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        1. General projects is not just a "guide-book" project, and does not intend to confine itself to any particular field, but it is a form of organization which should, when properly going, be able to take over almost any part of the nation's civilian economy, as may be required. The plan was originally drawn up for that purpose in 1927-8, and has been developing gradually ever since then. Since the outbreak of the present war, various parts of it have been worked out as projects for conscientious objectors to war work, they being the portion of the nation's population who can be used only for civilian economy, and who should be able to take over necessary parts of it as abandoned by others who are less interested in maintaining such activities.

        2. Similarly, it is not a war-time project. With the end of the war, it should be possible to continue all work, and expand its scope, by reverting to the original plan of a membership corporation open to all who will do requisite work.

        3. The so-called "Geprodis System" of guide-books, having been contributed by its inventor to help the Projects get started, is the first project being worked on, as means of initial financing without either governmental or employee financing. It is essentially a system of describing large cities and metropolitan districts with special attention to transportation facilities, and their fares and transfer privileges, giving out a type of "how-to-get-there" information never before published for any city. The work is now almost ready for several parts of Greater Boson, and for the District of Columbia, and the essential parts of it for Albany, N.Y., and Worchester, Wass. With the aid of volunteers already controlled, it is being gotten ready for Manhattan Island, for Newark, N.J., and for Milwaukee, Wise.

        4. Realizing that there are other things of greater national importance than guide-books, as well as that conscientious objectors cannot be forced into a single mold (the large number of objectors already in prison can testify to that fact), General Projects will, as soon as this first project shows returns, devise other projects of more obvious and direct national importance, adhering at all times to the principle that projects must be volunteer, urban, and show a possibility of being self-supporting so as not to deprive objectors of the opportunity of earning a living. It might also be able to devise benefit services for its members, or even for the general public, as a means of disposing a surplus; for the organization is not for profit, and cannot dispose a surplus otherwise.

        5. By providing work of national importance, and endeavoring to keep conscientious objectors who can do such work out of the prison or other punishment which might otherwise be their lot, as well as by providing the basis of works which could take up the slack of post-war unemployment (which it is hoped General Projects might help to avoid), which in the way of social work, such as welfare work, taking care of delinquents, etc., will be less needed. The best way of avoiding delinquency and unemployment is to give people useful work to do; and it is this that General Projects proposes to do for them. 


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