Repository: UIHistories Project: War Publications - WWI Compilation 1923 - Article 3 [PAGE 19]

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of patriotism closely resembles the brand of justice dealt out by the n o b in accordance with the uncivilized code of lynch-law. No municipality can afford so seriously to injure the great cause wl»i< h it is

living to serve.

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Btfora embarking upon any form of patriotic endeavor, then, it is incumbent upon every city to judge carefully, in the light of such advice as it can secure from count), state, or nation, in which of these three classes just mentioned that enterprise will fall. Thus and thus only may it perform effectively its own peculiar duties, determine the things it may most efficiently do in cooperation with other agencies and learn what it had best let alone. And all this to the end that its service may count for the very most in the winning of this great war. It seems to me that this is not a problem in which this organization can afford to take merely a casual or purely academic interest. It is true that the Illinois Municipal League is not a body which can directly engage in war work with anv real effectiveness. But it does not follow that there is nothing of value which it can do. I submit to you that there are two distinct things which this organization might consider undertaking. It might, in the first place, provide for or sponsor the making of a careful investigation of just what has been done by the towns and cities of Illinois in the way of effective war service, and what the possibilities in that direction arc which have not been adequately developed. A report embodying these facts, coupled perhaps with such recommendations as a committee of the league might care to make would be of inestimable value to the municipalities of this state by letting them know what their neighbors are doing and how they are doing it. In the second place, it seems to me that such an organization as this might well have a committee on municipal war work which could put itself in touch with the state council of defense, suggesting its willingness to coordinate with that body in any effective way in which its services could be utilized. The chairman of the state council of defense states that no data has been collected regarding the war work of Illinois cities nor have any plans been matured for the coordination of those activities. He declares that the state council would gladly welcome any suggestions which the Illinois Municipal League might make relating to those problems with the assur15