The Kansas State Council of Defense in World War I.

Abstract

The activities of the Kansas State Council of Defense reinforced the fact that man's attempts to achieve societal improvement and progress make up a large portion of the subject matter of history. The history of the Kansas state council of defense became meaningful when it revealed the ways in which council activities sought improvement of economic, political and social conditions during the World War I period. Many aspects of the state council's work deserved attention. One major reason for the significance of their work reflected the emphasis on local organization and support. This emphasis made the council's work more relevant to the lives of both rural and urban Kansans. It included many Progressive Characteristics, which depicted a new kind of attitude. Enthusiastic local activity became a hallmark of state council efforts to achieve successful support and preparation for the war. The state council organized this type of activity in nearly every area of Kansas life. Economic, social and political support for the nation at war permeated all state council actions. State council work in effecting organization in these areas achieved special importance concerning several topics relevant to Kansas. Increased agricultural production and support; grater loyalty and patriotism from all Kansans; increased voluntary service, especially among women; and the primary importance of enthusiastic local organization of people ready and willing to support warrelated activities defined many state council goals. Such an organization had never been attempted in Kansas. The local nature of its organization appealed to many people, and helped its efforts promoting increased agricultural production and volunteer service become successful. The agricultural efforts benefited also from federal support to farmers in exchange for increased production. State council activities encouraging increased loyalty and patriotism often seemed to omit recognition of three basic facts. Most Kansans were individualistic, and resented any council insinuation supporting an individual lack of loyalty or patriotism. They did not usually consider patriotism a comparable virtue. The state council of defense reduced the possibility of this program's success by not recognizing these facts. Kansans reflected great ethnic diversity, which did not always indicate unpatriotic feeling. This program of loyalty promotion became one of the council's least successful activities. The emphasis on local activity in this area of the council's work often revitalized local animosity more than local patriotism. Council efforts toward increased agricultural production, which became successful, resulted from innate local patriotic feeling. The Kansas state council of defense experienced many of the problems common to organizations based on local voluntary support. It often seemed to ignore local variations in economy, society and politics. Unity and patriotism were sometimes overemphasized. Federal direction of council efforts often resulted in such extreme emphases. The state council's local work often helped increase neighborhood cohesiveness. Its emphasis on local support gave Kansas women a vehicle in which they could use to demonstrate their organizational and volunteer abilities. They supported many council programs with enthusiasm. The Kansas state council of defense developed as a significant innovation in Kansas political, social and economic life. This innovation became an organized indication of the people's support of this country during World War I. The fact that it was used during World War II also indicated its success at an organizational pattern.