant General's office at Albany came to New York to take local charge, the organization of the Boards 
 was already, with the help of almost om- entire staff, 80 per cent complete. We turned over om- office, 
 and substantially our whole office force to this representative for two weeks, when the worst rush was 
 over. Even after that time, however, the v.'ork of our Draft Information Bm-eau and of the Director and 
 Assistant Director as imofflcial assistants to the Boards has continued. We prepared Draft maps, which 
 have been the sole source of information as to tlie location in New York City of individual registrants; 
 we obtained the co-operation of the Board of Education and others in securing headquarters for the Local 
 Boards and helped arrange their telephone connections ; we prepared Usts of names, addi'esses and tele- 
 phone numbers and supphed these to the officials interested. 
 
 At the height of the Draft we advised between a thousand and two thousand individuals daily, the 
 inquiries coming personally, by letter, telegram and telephone, not only from the Greater City, but from 
 practically the entire country. As the present Draft has approached its close, of course our labors have 
 much decreased, but we have frequently received at one time in batches of from fifty to five himdred regis- 
 tration cards to be distributed, on short notice, among the various Local Boards. Witliin the past few 
 weeks the work has again greatly increased in volume. I am unable to mention here all the dozens of 
 volunteers, men and women, who helped us day and night at headquarters; still less the hundreds who 
 assisted outside. However, I must name Miss Moskowitz and Messrs. Ives, Herzfeld. Rosebery and 
 Wright, for specially self-sacrificing and successful labors. 
 
 I wish to record my appreciation of the splendid work of the Federal Bureau under the Adjutant 
 General, and especially of Major F. S. Hutchinson, in general charge, and of Mr. Roger B. Wood, the 
 representative in charge for New York City. 
 
 National Guard Send Off 
 
 When it was suggested that there should be a ".send-off" for the National Guard this Committee 
 offered its services to Major General O'Ryan, commanding. We built a large grandstand in front of the 
 Public Library for the National Guard, their famihes, representatives of the National, State and local 
 Governments and foreign countries; we arranged with the Police Department for special badges and 
 special places on the sidewalk for the families of officers and soldiers, and successfully appealed through 
 posters and otherwise to the public to give them preference; we decorated the grandstand, provided a 
 band for it, and arranged with the Fifth Avenue and Broadway Associations and ttirough the public press 
 for general decoration of the City in honor of the event; we also secured numerous boy scouts to act as 
 aides, ushers, etc. In the evening, at the request of Mr. A. J. Hemxihill, a large number of moving picture 
 houses thi-ew open their places of entertainment to all men in the imiform of the Guard. The Commit- 
 tee's successful part in the arrangements of this day was in charge of a special committee of which Mr. 
 Stephen N. Bond was Chairman. 
 
 National x\rmy Day 
 
 In answer to the request of the National authorities, the Mayor declared September 4th National 
 Army Day, and this Committee undertook a celebration in honor of the Drafted men. This consisted 
 of a parade on Fifth Avenue for Manhattan, Queens and Richmond, and in Brooklyn and the Bronx for 
 those Boroughs. The Bronx parade was orgam'zed by our Bronx Committee, and the Brooklyn parade 
 by a special committee appointed at our instance by the "Brooklyn Eagle." Tliis office was in particular 
 charge of the Manhattan parade. Paraders in all boroughs were supplied with appropriate brassards, 
 which have since been used by the various Exemption Boards in mobilization. More than thirty bands 
 were supplied gratis through the special com-tesy of the New York Musicians' Union. In the afternoon, 
 at the suggestion and with the co-operation of the "New York World" and through the generosity of the 
 New York Baseball Club, a baseball game between the New York and Boston National nines was played 
 with free admission to drafted men, to whom refreshments were also served by this Committee. In the 
 evening many entertainments were supphed by affiliated organizations. AU arrangements for tliis day 
 were in charge of the Committee on Organizations, except that Mr. Bond again had charge of the parade 
 and the grandstand. 
 
 Liberty Loan 
 
 The organization of the first Liberty Loan was not very higWy developed, and the Mayor's Com- 
 mittee was not then so thoroughly organized, though we did furnish some volimteers, transportation and 
 other help. For the second Liberty Loan, as appears in greater detail in the various Committee, Depart- 
 ment and Bureau reports, this committee played a very important part. Probably an average of two 
 hours a day of the Director's time was devoted to this work throughout the second campaign. Incident- 
 ally it may be said that practically every member of the staff subscribed. We built the stand for the 
 Liberty Loan Day Parade, and paid half the expense, beside furnishing most of the bands, gratis. 
 
 Special British Mission 
 The Special Mission of the British Ministry of Munitions, which had been invited by the United 
 States Government to visit this country, reached New York City on November 8th. This Committee 
 was called on by the Council of National Defense and the State Defense Council to make arrangements 
 
 19 
 
so that the Mission might meet all the employers, labor, educational and official bodies likely to be bene- 
 fited by conference. Accordingly a full program was prepared, consisting of four conferences Avith groups 
 of employers (thi'ough the courtesy of the Merchants' Association), two with groups of labor representa- 
 tives, one with State officials, one with industrial educators, one with representatives of women in industry, 
 and one with the members of the Exemption Local and District Boards. In addition, the Committee ar- 
 ranged for the initial reception by the Mayor and the Committee at the City Hall, gave a luncheon in 
 honor of the four members of the Mission, and co-operated with various other bodies, including the Cham- 
 ber of Commerce, the Editorial Conference, the New York Committee on Industrial Training of the 
 Council of National Defense and the United Engineering Society in offering special hospitality. The 
 object of the Mission was to furnish to the people of the United States information drawn from the ex- 
 perience of Great Britain with man-power in the war. The problems discussed were labor problems of 
 the most serious character, and the importance of the v-isit and what it accomplished in New York can- 
 not be overestimated. 
 
 Japanese Special Mission 
 
 The Special Imperial Japanese Finance Mission is visiting this City on November 2.3rd, and on be- 
 half of the City Government this Committee is preparing a reception in honor of the members at the 
 City HaU, and planning to furnish whatever courtesies and facilities may prove acceptable during their 
 ensuing stay. 
 
 Welfare of Soldiers and Sailors 
 
 We take particular pride and interest in the young men who go out from this city, either as volun- 
 teers or drafted men, to serve in the Army and Navy. The United States Government has provided a 
 Commission which has special charge of their welfare. However, in innimierable ways, and many times 
 daily we find opportunities to serve them and their families. To give an important example, we were 
 asked in September by the Mayor in response to a request by General Bell to investigate and advise on 
 the project for an Auditorium at Camp Upton. We requested a committee of architects, headed by 
 Mr. Grosvenor Atterbury to visit the camp and report, and in thiis report were able to reach constructive 
 suggestions on the basis of a campaign for the Camp Upton Commimity Hall, to seat ten to twenty 
 thousand soldiers. 
 
 The various committees reports offer further examples, often important, of our desire to serve our 
 defenders. I refer particularly to the information given constantly by its Recruiting Committee, the 
 innumerable special services of the Transportation Department, the work of the Draft Information 
 Bureau and the Joint Bureau with the Red Cross, and the plans made for National Guard Day and 
 National Army Day. 
 
 Miscellaneous 
 
 The Mayor has more and more, as the war progressed, referred to this Committee aU civiUan war 
 activities and questions, except those particularly indicated as belonging to some special department, 
 for example the Police or the Fire Department. As this has become known the Committee has developed 
 to a constantly greater extent into a clearing house for civilian war activities and questions in the City 
 of New York. It is treated as a bureau of advice and information, not only by the pubUc, but by many 
 public departments, Federal, State and Municipal. It has also become a place where complaints are 
 lodged, particularly against persons said to be disloyal or slackers. Information received of the latter 
 character is at once forwarded to the United States Atorneys in New York or Brooklyn, or to other proper 
 authority. There is, of course, close co-operation in all respects with the United States Marshal, the 
 Military and Naval authorities, the Secret Service of the Department of Justice and the Police Depart- 
 ment. 
 
 Report of the Recruiting Committee 
 
 ALEXANDER J. HEMPHILL, Chairman 
 LEWIS K. BROWN, Secretary 
 
 The Recruiting Committee has been co-operating with the Recruiting Officers of all branches of 
 the National Service — Army, Navy, Marine Corps, National Guard and subsidiary branches, for the 
 stimulation of enlisting. 
 
 The methods employed include military parades, patriotic rallies, street meetings, advertising, 
 posters and newspaper publicity. 
 
 The more important mass meetings have been held in Madison Square Garden, Metropolitan Opera 
 House, Cooper Union, Carnegie Hall and two National Guard Armories. 
 
 The Committee has not only distributed many thousands of posters for recruiting offices which 
 lacked adequate means of distribution, but has supplemented the small number of posters furnished these 
 offices by the United States government by printing upwards of one hundred and seventy-flve thousand 
 posters and one htmdied thousand wind-shield and window cards. In addition to the issuance of several 
 hundred thousand recruiting cards for the use of recruiting officers, the Committee has issued one himdred 
 thousand leaflets, giving authoritative detailed information regarding all branches of the service, number 
 of men needed, etc. 
 
 The Sub-Committee on Union Square Recruiting Station has erected in the Park at Union Square, 
 through funds provided by popular subscription, the Battleslaip "Recruit," of a length approximately 
 one-third that of the "Arizona." This ship has been manned by the United States Navy with a Captain 
 and crew, and is the center of naval recruiting in New York City. 
 
 The Sub-Committee on Recruiting Battalion of Service Men, after organizing a Recruiting Battalion 
 of fifteen hundred men who had seen service imder the government, covered one himdred and twenty-flve 
 
 20 
 
recruiting meetings, held under the auspices of political, labor, fraternal, civic and social organizations, 
 and conducted about the same number of street meetings. 
 
 The Sub-Committee on Church Organizations issued a call for co-operation to all the Churches of 
 Greater New York and conducted a brief automobile speaking campaign. 
 
 The Committee co-operated with the British Recruiting Mission in the carrying out of their pro- 
 gram during "British Recruiting Week," when armed Canadian troops with bands and pipers visited New 
 York. The week showed an increase of one hundred per cent enlistments in the British Service. 
 
 About the first of August, enlistments reached a height that flUed the required quota for the Army. 
 Navy and Marines, and shortly after that, the National Guard regiments attained approximate war 
 strength. Tlie recruiting offices of the Marine Corps were closed, and the carrying out of the draft law 
 cut Army enhstments down to a very low ebb. 
 
 The situation today in the Navy and Marine Corps is tliat the authorized strength has been reached, 
 several thousand men have been enMsted without express authority of Congress, the men now being re- 
 ceived being actually "reserves", although they are not called such. 
 
 The coming Congress will be asked to authorize immediate enlistment of 20,000 men for the Marine 
 Corps, and 50,000 for the Navj\ No pubUc announcement of this is possible under e.xisting circumstances, 
 but the total enlistment of the "reserves" mentioned has probably reached 10,000 to 15,000 in these two 
 branches of the service. 
 
 The United States Naval Reserves are taking men for certain specified duties with cortaia specified 
 limits as to number. 
 
 The Army Recruiting situation requires separate treatment. The analysis of the draft men already 
 in camp has proven that, outside of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, the draft men cannot entirely meet 
 the demands of modern warfare. In view of this, regulations have been so framed as to admit the enHstment 
 of volunteers in the National Army for certain specified branches xmder various sections of the Engineer and 
 Signal Corps, namely the Camouflage Section, the Gas and Flame Section, the Ordnance Corps, the Avia- 
 tion Section, and the Quartermaster Corps. Nine thousand men are wanted immediately for the estab- 
 lishment and maintenance of repair shops for guns, ranging in size from sidearms to heavy artillery. In 
 the Aviation Section, sixteen men on the ground are required for every man in the air. Men of the highest 
 degree of skill are required as well as "handy men" and common laborers. The Quartermaster Corps 
 has made a corresponding demand for men whose training will fit them for the handling of the business 
 of the Army. 
 
 When the United States first entered the war, recruiting consisted of a "rush to the colors." The 
 draft law has taken care of the bulk of the Army, and the past weeks have seen the regular Army Recruit- 
 ing Service gradually transformed into a machine to obtain especially quaUfled men for especially definite 
 duties. 
 
 The efforts wliich this Committee is putting forth now and plans for the futiu-e, are not solely along 
 the line of the stimulation of patriotism, but to give pubhcity to the various needs of the Service, and 
 stimiilate a patriotic impulse "plus," which will result in the voluntary enlistment, not of a large number 
 of men, but of a smaller number of speciaUzed and technical experts, without whom the war cannot be won. 
 To meet the existing conditions, the Committee has planned a poster campaign, not of highly colored 
 lithographs, but of information regarding men urgently needed. Posters designed for placing upon fences, 
 buildings, etc., will be made as different from posters heretofore used in the campaign as possible, with 
 simple but striking designs subordinated to the subject matter, and the subject matter short and sharp. 
 The assistance of the firm responsible for the Food Administration posters has been volimtarily offered 
 to the Committee in the work. 
 
 A window card campaign has been planned to be done in attractive type, designed by the same firm, 
 to constitute a bulletin for weekly change so that the public can be appraised of the need of photographers, 
 stenographers, camouflage men, etc. Each bulletin will advertise not more than three kinds of speciaUsts 
 wanted. This campaign is deemed essential because of the impossibiUty of obtaining space in the papers 
 for recruiting caUs, due to its slight news value, and the prohibitive cost of advertising space necessary 
 to bring the facts to general public notice. 
 
 Special posters are to be printed — calling for special men — in quantities from 1,500 to 2,000, and placed 
 on fences and buildings. 
 
 Strongly supplementary to this campaign, it is proposed to reach individuals through bulletins and 
 appeals to organizations. This means labor unions, as weU as associations and societies, covering, so far 
 as possible, aU speciaUzed trades needed for war service. 
 
 Recognizing the necessity for the enUstment of every man above and below the draft age who feels 
 the impiflse to enter the war, a plan has been put into operation for the correction of sUght physical de- 
 fects, and for the developing of men imder weight and with insxifflcient chest expansion so their applica,- 
 tions may be accepted. 
 
 The first is being accomplished through the co-operation of the hospitals of New York City, eight 
 of which are accepting patients for treatment or sUght operations upon the recommendation of examin- 
 ing physicians, this Committee acting as intermediary to follow the man up from the time of his applica- 
 tion xmtil he has received treatment and is ready for service. 
 
 The second class — the vmder-weight men — are to be looked after with the active co-operation of the 
 athletic authorities of the Y. M. C. A. This plan is now being worked out, and will probably resiflt in the 
 estabUshment, at convenient armories, of evening classes furnishing a course of indeterminate length, 
 consisting of light physical and breathing exercises and lectures on diet and care of the body. It is ex- 
 pected that this coiu-se wUI result in the addition of the necessary chest expansion or the putting on of the 
 few pounds of weight essential to acceptance for enlistment. 
 
 Weekly inspections by commissioned officers will be a factor in this course, and a premium will be 
 placed upon the speed with which a candidate shall graduate and "make" the Army. This plan has been 
 
 21 
 
approved by the War Committee of the Y. M. C. A., and wiU have the earnest co-operation of their or- 
 ganization. 
 
 This Committee has provided in its office a clearing house for information relating to all branches 
 of the Service, and appeals for advice are daily Increasing. 
 
 In conclusion, the Committee feels that its real work began when the draft army was created, and 
 that its fxmction then changed from patriotic propaganda to intensive super-publicity, aimed at the in- 
 dividual and not the mass, the technical man and not the fighter. 
 
 Report of the Committee on Industry and Employment 
 
 PERCY STICKNEY GRANT, Chairman 
 J. B. BUELL, Secretary 
 
 Organization and Purposes 
 The Committee on Industry and Employment was organized the latter part of May, with Professor 
 Henry R. Seager of Columbia University as Chairman. It arose from a recognition by the Mayor of the 
 seriousness of the industrial problem in its relation to an efficient prosecution of the war. At its original 
 meeting the purposes of the Committee were stated as three-fold : 
 
 1. To co-ordinate existing employment bureaus so that they may meet more perfectly the special 
 demands growing out of the war. 
 
 2. To assist in maintaining standards of health and eflBciency among wage earners. 
 
 3. To aid in the settlement of labor disputes and to imdertake other general problems which might 
 be referred to it by the Mayor. 
 
 The Joint Committee 
 
 In order to assure co-operation between this Committee and the Sub-Committees dealing with In- 
 dustrial Problems of the Mayor's Committee of Women on National Defense a Joint Conamittee with 
 representatives from the Men's Committee and from the Women's Committee on Industry and the Women's 
 Committee on Employment was organized. Professor Seager became chairman and the Secretary of the 
 Men's Committee has acted as Secretary of the Joint Committee. Matters of policy affecting each of the 
 separate Committees have always been referred to the Joint Committee, and it has been a most effective 
 working body. 
 
 Under its supervision and through the immediate direction of the Women's Committee on Employ- 
 ment, a Clearing House for Employment OflQces was almost immediately organized, with the view of 
 bringing together in closer co-operation the thirty or forty pubUc and philanthropic employment bureaus 
 dealing mainly with Women and Girls. The advantages of such a move were evident. By a transfer of 
 the surplus calls of one bureau to the surplus appUcants of another, the clientele of all the co-operating 
 agencies were made available both to employers and applicants. Instead of a decentraUzed and inade- 
 quate employment machinery for New York City the Clearing House idea contained the possibiUty of 
 developing a centrahzed and adequate machinery. In working out the detailed organization of the Clear- 
 ing House, the Chairman and Secretary foimd it necessary to spend considerable time in aiding the Women's 
 Committee, and were able to be of considerable assistance in putting, it in a sound working basis. 
 
 The Employment Clearing House 
 
 The Men's Committee were convinced of the necessity for a Clearing House on a larger scale which 
 could handle calls from the Men's as well as the Women's Bureaus. A survey of the larger Men's bureaus 
 was made and the result included in a report to the Chairman. It was decided to ask the State Defense 
 Council to finance the project with $10,000 and the Mayor's Committee with $5,000, When this had 
 been obtained it was plarmed to combine with the Women's Clearing House and put the whole project 
 under the supervision of the State Bureau of Employment, representing the State Defense Council, and 
 the Joint Committee on Industry and Employment representing the City. 
 
 These plans have been carried out and the combined Clearing House for Employment Oflaces is 
 now in operation at 44 East 23rd Street, under the direction of Mr. Morris L. Ernst, a member of the 
 Men's Committee. The advantages of combination have been evident from the start. The present Clear- 
 ing House has been doing between two and three times the business done previously by the Women. Since 
 October 1st, it has received 1,759 orders for 3,674 people in both the male and female department. 651 
 people are known to have been placed through its efforts. Several large government orders have been 
 handled directly, and in at least one instance, labor which had been temporarily engaged on a govern- 
 ment cantonment was shifted to other industries with a minimum loss of unemployment. Besides this, 
 the Clearing Hoiise has been active not only in opening new Bureaus, but in strengthening those with 
 which it is working. 
 
 Federal Employment Bill 
 
 As a result of the local situation the committee was impressed with the need for an adequate Federal 
 Employment service as a necessary war measure. Accordingly in co-operation with the Legislative Draft- 
 ing Department of Colmnbia University, a comprehensive bill, providing for a National Employment 
 Service was drawn up and submitted to the U. S. Department of Labor. It received their approval, and 
 was also adopted by the American Association for Public Employment Offices. The bill will be intro- 
 duced at the next session of Congress. 
 
 Fire Inspection 
 
 Early in July, at the request of the State Defense CoimcD, the Committee organized a Bureau of 
 Fire Inspection in charge of Mr. F. J. T. Stewart, of the New York Board of Fire Underwriters, for the 
 
 22 
 
purpose of making a continuous inspection of Are hazard in all food warehouses and plants working on 
 government contracts. Mr. ntowart has volunteered not only his service, but those of about 25 trained 
 inspectors working under him. The work which has been done is of a most excellent character. 750 per- 
 sonal inspections have been made up to the present time. In 280 of these, unfavorable conditions were 
 found, and specific recommendations made to the plant owner. It is known that in at least 90 per cent 
 of these the necessary corrections have been made. 
 
 Recently, as a result of his investigation, Mr. Stewart has reported that most of the private guarding 
 schemes are inadequate, and that his inspectors have had little trouble in approaching the plant unmolested 
 and un(iuestioned. He strongly recommends in view of this fact and in view of several recent fires, that 
 uniformed guards be placed by some military authority. We took the matter up with the War Depart- 
 ment and have been assured by Secretary Baker that it will receive immediate consideration by his mili- 
 tary advisers. Since then we learn that the most important plants of the water front in and adjoining 
 New York are to receive additional military protection. 
 
 Soldiers and Sailors Insurance Bill 
 
 Professor Seager was several times called to Washington by the Treasury Department and by Judge 
 Mack to confer on the Soldiers and Sailors Insixrance Bill, which was passed at this last session. Some 
 of its essential provisions are the results of recommendations made by him. 
 
 The Board of Control op Labor Standards for Army Clothing Contracts 
 
 During the summer complaints came to this Committee to the effect that contracts for Army 
 clothing were not only being let under bad labor conditions, but that in the placing of these con- 
 tracts, New York was being definitely discriminated against. An investigation sustained these com- 
 plaints and the matter was, on the recommendation of the Committee, taken up with the Secretary of 
 War by Mr. Chadbourne, and finally by the Mayor. As a result, Secretary Baker appointed a committee 
 of three, authorized to supervise all Clothing Contracts which were let and empowered to veto any where 
 conditions of labor were unsatisfactory as regards hoiirs, wages, etc. 
 
 Mediation and Arbitration 
 
 At the request of the Mayor the Committee has been instrumental in bringing about a satisfactory 
 settlement in several recent local strikes. At the time of the Longshoremen's strike, we assisted the 
 Federal Commission sent here for purposes of arbitration. During the milk strike the Secretary worked 
 with Dr. Henry Moskowitz, Commissioner of Markets, who was acting as Mediator. A most satisfactory 
 agreement was reached. 
 
 In the recent butcher's strike we brought arguments to bear which has resulted in practically all of 
 the strikers returning to work. 
 
 British Ministry of Munitions 
 
 During the last month the Committee has been especially active in helping to plan for the recent 
 conferences with the special Mission from the British Ministry of Munitions. While the task was one 
 which demanded the efforts of the entire force of the general Committee, their visit came particularly 
 within the industrial field, and practically the whole of the Secretary's time was given to it. 
 
 Co-operation with the Shipping Board 
 
 At the request of the Shipping Board the Secretary recently conferred in Washington with their 
 Industrial Service Department regarding the N. Y. shipbuilding program. We are impressed with the fact 
 that some immediate step must be taken if the labor problem is not to handicap the whole general pro- 
 gram. Tentative suggestions including the organization of an employers association, permanent agree- 
 ments with labor oflicials — the use of our Employment Clearing House, training for speciaUzed work, 
 and necessary general publicity have been sent to Washington and we trust may be the basis for con- 
 structive work along tliis Une. 
 
 The New Chairman 
 
 The Rev. Percy Stickney Grant has recently been appointed chairman in place of Professor Seager, 
 who resigned. John A. Fitch at Dr. Grant's request has accepted the Vice-Chairmanship. 
 
 Future Activities 
 
 Practically all of the activities of the Committee are continuous in their natiu-e, and will be of in- 
 creased importance as the war develops. Our Clearing House, while organized as an independent bureau, 
 continually consults us on matters of poUcy and the effective support of this committee is essential to 
 any enlargement of their program. 
 
 The work of the Bureau of Fire Inspection is likewise a continuous piece of work. The recommenda- 
 tion now in the hands of the Secretary of War wiU probably entail a considerable increase in its 
 activities and responsibilities, and it is obvious that danger from fire materially increases with the number 
 of firms doing government work. 
 
 The actual work of putting om- Federal Employment Bill through Congress wiU not begin until 
 the next session. 
 
 The importance of this and the amount of work involved in such an undertaking are plainly evident. 
 
 Most important of all, however, is the development of our general industrial poUcy. The Committee 
 feels that as yet this field has hardly been touched. The problems presented by the shipping board, for 
 instance, have only recently arisen, and the field which they represent is not only vast, but one which is 
 vitally necessary to the conduct of the war. 
 
 23 
 
Labor unrest is only touched when we have acted in a mediatory capacity in individual strikes. We 
 must, by gaining the confidence of labor leaders and the co-operation of employers, bring the two together, 
 in not only the shipping industry, but in all other industries vitally connected with the conduct of the war. 
 
 The Committee feels that we have only just begxm on this phase of the work, and that its future 
 policy WMst be definitely and concretely shaped to this end. 
 
 Report of Committee on Speakers and War Instruction 
 
 ERNEST STAUFFEN, Chairman 
 W. FRANKLIN EDWARDS, Secretary 
 
 For the sake of clearness, I shall deal first with the formation of the Committee. An attempt was 
 made to secure in as far as possible, men who represented parallel patriotic work and propaganda, men 
 who could help seciu-e lists of speakers, men who could help in the organizing of meetings and who could 
 faciUtate the rapid forming of series of meetings in schools, settlements, political clubs, etc. A represen- 
 tative was suggested from each borough by the Chairman of the Mayor's Committee of that borough 
 and a representative chosen from each Allied Committee of the Mayor's Committee that would be likely 
 to need speakers. A conscious attempt was thus made to secure a committee that would in itself con- 
 stitute a clearing house. 
 
 Since July 19th, the occasion of the first meeting, the Mayor has accepted the resignation of the 
 Chairman, Mr. George Brokaw Compton, who has gone to Plattsburg, and annoimced the appointment 
 of Mr. Ernest Stauflen, Jr., as Chairman. 
 
 The work of the Committee has in the main fallen under the following heads : 
 
 1. Organizing of meetings and Campaigns and assigning of Speakers to the same. 
 
 2. Distribution of Literatm*e on War Instruction. 
 
 3. Co-operation when asked with other Patriotic Committees and organizations. 
 
 4. The necessary office work, interviews, correspondence, etc., to co-ordinate the work in such a 
 
 way as to make it effective and to avoid duplication of effort with other committees. 
 
 Meetings — Speakers 
 
 From Jime 14th to October 18th inclusive, 795 speakers have been assigned to 614 meetings. This 
 does not include separate meetings and assignments from any other bureaus in any borough except Man- 
 hattan, although speakers have been assigned from time to time to all boroughs; it does not mclude the 
 speaking itineraries of ten speakers assigned the State Defense Coimcil for Loyalty Week, September 17th 
 to 22nd ; it does not include the assignments of 200 speakers given the Liberty Loan Committee and re- 
 leased from our lists for the month of October; nor does it include much of the assigning done to meetings 
 outside Greater New York at the request of the National Security League and other organizations. All 
 such assignments would be added to the above figures and would swell the totals very appreciably. They 
 come, however, rather under the heading "Co-operative Work," the value and appreciation of which 
 can only be judged from the letters of thanks in our files. We have assigned speakers to twenty states 
 in all and to several great raUies in Canada. 
 
 The meetings have been of every kind and description, indoor and outdoor, street comer, banquet, 
 armored car, double decker bus, theatre, noonday shop and huge rally. The purposes have been as diverse, 
 ranging from recruiting to explanations of "Why we are in the War," and patriotic propaganda, including 
 benefits for Red Cross, War Library Biu-eau and Liberty Loans. Our speakers have won literally many 
 hundreds of recruits for both army and navy. We have supplied from the first practically all the speakers 
 for the U. S. S. Recruit which steadily has led other stations in mmiber of recruits applying and accepted. 
 We suppUed almost aU the speakers for the final drive for the 23rd Regiment ia Brooklyn, when in one 
 week 5,000 men appUed, of whom 900 were accepted and the 23rd left New York for Spartanburg the 
 largest regiment that ever entrained from the city. At the present time we are supplying speakers for three 
 recruiting buses and bands a day on torn- for the navy; supplying speakers for an Allied drive for recruits 
 for the army; for a campaign to fill the Quartermaster's Corps and for a campaign of American pro- 
 paganda among foreign bom, beside meeting the demand for speakers for an increasing number of local 
 patriotic meetings. 
 
 In the matter oJ War Literature we have distributed in all about 200,000 pieces furnished from 
 Washington; several hundred copies of the booklet of instructions to yoimg soldiers, compiled by Major 
 Gen. John F. O'Ryan and others; supplied our speakers with the suggestive Hand Book of the War, 
 pubUshed by the National Security League, and mailed to our speakers 100 copies a day of the Official 
 Bulletin, published by the Coromittee on Public Information. 
 
 The responsibiUty of placing the Government films throughout Greater New York has also been 
 assigned to this conunittee. These films show the Building of Army Cantonments, Hoover's Arm, Admiral 
 Sims' Fleet, the Conquest of the Air, etc., etc. They are being released from Washington at the rate of 
 two a week, and we are placing them as rapidly as possible on exhibition in Clubs, Churches, Schools and 
 other non-commercial rallying points. 
 
 In the matter of co-operation and advice we have been constantly called upon by the following 
 organizations and occasions: Various AlMed Missions (British, French, Italian, etc.), American Midday 
 Minute Men, U. S. Army (and Quartermasters), National Guard, Navy (U. S. S. Recruit), Marines, 
 Liberty Loan, Red Cross, U. S. Food Administration, National Security League, American Defense So- 
 ciety, League of Foreign Born Citizens, Neighborhood Associations, Settlements, Churches, Schools 
 
 24 
 
(public and private). Port Society, Political Clubs (for speakers on patriotic subjects). Draft Boards, U. S. 
 Registration, State Census, Aliens, Recruiting, Factories, Banquets, Fifth Avenue Association, 4th. of July, 
 Theatres, National Special Aid Society, Militia of Mercy, Library War Bureau. 
 
 All tills, of course, entails a considerable amount of office work and very many conferences and In- 
 terviews, wliich of necessity are sandwiched in as closely as possible. Tliis work is carried on by the 
 secretary with the assistance of a competent stenographer ; a man on part time and a stenographer for the 
 Government Films; one volunteer on almost full time; and as many other volunteers as can be obtained 
 from time to time; of course, the general stenographic and mimeographic machinery of the general com- 
 mittee are at our disposal whenever necessary. 
 
 The secretary is glad to report a splendid and constant co-operation from the various members of 
 his committee whenever called upon; they have been most helpful with suggestions and in clearing up 
 difflculties of various kinds. Our work just now is especially pressing on account of the great number of 
 meetings and campaigns and on account of the change in the draft rules and the announcement of a second 
 call for men in February. 
 
 We are being pressed to arrange at once or as soon as possible, campaigns of meetings for recruits 
 for the navy, and also the regular army. The heads of both departments have appealed to us directly 
 and through the Committee on Recruiting to this end. They have also enrolled among our speakers and 
 placed their services in that capacity at our disposal. The Liberty Loan Committee, while notifying us 
 of their great appreciation of our past aid, have stated that they expect to call upon us more than ever 
 during their next campaign. We have already had a conference with their speaker's director looking to 
 that end. The U. S. Food Administration have also conferred with us several times and at length looking 
 to close co-operation in their winter and spring campaigns. Various local organizations are now calling 
 upon us for speakers on Americanization, who can win over and convince the aUen or those with alien 
 tendencies. Much work remains to be done along this last hne. It is the place where the best brains 
 should work during the coming month. 
 
 There is much that could be done to enhance the efiEectiveness of our work. 
 
 1. Classes might be conducted for the training of younger speakers— not in oratory of course — 
 
 but in the real principles for which the nation stands and in the handling of a heck- 
 ling crowd. 
 
 2. A weekly or semi-monthly news letter to speakers would be of great value. 
 
 3. The work of the various boroughs should be strengthened within the borough, while a con- 
 
 siderable amount of work can be done from one central office. New York as a whole, 
 is too vast and complex to be adequately served by any central patriotic committee 
 without strong borough committees who imderstand the difflculties and problems of 
 their own Communities. 
 
 4. But most pressing of aU, more real propaganda work should at once be undertaken to counter- 
 
 act the work of enemy aUens and to win over to a real American viewpoint those or 
 our number who seem to be lacking in respect for things American, and for the honof 
 of the nation. This can be done, I beUeve, in a very great majority of cases if handled 
 rightly. 
 These are only a few suggestions looking to improvement. 
 
 Report of the Committee on Hospital and Medical Facilities 
 
 S. S. GOLDWATER, M. D., Chairman 
 J. J. WEBER, Secretary 
 
 The Committee on Hospital and Medical Facilities began Its work by creating a central committee 
 of twenty-one members representing the principal hospitals in the City, with Dr. S. 8. Goldwater as Chair- 
 man and Mr. Joseph J. Weber as Secretary. In order to secure the co-operation of the hospitals through- 
 out the City, a Coxmcil of Associated Hospitals was organized. This Council comprises representatives 
 of all the hospitals in Greater New York with a capacity of one hundred or more beds. 
 
 The Committee's first piece of work was to make a comprehensive survey of the emergency ward 
 beds in pubUc and private hospitals which could be placed at the service of the U. S. Government. The 
 information gathered by this survey was carefully classified, tabu lated and sent to the Army and Navy 
 Departments, the American Red Cross, and the Council of National Defense. 
 
 A sub-committee on Nursing, in co-operation with the New York County Chapter of the American 
 Red Cross, standardized the training of volunteer nurses' aides for service in home hospitals. These 
 standards received the approval of the American Red Cross. 
 
 Because the Umited faciUtles at the Brooklyn Navy Yard for the care of cases of contagious diseases 
 were early exhausted, the Navy Department appealed to this Committee for additional facilities. Through 
 the Committee the contagious disease hospitals of the New York City Department of Health were placed 
 at the service of the Navy Department. 
 
 Through the efforts of the Committee, a number of volunteer physicians were furnished the British 
 Recruiting Mission to assist in the examination of British recruits. 
 
 The Committee has acted as a clearing house for the Bureau of Health and Hospitals of the Adju- 
 tant General's Office, and has furnished that Bureau with information regarding the New York hospitals. 
 
 The Committee has called the attention of the Board of Ambulance Service to the need of very defin- 
 itely organized ambulance service throughout the City for the transportation of returned sick and wounded 
 
 25 
 
soldiers and sailors, and has received the assurance of the Board of Ambulance Service of their co-opera- 
 tion and of the possibility of focusing, at a given point, whatever ambulances may be needed to meet 
 the emergency. 
 
 At the request of the U. S. Navy Recruiting Station, the Committee has collected information from 
 a number of hospitals as to their willingness to receive promising recruits for the treatment of minor physical 
 defects which, if corrected, would make them eligible for service. 
 
 With a \-iew to profiting by the experience of Canada in the care of rettirned disabled soldiers, the 
 Chairman and the Secretary of the Committee made a visit to Toronto for the pui-pose of studying the 
 military hospital situation there. 
 
 Last simimer the Committee carried on a successful agitation for the temporary exemption of second, 
 third and fourth year medical students and hospital internes, in the interests of the Army no less than of 
 the civilian population. 
 
 The Committee, after receiving the sanction of a majority of the hospitals comprising the Council 
 of Associated Hospitals, entered into an agreement, as the respresentatives of those hospitals, with the 
 Navy relative to rates of payment for enlisted men and officers. 
 
 The Committee has sent a circular letter to all the medical schools of the country for the purpose 
 of ascertaining the effect of the Selective Draft Law upon the enrolLment of first year medical students. 
 The information gathered shows that, contrary to expectations, the schools with some few exceptions, 
 have a largei enrollment of first year students than usual. The Committee feels that all the men who have 
 just entered medical schools, following one or more years of special preparation for their medical studies, 
 should be kept at their studies imtil they graduate; and should they begin to be called in large numbers 
 for the second contingent of the National Army, the Committee plans to make an effort to secure their 
 temporary exemption inasmuch as it feels that an uninterrupted supply of medical graduates is a military 
 no less than a social necessity. 
 
 Report of Committee on Aliens 
 
 ARCHIBOLD E. STEVENSON, Chairman 
 JOSEPH E. SEE, Secretary 
 
 The Committee on Aliens submits heremth a report of its work since its organization on the 14th 
 day of May, 1917: 
 
 The Committee foimd the whole field of alien supervision and regulation uncharted at the time. 
 About ten days after the formation of the Committee, preparations were made to acquaint aliens with 
 the meaning of the draft registration and their duties in connection therewith. On the evening of June 
 4th, about two Inmdred meetings were held under the auspices of the Committee throughout the districts 
 where there were large numbers of alien residents. Two or three speakers were assigned to each meeting 
 to explain the meaning of the Registration Act and the duties of aUens in connection therewith. These 
 meetings contributed in large measure to the quiet and orderly registration that followed. 
 
 Registration of Enemy Aliens 
 
 Simultaneously came the order of the United States Marshals, imder the President's Proclamation, 
 requiring the registration of all enemy aUens and the issuance of permits to them. The Committee believed 
 that assistance in carrjnng out this function of the marshals would give them advantageotis knowledge 
 of alien needs. It became known that at the Committee's oflQce assistance would be rendered in making 
 out applications for permits. Thousands of enemy aliens took advantage of the assistance offered. 
 
 Employment of Aliens 
 
 This work was hardly completed when Marshal McCarthy issued an order forbidding enemy aliens 
 to be employed on piers or on the water front. During the registration many enemy aliens were found 
 to be unemployed. It was considered wiser to find employment for these men. The marshal's order, 
 forbidding these men to be employed on piers and on the water front, threw a nimiber of others out of em- 
 ployment. The Committee placed its own agent in the ofiQce of the State Employment Bureau in Brook- 
 lyn, and brought about co-operation with the Employment Biu-eau of the Mayor's Citizens Advisory 
 Committee. A number of enemy aliens were diverted from positions that were \mdesirable from otu* 
 point of view, to positions that were safe. A certain amount of following-up was done to make sure that 
 men were not idling, and persons who passed through our agencies who seemed suspicious or imwilling 
 to work were reported to the proper authorities. 
 
 Ascertaining the Attitude of Foreigners 
 
 At the same time it became apparent that we needed to know what the alien populations in the city 
 were saying among themselves, what they were thinking about, what kind of propaganda was being fed 
 to them, what their opinions were on their relations to America, and their attitude toward the War. The 
 Committee felt certain that its duty lay in the direction of strengthening and assuring the loyalty of all 
 the various alien populations of the city. It therefore undertook to maintain a system of reading and 
 translation of editorials and news articles in the foreign language press. The Yiddish, Italian, Spanish, 
 German, Magyar and Greek newspapers were regularly read and translated. The ser\ice proved to be 
 of such value that the Committee on Public Information in Washington has made use of the Committee's 
 service, and is regularly supplied with material which the Committee finds from day to day. From time 
 to time pamphlets have come into the hands of the Committee which it has had translated. We have also 
 
 26 
 
kept in touch with the trade union organs, and gotten the point of view of trade union organizations through 
 their press. Supplementing this translation service we have had a systematic method of following up 
 street and hall meetings all over the city, and were able to attend the organization meetings of various 
 organizations unfriendly to the conduct of the war, and to report thereon to the proper autlioritios. These 
 meetings also have been of value to us in indicating the trend of thought. 
 
 Investigations of Suspicious Aliens 
 
 Investigations of specific cases of suspicious aliens and the verification of addresses given in ap" 
 plications for permits have been made. We have also co-oporated closely with that branch of the City 
 Police Department having in charge the matter of ahen supervision. We have kept a careful record through 
 the co-operation of the Magistrates' Courts, of cases brought before the City Magistrates of disorderly 
 conduct either by participation in or interruption of street meetings. 
 
 Aiding in Industrial Problems 
 
 Finding through our translation service and also through meetings and conferences that much alien 
 unrest during the summer months was caused by employment conditions, especially those existing in the 
 garment trades, a closer inspection revealed to us that the high cost of living and the inabihty to find em- 
 ployment were the vital circumstances contributing to tliis unrest. Further investigation revealed in- 
 justice of a gross character in the manufacture of army uniforms on which many of these people had been 
 employed. We participated in a number of conferences, co-operating with the Committee on Industry 
 and Employment of the Mayor's Committee on National Defense, with the Manufacturers' Association 
 and the Trades Unions involved, and were instrumental in bringing about a speedy remedying of the 
 condition. 
 
 Fire Prevention 
 
 We issued a letter to industrial plants of the City of New York, calling attention to the special need 
 for Are prevention at this time, and secured the co-operation of the Bureau of Fire Prevention of New 
 York City in issuing a series of special instructions for various industries. This work was later turned 
 over to the Committee on Industry and Employment. The response to our suggestion that additional 
 fire precautions were necessary was immediate and cordial. 
 
 Aiding the Food Campaign 
 
 During the summer we were able to co-operate with the City Carming Kitchen, which was run under 
 the auspices of the Mayor's Committee of Women. Many groups of alien women were brought into the 
 kitchen, learned there the use of new foods, and received valuable lessons in cleanliness and food con- 
 servation. They were repaid for their labor in connection with the kitclien by supplies of canned food 
 for the winter, beside having the continuous privilege of purchasing food at very low prices. At the time 
 of securing the signatures to food pledges, the Committee was active in obtaining the signatures of alien 
 women, and outUning methods by which these could be most effectively obtained. 
 
 Co-operation with the Red Cross 
 
 Believing that the psychology of alien women in relation to the war will be greatly improved by 
 activities directly connected with its conduct, the Committee undertook, in co-operation with the New 
 York County Chapter of the Red Cross, and the Association of Neighborhood Workers, and various in- 
 dividuals, the formation of Red Cross Auxiharies in ahen neighboriioods. These have been most suc- 
 cessful, and a number have been estabUshed in various neighborhood houses and some in factories, with 
 the result that very nearly a thousand women and girls, otherwise inactive and uninterested in the war, 
 have been engaged in service for the Red Cross. 
 
 Furnishing Draft Information 
 
 The Committee found much naisunderstanding and much need for accurate information concerning 
 the draft laws. Recommendations were made to the Department of War looking to the estabUshment 
 of authentic information bureaus that would meet the need as the Committee saw it. The result has been 
 the estabUshment of an Information Bureau at the Mayor's Committee on National Defense, which is 
 conducted jointly by the Mayor's Committee and the American Red Cross. The Committee has, how- 
 ever, conducted information bureaus at two neighborhood houses in alien neighborhoods, where informa- 
 tion concerning the draft, naturalization, citizenship, educational opportunities, employment, etc., has 
 been furnished aliens applying. 
 
 Census of Enemy Aliens 
 
 The Committee also undertook a census of enemy aUens employed in office buildings in the lower 
 part of the city which had a view of the water front. This was completed and turned over to the authori- 
 ties who could make best use of it. 
 
 Employment Activities 
 
 The recent orders of the marshals, again removing enemy aliens from the water front, especially 
 in Brooklyn, have revived the employment activities of the Committee. The establishment of the Employ- 
 ment Clearing House imder the joint auspices of the State and the City has been of great service at this 
 time. Hundreds of men have been given new positions of safety, and employers who have been deprived 
 of their services have been furnished mth help. Through this work we are able also from time to time 
 to locate men who have not secured their permits and report them promptly to the Marshal. 
 
 27 
 
Opposition to Alien Insurance 
 
 An important activity of tlie Committee has been the Investigation of the relations of enemy and 
 allied enemy insurance companies, and a determination of their relation to and effect upon the war. Re- 
 ports upon this subject have been made by the chairman, who has also appeared before the Secretary of 
 the Treasiu^' in Washington in opposition to the licensing of these companies tmder the Trading with the 
 Enemy Act. 
 
 Americanization through Education 
 
 Through our attendance at meetings and otir translation service, and our general touch with the 
 alien neighborhoods of the city, it has become apparent that the remedy for disaffection lies in a propa- 
 ganda of counter-education. Conferences with influential leaders of various groups in the alien com- 
 mimities, such as newspaper editors, writers and thinkers, have con\inced the Committee that a broad 
 educational propaganda in connection with public schools and all social agencies of the City was necessary. 
 This was projected on July 15th. Its objects were: 
 
 (a) To extend and add to the attendance of public day and night schools. 
 
 (b) To socialize the night schools. 
 
 (c) To coimteract the propaganda among aliens by setting up a definite educational pro- 
 
 gram to meet it. 
 These objects are attained through the following activities; 
 
 1. The Schools 
 
 (a) Open day and night school classes for the handling of foreigners wherever needed. 
 
 (b) Open annex classes in shops, stores and factories, and furnish teachers when proper ap- 
 
 plication is made. 
 
 (c) Open community centers and appoint community workers. 
 
 (d) Ask an appropriation of $100,000 for carrying out these activities in schools and factories. 
 
 2. The Employers 
 
 (a) The Committee has organized co-operative effort through its committees appointed by 
 
 the Merchants' Association, the Fifth Avenue Association, the Chamber of Commerce, 
 the General Contractors' Association, the Master Builders' Association, the Master 
 Painters' Association, the Brooklyn Civic Association, Hotel Men's Association, etc. 
 
 (b) Distribute slips in pay-roll envelopes; send personal letters to members, urging co-opera- 
 
 tion with the Mayor's Committee on Aliens. 
 
 (c) Conduct activities suited to their group needs. 
 
 3. Labor Organizations 
 
 (a) Through the locals of the A. F. of L., the American Alliance for Labor and Democracy, 
 and the Internationals, urge the attendance of the foreign bom at night schools and 
 co-operation with the Committee. 
 
 4. Community, Neighborhood and Settlement Houses, Churches, Synagogues and Clubs 
 
 (a) Organize and conduct classes in their respective organizations. 
 
 (b) Co-operate with the Committee in placing volunteer workers. 
 
 (c) Conduct lectures, talks and clubs. 
 
 (d) Open information centers. 
 
 (e) Conduct neighborhood meetings in groups, enlisting social workers and foreign leaders 
 
 to carry out the program. 
 
 5. Foreign Society and Press 
 
 (a) Organize racial groups to assist Committee. (They have already been organized in Italian, 
 
 Polish, Yiddish, Japanese, Slovak, Bohemian and Armenian.) 
 
 (b) The League for Foreign Bom Citizens is co-operating. 
 
 6. Naturalization Agencies 
 
 (a) Cordial relations have been established between the Bureau of Natiu-alization and the 
 educational work of the Committee, with frequent conferences with Chief Inspector 
 C. O'Cowley. 
 
 7. Educational Institutions 
 
 (a) Offer courses in training for the community workers and teachers. Proper arrangements 
 have been made with Teachers' College, People's Institute, N. Y. U., the School of 
 Philanthropy. (The People's Institute has conducted a class for 150 commimity 
 workers, beginning October 1st and closing November 1st. Many of those who took 
 the course are now at work.) Intensive work is continued with those who desire 
 special forms of work. 
 
 8. Women's Organizations 
 
 . (a) ISIany women's organizations are sending volunteers to our Volunteer Secretary, and such 
 organizations as the State Defense Committee, the League for Political Education, 
 the Woman Suffrage Party, the Neighborhood League of America, etc., are co-operat- 
 ing with the Committee. 
 
 9. Religious Organizations 
 
 (a) Publicity and Organization of Classes. 
 
 (b) Federal Council of the Churches assist actively in bringing the program to the attention 
 
 of their members. 
 
 28 
 
10. Fraternal Orders and Lodges 
 
 (a) Many orders of the foreign born, such as the Sons of Italy, Y. M. H. A., Polish National 
 Alliance, have promised co-operation with the Committee in extending its message. 
 
 11. Civic Organizations 
 
 Many civic organizations, such as the American Boy Scouts, the American Girl Scouts, 
 Brooklyn Merchants' Club, Children's Aid Society, Society for the Welfare of the 
 Jewish Deaf, National Civic Federation, have been in active co-operation with the 
 Committee through various forms of service. 
 
 12. Volunteer Service 
 
 Since the second week in September about four hundred volunteers have registered in this 
 ofiice, and about one hundred and fifty are being trained (through the Mayor's Com- 
 mittee) at the People's Institute. Of those registered in this department, virtually 
 all come under the following classifications: 
 
 1. Club Leaders. 
 
 (a) Citizenship. 
 
 (b) Civics. 
 
 (c) American History. 
 
 (d) Current Events or Americanization work of any kind. 
 
 2. Teachers of English to Foreigners. 
 
 3. PubUc Speakers. 
 
 4. Organizers. 
 
 (a) Forming groups in factories for the study of English. 
 
 (b) Forming groups in women's clubs for the teaching of English. 
 
 (c) Organizing patriotic entertainments at settlements and evening clubs. 
 
 (d) Organizing new community centers. 
 
 5. Singers and musicians of aU sorts. 
 
 6. Clerical workers for patriotic service. 
 
 7. Athletic Instructors, and instructors in mihtary drill. 
 
 8. Community Visitors. 
 
 (a) For attendance in night schools. 
 
 (b) Forming Mothers' Clubs. 
 
 (c) Food Drive. 
 
 (d) Forming Civic Clubs. 
 
 Besides the training received at the formal schools, the Secretary has been able to send volunteers 
 to the following places for quick informal training: 
 
 1. City History Club (for Civics.) 
 
 2. Neighbor's League of America (for teaching English to foreigners.) 
 
 3. A newly organized class at the Ethical Culture Society which is training women to teach 
 
 citizenship. 
 
 This department has given talks to some half dozen women's clubs and Young People's Leagues, 
 oflfering specific advice how to organize their volunteer service along Americanization lines. 
 
 The volunteers are stiU coming in and are being distributed over the city. 
 
 With the limited financial resources at its disposal for the work, the Committee feels that much 
 has been accomplished in its several fields of activity, and that it has already contributed substantial 
 assistance to the cause of National Defense. 
 
 ■Report of Committee on Organizations 
 
 GEORGE T. WILSON, Chairman W. L. RANDALL, Secretary 
 
 Object — Organization 
 
 The Committee on Organizations was formed soon after the Mayor's Committee got under way 
 with George T. Wilson, Esq. as Chairman. This was accomplished at a meeting of representatives of a 
 large number of organizations called by the Mayor on April 23, 1917. There foUowed the appointment 
 of a Committee on Plan and Scope, and subsequently a Committee on Administration. 
 
 The aim of this Committee was to affiliate with the Mayor's Committee on National Defense not 
 only patriotic organizations, but all others desiring to be of service in the war, co-ordinate their activi- 
 ties, and from time to time indicate the channels in which their energies could be most effectively employed. 
 
 As worked out in practice, the fimctions of the Committee on Organizations have been four-fold: 
 (1.) To enUst and inde.x organizations; (2.) To co-operate with patriotic bodies; (3.) To employ the 
 energies represented by the afflhated organizations in war work; (4.) To investigate and report on new 
 war organizations. 
 
 Only men's organizations have been approached by this Committee, women's societies being taken 
 care of by a similar Committee of the Mayor's Committee of Women. In response to letters sent to 
 numerous men's clubs, societies, etc., two hundred and four have alUed themselves with us, providing 
 data regarding their officers, objects and war activities. This information has been indexed under sub- 
 jects, so this Committee can get in touch at a moment's notice with organizations equipped and willing 
 to participate in war service along many different Unes. 
 
 The bodies afflhated with tliis Committee comprise clubs, social and poUtical; associations of busi- 
 ness men, lawyers, engineers and representatives of many other vocations; trade and professional associa- 
 
 29 
 
tlons; patriotic, musical, fraternal, agricultural, medical, civic and other associations. The diversified 
 nature of the patriotic service offered by these organizations is indicated by the headings under which 
 they are indexed, as follows" 
 
 Accoimting Draughting MiUtary organization 
 
 Advertising Engineering Public speaking 
 
 Automobile driving Engine driving Policing 
 
 Building Farming Printing 
 
 Clerical work Investigating Relief work 
 
 Carrjing messages Interpreting Recreation for soldiers 
 
 Census taking Instruction Recruiting 
 
 Copying Motorcycle driving Sewing, etc. 
 
 Automobiles Horses Telephone operating 
 
 Boats Hospital suppUes Typewriting 
 
 Bicycles Legal advice Telegraphing 
 
 Camp sites Labor Translating 
 
 Medical aid Meeting places Sites for convalescent homes 
 
 Music Motorcycles Trucks 
 
 Tools 
 A list of the organizations affiliated with this Committee is attached to tliis report. 
 
 Co-operation with Organizations 
 
 Some instances of co-operation with patriotic and other organizations are listed below: 
 
 Aided War Department Commission on Training Camp Activities, now known as National Service 
 Commission, ^vith information about organizations and other matters. 
 
 Assisted Friendly Aid Society in obtaining entertainers for soldiers. 
 
 Helped Chelsea Neighborhood Association in mapping out its war activities. 
 
 Provided two thousand soldiers to sing at Song and Light Festival of Community Chorus (in co- 
 operation with the Recruiting Committee.) 
 
 Assisted American Alliance for Labor and Democracy in getting an audience for rally on Septem- 
 ber 15th. 
 
 Furnished list of civic organizations and other material to the Broadway Association. 
 
 Gave information regarding our work and other matters to the Merchants' Association. 
 
 Helped Alunicipal Market Commission to arrange for a food hearing. 
 
 Assisted Liberty Loan Committee in the foUowing respects: Conducted a reception by the Mayor 
 at the City HaU to the Liberty Loan Committee, including a parade with mihtary and naval escort and 
 bands, singing by school children, decorations, etc., and a turnout of distinguished citizens; helped with 
 suggestions and information on Liberty Loan Parade; also distributed five hundred tickets for grand- 
 stand; obtained participation of organizations in poster distribution and the placing of street banners; 
 helped to get location in Central Park for exhibition of captured German submarine; co-operated with 
 members of the Committee in very many smaller matters. 
 
 Aided the representative of the National Food Administration in obtaining park sites for food bul- 
 letins in Central Park, Bryant Park, City Hall Park, in front of the Library, at 34th Street & Park Ave., 
 Borough Hall Park, Brooklyn and elsewhere. 
 
 Participation of Organizations 
 
 Some cases in which organizations have been enabled to participate in patriotic activities are as 
 follows: 
 
 Certain foreign organizations asked to aid Committee on Aliens in Americanization work, also 
 other organizations requested to help this Committee at various times in special activities. 
 
 All our organizations invited to attend a patriotic rally on October 5th, and tickets sent to them. 
 
 All our own organizations and many others circularized for the Government film service. 
 
 Send-off for men of the National Army arranged through this Committee. This took place on Sept. 
 4th. Representatives of om- affiliated bodies were called together and appointed a Committee of which 
 William Fellowes Morgan was Chairman, to carry out the tentative plans presented at the meeting. Through 
 sub-committees on parade, decorations, churches, entertainments, etc., a program was arranged which 
 consisted of services in the churches, synagogues and temples on the Saturday and Sunday previous to 
 National Army Day ; a parade up Fifth Avenue in the morning of that day, which attracted as much 
 attention as the big National Guard Parade of only a few days before; a ball game at the Polo Grounds 
 in the afternoon at which there were special features to entertain the selected men and lunch was served 
 to them; entertainments in the evening in various churches, club houses, etc., throughout the city. 
 Through the efforts of this Commitee, similar parades were held in Brooklj-n and the Bronx. On that 
 day every selected man was provided with a brassard by this Committee. 
 
 Reception given to the Southern Commercial Congress and diplomats of allied nations. This re- 
 ception, which took place on October 16th, was entirely in the hands of this Committee and comprised a 
 miUtary and civic parade from the Battery to the City Hall; the elaborate decorations at the City Hall; 
 and the reception inside the City Hall by the Mayor and a Committee of distinguished citizens. 
 
 Continuing and Projected Activities 
 Because the work of enlisting organizations came on the eve of a political campaign, the results 
 were not as great as they might be. At this time it is possible to enlarge the membership of this Com- 
 mittee to include certainly seventy-flve per cent of all organizations in New York City. A canvass is now 
 
 30 
 
under way among lodges, political and social clubs, chiu-ch organizations, etc., etc., which is expected to 
 develop wide interest in the work of the Mayor's Committee on National Defense toward helping along 
 the war. Plans are also on foot for closer co-operation among patriotic organizations along similar lines; 
 also for Unking up various bodies with such activities as those of the American Defense Society; the Red 
 Cross; National Service Commission and the U. S. Public Service Reserve, the last named being a dovern- 
 ment agency, wliich aims to obtain and file the name of every man who desires to serve the Nation and 
 his capabilities for doing so. There is a big field for patriotic service, also, in interesting these organiza- 
 zations of ours in the great movements of the Government, such as conservation of food and fuel; like- 
 wise in the movement to comijat the spread of German propaganda. 
 
 Another means for using these organizations has been worked out in the shape of supplying every 
 soldier at the Front with a correspondent at home. The idea is to obtain through the organizations lists 
 of members who desire to write to soldiers and put them in touch with the men on the other side. 
 
 Complete List of Organizations up to Nov. 15, 1917 
 
 American Red Cross 
 
 American Defense Society 
 
 Automobile Clul> of America 
 
 American Society of Mecli. Engineers 
 
 American Society of Refrigerating Engineers 
 
 American Alliance for Labor and Democracy 
 
 Association for the Improved Instruction of Deaf 
 
 Mutes 
 Advertising Club 
 
 American Committee on the High Cost of Living 
 American Clothing Manufacturers' Association 
 Association for the Prevention and Relief of Heart 
 
 Disease 
 Art Alhance of America 
 Aeronautical Society of America 
 American Museiun of Safety 
 Associated Traveling Salesman of New York 
 Arkwright Club 
 Aldine Club 
 
 American Institute of Social Service 
 Aero Club of America 
 American Guild of Organists 
 Alliance Israelite UniverseUe 
 Arion Society 
 
 American Association of Woolen and Worsted Mfrs. 
 Architectural League of New York 
 American Jewelers Protection Association 
 American Committee for Armenian and Syrian 
 
 Relief 
 American Association of Wholesale Opticians 
 Arcliitectural Iron and Bronze Manufacturers 
 Association of American Embroidery and Lace 
 
 Manufacturers 
 Amateur Athletic Union of U. S. 
 Aschenbroedel Verein 
 American Engineering Service of the Engineering 
 
 Council 
 American Rights League 
 Builders Protective Association 
 Bohemian National AUiance 
 Bohemian American Press Association 
 Bankers' Club 
 Brooklyn Engineers' Club 
 Brooklyn Civic Club 
 Boy Scouts of America 
 Brewers Board of Trade 
 Blooming Grove Htmting and Fishing Club 
 Bureau of Philanthropic Research 
 Brooklyn Club 
 Beta Theta Pi Club of N. Y. 
 Bronx Chiu-ch House 
 Building Trades Employers' Association of the 
 
 City of New York 
 Broadway Association 
 Canadian Club of New York 
 Century Club 
 Chamber of Commerce of the U. S. 
 
 Court Attendants Mutual Benefit Association 
 
 Crescent Athletic Club 
 
 Catholic Club 
 
 Columbia University Club 
 
 Committee of National Defense of the American 
 
 Institute of Electrical Engineers 
 Calumet Cyclers 
 Chiu-ch Club of New York 
 Compressed Air Society 
 Civil Service Reform Association 
 Chelsea Neighborhood Association 
 City Club of New York 
 AUiance Francaise of New York 
 American Juniors 
 
 American Federation of CathoUc Societies 
 Clotliiers Association of New York 
 CorneU University Club 
 City Atliletic Club 
 Calumet Club 
 Camp Fire Club of America 
 Down Town Association 
 Deutscher Liederkranz 
 Frsundschaft Society 
 
 Federation of Hebrew Retail Grocer Association 
 Federation of Churches 
 French Institute of the U. S. 
 Federated Civic Association 
 Fifth Avenue Association 
 Fire Brokers Association of New York 
 Engineers' Club 
 GroUer Club 
 
 General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen 
 Gedney Farms Country Club 
 German University League 
 Harlem Board of Commerce 
 Hudson River Yacht Club 
 Hungarian ReUef Society 
 Hebrew Association for the Blind 
 Humanitarian Cult 
 
 Hamburg Commercial Association of 1858 
 Harlem Yacht Club 
 HoUand Society of New York 
 Highland Nature Camps 
 Hamilton Club 
 
 Harvard Club of New York City 
 Hardware Club 
 Knickerbocker Club 
 Lotos Club 
 Lambs (The) 
 
 League of Catholic Societies 
 Life Underwriters' Association 
 League of Greek Liberals 
 Lutheran Emigrants House Association 
 League of Foreign Bom Citizens 
 League to Enforce Peace 
 Manhattan Club 
 Montauk Club 
 
 31 
 
Metropolitan Club 
 
 Metropolitan Association A. A. U. 
 
 Madison Square Boys' Club 
 
 Mornlngside Athletic and Social Club 
 
 Metropolitan Yacht Club 
 
 Marine and Field Club 
 
 Merchants' Club 
 
 Military Training Camps Association 
 
 Military Engineering Committee 
 
 Merchants' Association of New York 
 
 Masonic Club of the City of New York 
 
 Motion Picture Board of Trade 
 
 Manhattan Civic Association 
 
 Machinery Club 
 
 New York Musicians' Union 
 
 National Association of the Friars 
 
 National Patriotic Song Committee 
 
 New York Community Chorus 
 
 New York Young Republican Club 
 
 New York Board of Jewish Ministers 
 
 New York Boat 0^vne^s Association 
 
 Illuminating Engineering Society 
 
 Immigrant Publication Society 
 
 Institute for Public Service 
 
 India House 
 
 Jewish Agricultural and Industrial Aid Society 
 
 New York Society of Architects 
 
 New York Electrical Society 
 
 National School Camp Association 
 
 National Security League 
 
 National Arts Club 
 
 National Wholesale Grocers Association 
 
 National League on Urban Conditions among 
 
 Negroes 
 National Democratic Club 
 National Commercial Gas Association 
 National Retail Dry Goods Association 
 Nonpareil Rowing Club 
 Ohio Society of New York 
 Progress Club of the City of New York 
 PubUshers Association 
 Peoples University Extension 
 Society of New York 
 
 Purchasing Agents Association of New York 
 Prison Association of New York 
 Printers Club of New York 
 Preparedness League of American Dentists 
 Point Yacht Club 
 
 PoUsh National Alliance Immigrant Home 
 Pan-American Society of the U. S. 
 Princeton Club of New York 
 
 Recess Club 
 
 Rocky Mountain Club 
 
 Republican Club 19th A. D. 
 
 New York Athletic Club 
 
 New York Peace Society 
 
 New York Lumber Trade Association 
 
 New York Greek Society-Vryseon 
 
 New York League for the Hard of Hearing 
 
 New York Business Publishers Association 
 
 New York Society for the Suppression of Vice 
 
 Rubber Trade Association of New York 
 
 Railroad Club of New York 
 
 Russian Immigrant Society 
 
 Rotary Club 
 
 Republican Club, 16th A. D. 
 
 Russian American ReUef Association 
 
 Republican Organizations Club 
 
 Salmagundi Club 
 
 Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers 
 
 Shirt Manufacturers' Protective Association 
 
 Sons of the American Revolution 
 
 St. Nicholas Club of the City of New York 
 
 Societe Culinau-e Pliilantlu-opique 
 
 Silk Association of America 
 
 Transportation Club 
 
 Technology Club of New York 
 
 Trade Publication Defense Committee 
 
 Travel Club of America 
 
 Travelers Aid Society of New York 
 
 Union Club 
 
 United Swedish Societies of New York 
 
 United Hospital Fund of New York 
 
 United Irish Counties Association 
 
 Union League Club of New York 
 
 University Club 
 
 University Club of Brooklyn 
 
 Vatel Club 
 
 White Rats Actors Union of America 
 
 Whist Club 
 
 WhitehaU Limch Club 
 
 Williams Club of New York 
 
 Wholesale Shoe League 
 
 West Side Club 
 
 Workers Amusement Club 
 
 Yoimg Men's Hebrew Association 
 
 Young Men's Hebrew Association of Washington 
 
 Heights 
 Yorkville Centre Club 
 Yale Club 
 Yorkville Social Center 
 
 Report of the Film Bureau 
 
 G. OSGOOD ANDREWS, Manager 
 
 The very recent addition of the Government Film Service to the activities of the Mayor's Com- 
 mittee on National Defense does not permit of a lengthy resume of the work performed. 
 
 On October 8th last the Mayor's Committee on National Defense entered into an agreement with 
 Mr. Charles P. Watson, manager of Distribution division of Films of the United States Government for 
 a weekly service of three reels of "OfHcial United States War Films" per week for a period of ten con- 
 secutive weeks at a cost of $300 per week, such service to begin on October 15 and terminate on December 
 17, the piu-pose of such agreement being to co-operate with the Government in the proper distribution 
 of the pictiu-es and determinining when, where and how they might be most instrumental in stimulating 
 patriotism and disseminating authentic information pertaining to the Government work in the war. 
 
 My appointment to the managership of the Service dates from October 19 last, and actual work 
 was begun on October 22. Since that time this department has been organized, newspaper publicity ob- 
 tained, various forms of letters compiled and sent out, and methods essential to the proper conduct of 
 the service systematized, whUe business to the extent of $1025. has been booked, at an exhibiting cost 
 of $450. 
 
 As an instructive and patriotic entertainment the War pictures are well adapted to the spirit of the 
 time, while the small charge made to cover oiu- outlay does not seem prohibitive. They have been shown 
 in many churches, clubs, lodges and organizations — speakers being provided when desired — with the 
 
 32 
 
stipulation tiiat no tickets may be sold for commercial purposes and they liave been most enthuslasti- 
 ally received. 
 
 I have no doubt that a continuation of this Bureau, subject to certain amendments in our contract, 
 would fulfill the purposes of our Government and prove advantageous to tlie public at large. 
 
 Joint Information Bureau (Red Cross) 
 
 C. E. MELLON, Manager 
 
 In accordance with your request of November 15th, the following is a report of the activities of 
 this department. 
 
 Since tlie opening of the Bureau of Information on November 1st, 1917, quite a number of requests 
 for financial aid liave been brought to my attention. I have referred tliem to the proper local chapter of 
 the Red Cross for investigation and what aid that organization could give them. 
 
 A number of inquiries as to the whereabouts of men in the service have been made and the desired 
 information given out when obtained. 
 
 I have received from Wasliington full information in regard to the new act of Congress providing 
 for family allowances, allotments, compensation and insurance for the military and naval forces of the 
 United States, so tliat tliis Bureau is now in a position to answer all questions in regard to this Act. I 
 expect to be kept informed from WasLiington in regard to all new regulations made in the future. 
 
 I am keeping in touch with the Local Exemption Boards and they are referring all cases for relief 
 to me if they have no facilities to handle them themselves. 
 
 I am also in touch with a number of Charity Organizations throughout the city, and I am co-opera- 
 ting with them in the matter of relief. 
 
 This Bureau expects to receive, in the near future, casualty lists from the headquarters of the Red 
 Cross at Washington. I believe steps liave already been taken by the Red Cross authorities in regard to 
 receiving these from the War Department. 
 
 Report of the Transportation Department 
 
 EDWARD B. COCHEMS, Manager 
 
 The work of this Department originally began with the Loyalty Pledge Campaign last February. 
 It was found necessary to provide vehicular service to distribute and collect large quantities of pledge 
 blanks sent to and taken from all parts of the City. This campaign was followed by the estabUshment 
 of the Recruiting Committee at the same address. 
 
 It was again fovmd necessary to provide similar service for the distribution of thousands upon thous- 
 ands of posters, as well as to provide tliis service in connection with the work imdertaken for the "Wake 
 Up America Parade." The various committees placed over 28,000 posters in every Borough in the City 
 from 9.30 A. M. until 5 P. M. on that day. Two hundred eighty-seven (287) automobiles were secured 
 to take part in tiie "Wake Up America Parade" as well as trucks for floats, trucks and busses for every 
 pupose. 
 
 Incidentally it suppUed many patriotic organizations with speakers. In fact, this is the origin also 
 of the Speakers' Bureau of the Mayor's Committee. The Speakers' Bureau was made a separate com- 
 mittee owing to the volume of work of the Transportation Department. 
 
 Many cars were provided for outdoor speaking for the purpose of securing recruits for the various 
 branches of the service. For tliis work we averaged from twelve to thirty-five cars a day as long as the 
 campaign lasted. 
 
 The transportation work was finally recognized by making it a department which included a speak- 
 ers' bureau from about May 14th to about the middle cf June. A basic list of speakers, comprising from 
 about 1,200 to 1,500 names, including man and women and speakers who wore capable of talking in various 
 languages and who represented all pohtical parties, was indexed and alphabetically arranged. Data con- 
 cerning the particular subjects and the strength of the speakers was noted on these cards. The depart- 
 ment was of considerable aid to the first Liberty Loan Campaign, by sending speakers, as well as for all 
 great patriotic drives in the Greater City and its vicinity. We provided three hundred fifty-seven (357) 
 speakers for the Aliens Committee of the Mayor's Committee for tlie purpose of explaining the purposes 
 of the Federal Draft which took place on June 5th. These men spoke in the districts where the foreign 
 element resided the night before registration. A great number of cars were also arranged for besides 41 
 speakers for the Bronx Committee and 31 cars for the following day. 
 
 The Department provided eighty-seven (87) cars for Edward F. Boyle, President of the Board of 
 Elections, who was in charge of the Federal Draft Registration. These cars reported at 7 A. M. and worked 
 until 9 or 11 that evening, distributing iDlanks and providing facilities for rapid work on the part of the 
 inspectors who reported in all parts of the City. For the above work we had but two days' notice. 
 
 The Transportation Department started without the name of one owner of an automobile, truck 
 or bus, but rapidly laid the foundation for a list of automobile, truck, bus, van and taxi owners that com- 
 pletely covered the vehicular service of the City. We now have a list of 90,000 owners of pleasure cars, 
 5,000 owners of vans through the Van Owners' Association, over 10,000 trucks of all tonnage, the United 
 Motor Truck Clu'o, representing 5,000 trucks, all the sight-seeing and taxi companies. Many of the 
 war service organizations had estabUshed trans- portation departments, but admitted that they had 
 made a failure of it, and consequently appealed to tliis Department and received their ser\'ice directly 
 from the Mayor's Committee. Many of the larger transportation units of the City will not provide 
 service unless it comes through this Department. 
 
 Calculating the work done on a modest rental value, the records of tins Department show that in 
 the past six months it has secured free of charge over $250,000 worth of free service, and has served over 
 
 33 
 
60 patriotic and war service organizations, as well as recrmting stations representative of every branch 
 in the United States Service, besides numerous branches of many organizations. In all we have served 
 over 200 diflferent units of this kind. 
 
 We have been given entire possession of about ten automobiles, as weU as having received about 
 $2,500 in cash donations in Ueu of automobile service to be apphed for that service. 
 
 It seems that, the Federal Government does not customarily, in the course of its recruiting services, 
 provide transportation facilities or the funds necessary to provide them. For this reason it is absolutely 
 necessary for these various Recrmting Stations, etc., to demand a great deal of this bureau. It seems to 
 have been proved essential for the carrying out of any propaganda, program or campaign, such as the 
 first or second Liberty Loan Campaign, the Red Cross, the National Food Committee, the Recruiting 
 and other major Federal campaigns to have vehiciilar service. For example: it would have been impos- 
 sible for the Recruiting Committee of the Mayor's Committee to have posted three or four himdred thous- 
 and posters without the service of automobiles that were donated. It woiild be just as impossible for 
 these various committees, organizations, and societies to pay for the rental of cars. It would have been a 
 prohibitive matter. 
 
 Take for example the New York State MiUtary Census program for the registration of people of 
 the Greater City. They had 3,200 registration booths; had to distribute 90,000 tons of Uterature and 
 collect the signed blanks each night for lack of safe places to keep them, as well as providing faciUties 
 for the rapid transportation of its numerous inspectors. This department handled that matter com- 
 pletely and dm-ing that period provided over $45,000 worth of free transportation facilities, repre- 
 senting pleasure cars and trucks. 
 
 There is a steady and growing demand for this kind of service. Every week or two some new cam- 
 paign or drive is planned wliich makes a special demand for co-operation from this department. The 
 second Liberty Loan Campaign was immediately followed by the National Food Campaign for food con- 
 servation pledges. This is now followed by a recruiting drive on the part of the Naval Recruiting Stations 
 of the City for four or five himdred firemen to be used on the transport service. 
 
 The Brooklyn Chapter of the Red Cross is also having a campaign for membership. Next week 
 there wiU be a joint British and U. S. Army Campaign for recruits. We are already making arrangements 
 for the third Liberty Loan Campaign, which is expected to begin early next year. Besides providing 
 transportation, this department has also been called upon to provide bands and music of various kinds. 
 We have hsted practically all the bands and music organizations and societies of the City. We have helped 
 out on all parades — the National Guard Parade, the National Army Parade, the Liberty Loan Parade, 
 the Sun Tobacco Fund Parade and parades of similar kinds. We provided 31 bands for the National Army 
 Parade, as well as a great nimiber of miUtary, naval and marine units. Boy Scouts, etc. We have been 
 called upon to provide cars and music for the various receptions given by the Mayor to foreign delegations 
 and missions, as well as for the Southern Commercial Congress, etc. 
 
 The advice of this department has been sought in many conferences in which plans were laid for some 
 campaign or some patriotic or Federal activity. For example: we suggested to the Committee of the 
 Second Liberty Loan the idea of placing windshield posters on all the cars of the City, and how it should 
 be done, as weU as what kind of paper should be used. When it was proposed to have a great British 
 Recruiting Campaign, the question arose as to how to provide subsistence for two battalions of Canadian 
 Kilties who were to be the cliief attraction for that week's work. We got the New York Hotel Men's 
 Association to donate the food necessary, as well as seciu-ing the cots, blankets, etc., and the 71st Regi- 
 ment for sleeping quarters. This was an item of over $2,000. We provided cots on another occasion on 
 very short notice for the Adjutant General's ofiBce in connection with caring for drafted men who were 
 quartered temporarily in the 71st Regiment Armory. 
 
 We seciu-ed volimteers and cars for the exemption boards. The City Canning and Drjing Kitchen 
 Committee of the Mayor's Committee was provided witli trucks for over three months for the carrying 
 of food taken from commission merchants and railroad terminals, to be canned and dried or distributed 
 to the various charitable institutions. We provided buses for sight-seeing purposes for the benefit of the 
 crews of various foreign battle cruisers; for men at Camp Mills, from other States of the Union; last 
 week for the British Ministry of Munitions; carried sweaters and other goods to the camps and to the 
 battleships leaving for foreign ports ; provided cars for the inspectors to handle the transportation of the 
 German U-Boat and the British Tank; provided for the moving at 4.30 in the morning of equipment and 
 paraphernaUa of the Second Brigade Headquarters' Troop; have taken the sick children of enlisted 
 soldiers to the waterfront; provided mu-sic for the continuation of the patriotic musical festival; pro- 
 vided cars for the Sm-geon-General's oflace of the War Department for the purpose of making a complete 
 survey of base hospital sites in the vicinity of New York; helped to make arrangements for temporary 
 base hospitals by using four local armories; took woimded men to the various camps; carried entertain- 
 ers to the various camps for the Committee on Training Camp Activities; lighted trucks for recruiting; 
 provided cars for the pajTnasters of the Brooklyn Navy Yard and the U. S. Ship "Aeolus;" transported 
 singers and speakers to himdreds of patriotic meetings; provided trucks for convejing moving pictm-e 
 apparatus for the Government War Film Service; helped secm-e rights for various parades through the Police 
 Department; helped to make arrangements of various big meetings of the British-Canadian and the 
 National Service Meetings at Madison Square Garden; pro-vided cars for the work in connection with 
 securing funds to build the U. S. Ship "Recruit;" pro%ided trucks, cars, buses and bands for the American 
 Alliance for Labor and Democracy, as well as buses and bands to take the drafted men quotas from many 
 of the 189 exemption boards; made report on possibilities of vehiciilar mobilization to General Eli D. 
 Hoyle, Eastern Headquarters, War Department . 
 
 Mention is made of several of these matters merely to give an idea of the wide range of activities of 
 this department. We have served the following organizations and committees with their niuneroua 
 branches: 
 
 34 
 
(A) Mayor's Committee on National Defense 
 
 Finance Committee; Committee on Speakers and War Instruction; Committee on Defense and 
 Security; Committee on Industry and Employment; Recruiting Committee; Committee on Aliens; 
 Military Census; Committee on Hospitals and Medical Facilities; Committee on Organizations; Com- 
 mittee on Relief; Borough of Queens Committee; Borough of Brooklyn Committee; Borough of the 
 Bronx Committee; Borough of Richmond Committee. 
 
 (B) Mayor's Committee on Women on National Defense 
 
 Standing Committee on Publicity; Standing Committee on Food; Standing Committee on Social 
 "Welfare; Joint Committee on Industry and Employment. 
 
 (C) Federal Recruiting Service 
 
 Army Headquarters; Aviation Corps; BrookljTi Navy Yard; Commander John Grady — Xavy; 
 BrookljTi Army Recruiting; Junior Naval Reserve; Marine Corps; Military Training Camp; Navy 
 Headquarters — Commander Adams; Naval Reserves; Naval Reserve Coast Defense; Naval Militia; 
 Quartermasters' Department; Governors Island; Quartermaster Enlisted Reserve Corps. 
 
 (D) General 
 
 New York State Military Census — all offlcss; Federal Registration Committee; The First Liberty 
 Loan Committee and sub-committees; The Second Liberty Loan Committee and sub-committees; The 
 Red Cross (5 boroughs and sub-committees) (a) Auxiliary Civilian ReUef Red Cross, all boroughs and 
 sub-committees; National Special Aid Society; British Recruitmg Mission; Adjutant General's Office 
 (189 Exemption Boards) ; Veteran Corps of Artillery; Mihtia of Mercy; Kips Bay Neighborhood Associa- 
 tion; Bronx House; Richmond Hill House; Young Women's Hebrew Association; Little Italy House, 
 etc.; Headquarters Troop, 27th Division; War Department Commission on Training Camp Activities, 
 (a) National Service Club with branches, (b) Patriotic Service League.; Mid-Day Minute Men Recruiting 
 Committee; Stage Women's War ReUef; Machine Gun Company, 71st Regiment; Army and Navy 
 Field Kit Comfort Committee; National League for Women's Service; Second Brigade Headquarters 
 Troop; Soldiers' and Sailors' Club; French Soldiers and Sailors Club; Boy Scouts of America; Junior 
 American Naval and Marine Scouts; Sun Tobacco Fund (a) Stin Tobacco Fund Parade under the 
 auspices of the Washington Irving High School ; Southern Commercial Congress Reception Committee ; 
 American Defense Society; U. S. Food Administration; Women's AuxiUary Naval Recruiting Committee; 
 23rd Regiment Recruiting Campaign; Brooklyn Navy Yard (various divisions); Board of Control War 
 Department, inspection of war contracts and fire conditions; Naval Reserve; Surgeon-General, War De- 
 partment, inspecting base hospital sites; Mayor's Food Committee; Government Film Service; Parade 
 of Recruiting BattaUon and Service Men; National Guard Parade Committee; National Army Parade 
 Committee; Poster Committee; Cars for speakers, singers, etc., numerous patriotic meetings; U. 8. S. 
 "Granite State" Naval Reserve; U. S. S. "Recruit"; British-Canadian Madison Square Rally; The 
 National Service Night, Madison Square Garden; American Alliance for Labor and Democracy; Evening 
 MaU Marine and Navy Recruiting Committee; National Guard; Musical Festival Committee, Central 
 Park; British Ministry of Munitions; Principal's Club; Officers' Reserve Corps; United Pohsh Societies. 
 
 A system has been developed which facilitates the work required; otherwise it could not be carried 
 on successfully. Attached you will And time indication cards and a record card. The records as well as 
 the time indication cards are aU filed, so that at a moment's notice, it is possible to ascertain when and 
 for how long a car is used; for what purpose and for whom it was used, as well as the name of the owner 
 who provided the car. The description of the car, horse power, seating capacity and factory number is 
 also indicated, so that in case of accident, all the facts necessary are at hand on which claims for the 
 Insurance we carry can be based. 
 
 35 
 
TIME INDICATION CARD 
 
 My car will be available as indicated below with a check (X), regardless of weather conditions: 
 
 NOVEMBER 
 
 M 
 
 T 
 
 W 
 
 T 
 
 F 
 
 S 
 
 M 
 
 T 
 
 W 
 
 T 
 
 F 
 
 S 
 
 M 
 
 T 
 
 W 
 
 T 
 
 F 
 
 S 
 
 DECEMBER 
 
 19 
 
 20 
 
 21 
 
 22 
 
 23 
 
 24 
 
 26 
 
 27 
 
 28 
 
 28 
 
 30 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 9 a. m. to 5 p. m..- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 9 a. m. to 1 p. m.-- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 p. m. to 5 p. m.-- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 7 p. m. to 10 p. m.. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Home Address Home Telephone 
 
 Business Address Telephone 
 
 Description of Car Seating Capacity 
 
 Horse Power Factory Number 
 
 The Committee will notify you before 5 o'clock of the day preceding that on which your car may be wanted. 
 
 (OVER) 
 
 (REVERSE) 
 I herewith volunteer my automobile with a chauffeur or myself as driver for 
 the use of the Mayor's Committee on National Defense, or for such other pur- 
 poses as may be approved by the Committee, according to the conditions noted 
 on the other side of this card. 
 
 Signature- 
 
 Address.. 
 
 Date.. 
 
 RECORD CARD 
 
 TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, MAYOR'S COMMITTEE ON 
 NATIONAL DEFENSE 
 
 Name of car owner. 
 
 Telephone. 
 
 Address. 
 
 Name of committee. 
 
 Person using car. 
 
 Time car reported and dismissed. 
 
 Date. 
 
 For wliat purpose used. 
 
 Name of car and size. Horse power. Factory number. 
 
 36 
 
Report of the Draft Information Bureau 
 
 WALDEMAR KOPS, Manager 
 
 The Draft Information Bureau is primarily a means of transmitting to the pubUc information con- 
 cerning the draft. 
 
 During the time of the first draft this Bm-eau handled an average of five himdred (500) callers, three 
 himdred (300) telephone messages, and sent out two hundred (200) letters daily. Since its inception, it 
 has allocated fifty thousand (50,000) various cards (recruiting, registration, etc.) to Local Boards. 
 
 In addition, it is used as a clearing house by the Adjutant General, the District Board, Local Boards, 
 Customs House in connection with the issuing of Seamen's Certificates, and by PoUce Departments 
 throughout the country. 
 
 Also it undertakes to fvirnish volimteer workers to local boards requiring assistance. 
 
 This Bureau likewise renders valuable assistance in connection with what are known as "hardship 
 cases" by the local boards, all of which is set forth in greater detail hereafter. •: 
 
 A copy of the report for October follows. It must be borne in mind that practically all the work 
 in connection with the fh'st draft was completed before this period and therefore it does not really repre- 
 sent an average month's work. Since the new draft regulations have been pubUshed, the work of the 
 Bureau has increased tremendously. For instance, on Wednesday, November 14th, we had over five 
 hundred (500) callers. 
 
 Number of callers 834 
 
 Telephone calls 1036 
 
 Number of Form letters sent out 502 
 
 Addresses located 1030 
 
 Letters sent to Local Boards 746 
 
 Letters dictated 298 
 
 Recruiting cards located and sent out 1248 
 
 Miscellaneous : 
 
 Cards sorted 208 
 
 Envelopes stamped 362 
 
 Letters readdressed 376 
 
 Envelopes addressed 32 
 
 Exemption Boards located 290 
 
 Information 
 The Information Bureau handles hxindreds of inquiries daily, either thru personal interview or by 
 telephone. Some of the questions most frequently asked are: 
 
 (1) I am moving out of the city. Must I inform my local board? 
 
 (2) I registered out of town on June 5th and now Uve in New York. Where must I go in case I 
 
 am drafted, can I be examined here? 
 
 (3) I was at sea, or out of the coimtry on Jime 5th. Where must I register? 
 
 (4) How do I stand in the draft? 
 
 (5) How soon will I be called? 
 
 (6) All kinds of questions concerning exemptions. 
 
 (7) Can I enlist if I am drafted? 
 
 (8) Can I leave the country for a certain length of time? 
 
 (9) Do I need any papers before I can travel in the United States? 
 
 (10) Do I need a passport to go to Canada, Mexico, Cuba or South America? 
 
 (11) I have lost my registration card (Federal or State). How can I procure a duplicate? 
 
 (12) I have been certified for the draft. How can I re-open my case? 
 
 These are only a few of the questions asked, but they convey an idea of the range of inquiries that 
 are answered. Not a day passes but some new phase of the situation develops largely thru articles in the 
 newspapers which result in a new series of requests for information. 
 
 Adjutant General's Office 
 The Adjutant General makes use of this Bureau in the following manner: 
 
 (1) To allocate recruiting cards to correct local boards. 
 
 (2) To inform local boards of men who have been discharged by the army so that they may be 
 registered imder the draft act. 
 
 (3) Fm-nishing the correct local boards having jurisdiction over addresses submitted. 
 
 (4) To allocate registration cards of registrants residing outside of the United States to the correct 
 local boards or else to Washington, D. C. 
 
 Local Boards 
 The Local Boards make use of this ofiBce as follows: 
 
 (1) As a clearing house for correspondence between themselves and local boards outside the city. 
 
 (2) CaUing for volunteer assistance to help them in their work. 
 
 (3) For assistance in "Hardship Cases." 
 
 District Board 
 The District Board uses this Bureau for ascertaining the Local Board having jurisdiction over the 
 addresses submitted. 
 
 37 
 
Seamen's Certificates 
 
 This Bureau is doing very important work In helping seamen straighten out their papers so that 
 they may procure Seamen's Certificates. Sailors as a class are notoriously lax in complying with any regu- 
 lations. They are also extremely careless and need someone to explain carefully and simply what is neces- 
 sary to get their records straightened out. We have given this branch of our work special attention so 
 that the ships would not be unduly delayed in saiUng. Every seaman who has registered is given the 
 correct address of his local board. Those who have not registered are sent to their local board. Most 
 of these cases are followed up by telephone, and it is urged that the local board give them im- 
 mediate attention. 
 
 The importance of this work can be best estimated by the fact that on last Tuesday not less than 
 ninety-four (94) seamen came to see us. 
 
 Police Department 
 We are In continual commimication with police departments all over the coiintry who have arrested 
 men because of their inability to produce their registration cards. On receipt of such communications 
 we confer with the Local Board having jurisdiction over the addresses given. We ascertain if the man 
 has registered or not, and promptly communicate with the chief of police where the man is held, giving 
 him the information we have obtained. 
 
 Volunteer Workers Service 
 
 We have supplied the Local Boards with volunteer workers to assist them in tabulating reports of 
 the first draft. This service is being developed with the idea of giving the local boards workers immedi- 
 ately upon receipt of their request to do so. 
 
 The development of this idea is taken up In more detail hereafter. 
 
 Hardship Cases 
 
 "Hardship Cases" is a term that has been developed by the Local Boards to cover families of men 
 who have been drafted and who are in need of financial assistance. These are cases that do not reflect 
 upon the working of the Local Boards. 
 
 It often happens, owing to ignorance that the husband failed to claim exemption and the wife to sign 
 the necessary affidavit. These cases are not only in need of financial assistance, but of sympathetic ad- 
 vice. We always communicate with the Local Boards and sometimes find them perfectly willing to re- 
 open the case, providing the wife will bring sufficient proof. We are often able to advise the women how 
 the papers may be obtained. 
 
 When we have ascertained that the Local Board is powerless to re-open the case, we notify the Joint 
 Bureau of the American Red Cross and the Mayor's Committee on National Defense which is on 
 this floor. 
 
 Plans in Process of Development 
 
 Volunteer Workers 
 
 We are now developing a service whereby a Local Board can call on us at any time for volunteer 
 workers. To that end we are making plans for five thousand (5000) volimteers and for filing them accord- 
 ing to Local Boards. 
 
 When this plan is complete, we hope that upon receipt of a telephone communication from a Local 
 Board to be able to go to our card index and have in our files names and addresses of twenty-five (25) 
 volimteers residing in the inunediate neighborhood of this Local Board, and have them at work within 
 three or four hours. 
 
 Service Bureau for Discharged Soldiers And Sailors 
 
 While the assisting of the Military Authorities in the prosecution of the war has been our chief con- 
 cern, we have not overlooked the question of meeting "after-war conditions," and to that end we are 
 carefully planning a Bxu-eau which wiU be able to find employment for soldiers and sailors when they are 
 once discharged from active service. 
 
 The outline of the plan is to secure from employers a pledge to re-employ as many of their old men 
 as possible. Also to place those men who cannot be reinstated with their former employers owing to the 
 act that the war has adversely affected these concerns. 
 
 Report of Publicity Department 
 
 HEBER BLANKENHORN, Manager 
 
 The Mayor's Committee on National Defense established this Department because it had to. Be- 
 yond the mere advisability of mobilizing public opinion in any sort of war work, the Committee found it 
 absolutely necessary to utilize the newspapers. Time and again only the newspapers could accomplish 
 what was desired, such as the sudden notification to the immobiUzed National Army or calls for volunteer 
 workers in recruiting and Americanization campaigns. 
 
 The activities of the Mayor's Committee from the pubUcity viewpoint fall into two general divi- 
 sions; First, grappling with emergency tasks, generally involving a great number of persons; second, 
 maintaining continuous services, as through committees, departments and bureaus. The activities of 
 the PubUcity Department are required in both divisions. 
 
 One of the emergencies, In which it was necessary to reach 40,000 men, was National Army Day. 
 The Committee, on short notice, imdertook to organize the parade of unmobillzed Selected Men. To 
 
 38 
 
notify these men of the Invitation to march, to Inform them of the assembly places, how to get their bras- 
 sards, and what privileges would be theirs for the day at ball games, theatres, etc., appeal to the news- 
 papers was the only course possible. Likewise on National Guard Send-oil Day, it was suddenly decided 
 to reserve places along the line of march for the families of the guardsmen. To inform the public of this 
 arrangement, and to urge compliance, it was again necessary to rely on publicity. 
 
 In the emergencies connected with the registration days under both the National and State Mili- 
 tary Laws, and the organization of the Draft Boards, the Committee's share in these tasks was facili- 
 tated by prompt and systematic connection with the newspapers. "When the Committee took part in 
 entertaining various missions, notably the British Ministry of Munitions' representatives, this depart- 
 ment, through wide publication of the plans of the Mission, helped greatly in accomplishing the purpose 
 of the visitors. 
 
 A typical example of the speedy effectiveness of such methods appeared when the Adjutant Gen- 
 eral's office at Albany, in preparation for the second draft, requested the Mayor's Committee to obtain 
 civilian volunteer assistants for the local Draft Boards. This department secured such widespread pub- 
 lication of a call for volunteers that in a single day the local boards were swamped with satisfactory ap- 
 plicants. Such results are not so simple as might seem. The ready co-operation of editors in an emergency 
 is assured only when they can deal with a pubUcity department whose judgment they respect and whose 
 methods fit newspaper requirements. 
 
 The second phase of the Department's duties, that connected with the continuous activities of 
 the Mayor's Committee, is a much more difficult matter. Ordinarily these do not make "good news." 
 They are routine, important, but not spectacular, and yet it is necessary to keep them before the public 
 as much as possible. Bm-eaus of information and supply frequently double their usefulness when al^le 
 to command the newspapers, but they rarely make "good headlines." Despite this, many papers 
 consistently carry our announcements regarding meetings, speakers, outings, investigations, recruiting 
 oflBce addresses and recruiting needs. 
 
 Emergencies arise also in these continuous services. In the Americanization campaign, on the eve 
 of Federal registration, and in the early stages of the draft, it was necessary to obtain great numbers of 
 volvmteer workers quickly. Tliis was done in part through the newspapers. 
 
 The Recruiting Committee's work is continually expanding into campaigns and drives, necessitating 
 extra effort by this Department to obtain the necessary publicity. A great many meetings and demon- 
 strations are "covered" by papers at our instance, no published credit being given to the Mayor's Com- 
 mittee. 
 
 The efforts of the Committee on Industry to effect settlements in labor disturbances, notably the 
 Longshoremen's and Milk Drivers' strikes, were pushed to the front in the newspapers in order to make 
 it a matter of common knowledge that the Mayor's Committee stood ready as an impartial body to mediate 
 in labor difficulties, and particularly to mediate quickly. 
 
 Even such activities as the establishment of the employment clearing house and of the fire hazard 
 inspection bureau, ordinarily considered very dry reading, were popularized to the best abiUty of this de- 
 partment. 
 
 The Department wishes to express its appreciation of the co-operation of the newspapers. The 
 newspapers appreciated the estabUshment of the Department, because it simplified their task and in- 
 sured getting accounts of the Committee's work in a shape suitable for publication. Editors showed their 
 appreciation of the reUability of the department by the way in which they made extensive use of our 
 statements without troubling to change or verify them. 
 
 Especial credit for establishing good relation with the newspapers is due to Mr. Maximilian Elser, 
 Jr., who resigned the management of the department to enter the Officers' Training Camp at Plattsburg. 
 Very effective work was also accompUshed by Mr. Wayne L. Randall, who in addition to liis other duties, 
 had charge of publicity during my absence. For myself, I wish to acknowledge the helpful advice and free 
 criticism of the heads and secretaries of all the departments, and especially of Mr. McCook, who con- 
 sistently maintained the practice of inspecting all "copy" sent out. 
 
 The difficulties with which this Department struggles are often considerable. Newspapers, crowded 
 with war news, lack space and what space they have at disposal, they aim to All with news altogether 
 unrelated to the war. Moreover, the importunities of many other civilian war organizations, such as the 
 Red Cross, the Liberty Loan, Army and Navy benefits and bazaars, Y. M. C. A. and Reconstruction 
 Funds, have made editors distinctly wary of "war activity copy," which is not in itself "good news." The 
 Mayor's Committee, we feel, is often accorded more space than would seem to be its fair share, and on the 
 other hand it is often unable to get printed what it feels is necessary to its work, for the reasons given above. 
 
 The Department's difficulties in this respect will increase as the war demands more and more of the 
 energies of the whole nation. The more complicated, however, the city's war activities become, the more 
 necessary will be intelligent publicity to help in co-ordinating and clarifying such multiplex effort. 
 
 Report of Bronx Advisory Committee 
 
 EDWARD R. KOCH, Chairman 
 
 The work of the Mayor's Committee on National Defense in the Bronx was started with the cam- 
 paign for signatures to the Declaration to the President in the early spring of this year. This work was 
 begun before the declaration of war and at a time when such patriotic worl: was a new idea. After this cam- 
 paign had ended, the work of creating an organization to carry on intelligently work of a patriotic 
 character was conunenced in earnest. 
 
 39 
 
Tte Brcnx Division secured as clerical help an Executive Secretary, Miss Estelle M. Burrows, and 
 a clerk, Joseph Weissman. With this staff the work in the Bronx has been carried on during the entire 
 period of its existence since the end of the campaign for signatiires to the Declaration to the President. 
 
 The Bronx cflRce organized its own Speakers' Bureau and its own Automobile Bureau. It has also 
 undertaken to get its own music so far as possible, and has obtained in the Brcnx thousands of dollars 
 worth of music free of charge. 
 
 We have furnished all Broirx newspapers with copy relating to our work and with other news of 
 patriotic character. It is estimated that upwards of two milhon pieces of patriotic literature — posters, 
 etc., — have been distributed thru various agencies: including pupils of the high schools, pupils of the 
 public schools, boy scouts, volunteer boy workers, etc. 
 
 When it became necessary to do the work on the State Census, the Bronx Advisory Committee 
 undertook to see to it that this work as it affected the Bronx woxild be done by the people of the Bronx 
 and the Chairman of the Census Committee for the Bronx was appointed by the Chairman of the Bronx 
 Advisory Committee. 
 
 The largest part of our work has been the campaign of patriotic education wliich we have conducted. 
 Almost every evening a speaking tour has been made. One or two automobiles containing one or more 
 speakers and a bugler or cornetist has left our headquarters and toured the Bronx, stopping at three or 
 four congested points dixring the course of the evening and addressing the crowds assembled. 
 
 During the early part of this work, the attention of the speakers was directed particularly to the 
 obtaining of recruits. While latterly this particular phase of the work has not been so prominent, perhaps, 
 it has still continued. It has been found necessary to speak in some sections of our territory very often 
 along the most fundamental patriotic lines in order to combat what sometimes appeared to be an organized 
 campaign of disloyalty. These speaking tours have been supplemented b> talks at the theatres and the 
 larger moving picture houses of the Bronx. Five minute talks have been dehvered and we have nad fine 
 co-operation by the managers. We have addressed an average of fifty theatre audiences a week during 
 about two and a half months. Besides these occasions, we have in many special instances furnished speakers 
 to churches, clubs, schools and to various other organizations and for various other occasions. 
 
 In the eaily part of Jime, a Parade Day of the school children of the Bronx was arranged for by this 
 Committee, and about one dozen separate parades were held in different parts of the Borough in which, 
 in the aggregate, aboxit 25,000 school children took part. Automobiles were sent to the various congested 
 points and addresses were made to the people assembled. The children as they marched carried barmers 
 of a patriotic nature and distributed patriotic literature. Each girl was given a window card, designed 
 by this oflBce, lo take home. 
 
 At the Evening Celebration of Bronx Day, June 21st this Committee assisted materially in arrang- 
 ing the program. 
 
 About the middle of July, the Kiltie Gordon and McLean Highlanders came to the Bronx imder 
 the auspices of ovu' Committee, and paraded in two sections thru various parts of the Bronx. Speeches 
 were made by prominent citizens of the Bronx from Fifth Avenue buses, which accompanied the paraders. 
 We arranged a mass meeting in Crotona Park, Borough of the Bronx on August 15th, at which it 
 was estimated that 20,000 people were present. The unique feature of this mass meeting, which was held 
 in the open air, was that there were four platforms on the field, each with its own speakers and entertainers. 
 
 The parade of drafted men, held in the Bronx just before the first quota was called into active service, 
 arranged by this Committee, was very successf;d, about 80% of the 4800 men who had been called respond- 
 ing. There were two reviewing stands, one for the exclusive use of parents and the other at Borough Hall, 
 at which the men were reviewed by Borough and County officials. On tliree occasions when the drafted 
 men left for entrainment for Yaphank, send-off parades were arranged by the Bronx Committee. 
 
 The Committee also arranged a patriotic parade and mass meeting in conjunction with the Tremont 
 Business Men's Association, wliich conducted a carnival in the Tremont section of the Bronx, in which 
 several bands and patriotic organizations participated. 
 
 We have co-operated with the New York City Food Committee, with the Bronx Division of the 
 American Red Cross and the CiviUan ReUef Division of the Red Cross downtown, also with the Liberty 
 Loan Committee in its parade and otherwise, and have assisted in many miscellaneous patriotic move- 
 ments. We have fiu-nished a great deal of clerical help to the local draft boards, and on some occasions 
 have acted as a sort of clearing house of information for them and for all branches of the military service. 
 
 Our efforts just at this time are directed toward a campaign of Americanization which contemplates 
 the sending of speakers to every dance hall in the Bronx on every night of the week at which a dance is 
 held, the covering of theatr; j. as heretofore, where not covered by other organizations, church fairs, bazaars 
 and any other occasion where a large audience can be had. 
 
 We have in the past used practically aU the pubUc officials of the Bronx and many of its prominent 
 men, including clergymen, lawyers and business men. In order to widen the field, we have circularized 
 the principals and teachers of the public schools of the Bronx as well as the ministers, priests and rabbis, 
 and have invited them to assist us in our work. Many of the public school principals and teachers have 
 had no experience in public speaking such as would fit them for our work, and in order to develop their 
 powers we have thru the coiu-tesy of the Y. M. C. A. estabUshed a class in public speaking, which is held 
 every Saturday afternoon in the Bronx building of the Y. M. C. A. and which is conducted by Mr. Dale 
 Carnagey, the instructor in public speaking of the Bronx Y. M. C. A. 
 
 We have received from Mr. McCook and Mr. Owens generous aid and co-operation at all times 
 and this has been true of the entire headquarters staff. We have in general received the co-operation, 
 the sympathy and the earnest support of people of all classes, ages and conditions in the Bronx, and of 
 all those with whom we have come in contact in our work, and credit for such success as we have had is 
 due those who have helped us so patriotically. 
 
 40 
 
Report of Queens Advisory Cominittee 
 
 C. G. M. THOMAS, Chairman 
 
 Responsive to yoxir request, I have the honor to submit the following report regarding the activi- 
 ties of the Queens Ad\asory Committee. 
 
 The Queens Advisory Committee organized with Mr. Walter I. Willis as Vice-Chairman, and Mr. 
 F. E. Breyfogle as Secretary of the Committee. 
 
 The following sub-committees were appointed: Finance Committee, of which Mr. Stuard Hirsch- 
 man was appointed Chairman, together with seven members of the Mayor's Committee who were resi- 
 dents of Queens; a Recruiting Committee, with Mr. Alfred M. Barrett as Chairman and nine other mem- 
 bers; a Speakers' Committee, with Rev. George Drew Egbert, of Flushing, as Chairman, and a member 
 from each of the five wards of the Borough; and a Committee, cf which Mr. Walter I. Willis, Vice-Chair- 
 man of the Cominitteo, was appointed Chairman, to assist in taking the State Military Censas. 
 
 From time to time, as the occasion required, other committees were appointed to take charge of 
 special work, such as co-operation with the Queens County War Aid Association for the disseminating of 
 information to aliens just prior to the taking of the State Military Census, and other matters. 
 
 Tne Finance Committee, under the direction of Mr. Stuard Hirschmen, has operated in clo.se har- 
 mony with the Finance Committee of the main committee and its chairman has reported the success of 
 their solicitations directly to the Chairman of the main committee. 
 
 The Recruiting Committee, under the direction of Mr. A. M. Barrett, has performed most excellent 
 and efficient service. They have been well organized, holding numerous patriotic meetings through the 
 Borough, successfully stimulating enlistment in the Armj and Navy. Their work has, of necessity, slowed 
 up since the selective rtraft law became effective; prior to the first quota of the men leaving for the canton- 
 ments, a number of dinners, entertainments, etc., were held in different parts of the Borough, the Mayor's 
 Committee in Queens co-onerating in this work through its Recruiting Committee. Incidental to the 
 work of the Recruiting Committee, and at their solicitation, additional stations for receiving enlistments 
 were located by the National authorities at various points of the Borough. They held meetings at street 
 corners, addresses being made by speakers from automobiles and by soldiers in uniform; large meetings 
 were held in the school buildings, and at a single meeting held in a Polish Colony in one of the wards, 
 twenty-two men volunteered for service in the United States Army. 
 
 The ^Military Census Committee had in claarge the taking of the State Military Census. The Chair- 
 man of this Committee, Mr. Walter 1. Willis, was appointed a deputy to Director of Census Goodrich, 
 and during the period of the census listed something in excess of 200,000 names. The task was performed 
 by an army of volxmteer workers, and. acting under the direction of Mr. Willis, Chairman of the sub-com- 
 unttee, performed most excellent service, calling forth most complimentary reference from those to whom 
 tbe census was reported. 
 
 The Speakers' Committee, under the direction of Rev. George Drew Egbert, has been in existence 
 but a short time, but has found opportunity to supply speakers for several occasions. The main supply 
 of speakers who have come to the Borough through the Mayor's Committee has been from the general 
 Speakers' Committee, whose prompt attention to the request of the Chairman of the Queens Borough 
 Committee, has contributed largely to the success of many meetings in Queens, and has been of great 
 practical benefit in furthering the cause for which the Committee on National Defense was formed. 
 
 In closing it is a pleasure to acknowledge the obligation of the Chairman of the Borough Committee 
 for the uniform courtesy of the gentlemen, members of the general committee, to the general office staff 
 and sub-committees, who had charge of the work. The spirit which prompted tlie appointment of the 
 original cominittee appeared to be communicated to the chairmen of each of the subsidiary committees, 
 and the results of their work must be a lasting credit to the man in whose mind was originally conceived 
 he appointment of a Committee on National Defense. 
 
 41 
 
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