The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-05-02
BLUEBAcK SPOILERS.

The st. Louis Globe-Democrat COM
mented on the spelling tests in this
state, as follows:
Oklahoma may reverence Roosevelt
So may the Dakotas. But both in
Oklahoma and in the Dakotas there are
things they reverence more. There
were men from all Of them among the
rough riders at FL Caney and San
Juan. but that was only little mat
ter of shooting, and being shot at,
with guns. There Cklahomans and
Dakotans could take orders from
Roosevelt and execute them with all
the celebrity and responsibility of the
man who is said to have carried "a
Message to Garcia" In the more
deadly close between two long lines in
hostile array at a spelling match, the
Dakotas, and Oklahoma, stick to the
old manuals Of arms in loading and
firing. They scorn the simplified
championed, and the old blueback
spelling book Of Noah Webster's best
days is good enough for them.
This is tribute to their valor.
Neither at Ell Caney nor at San Juan
hill were combatants dropping out Of
the line, hit by the opposing fire, with
anything like the appalling frequency
with which they go down in any SPELL
ing battle where Noah Webster's guns
and ammunition IRE used. To see the
frightful defamation of the ranks, on
both sides of a field, when volleys of
old Noahs most deadly and explosive
bullets are filing the air. is to real
ize that the Dakotans and the Okla
Romans are not slxulking in their
choice of Webster to Roosevelt. With
Roosevelt's plan of shorter and easier
spelling, even college graduates would
have a chance for their lives, or at
least a chance to remain. in action
longer than they can hope to remain
with Webster in command. Roose-
welt would reduce the dangers of
spelling wars to a minimum, but the
old blueback Webster spelling book
stands pat on words which NOW down
troops In platoons, unit. 1t is never
long until two old guards, the flower
Of the two armies, confront each other
in the last desperate strugglo. Always
are such combats reduced, in number
of active troops, until, in the end, a
single survivor on each side prolong
the battle until one falls and the sole
survivor is crowned victor.
The warlike spirit of the Dakotas,
and Of Oklahoma, has had no higher
testimonial than in the determination
of the educational authorities of these
states to stand by the old traditions Of
photographed warfare. They will not
run away from the frightful fatalities
of the old battlefields to adopt new
codes OF arms under which battles
might be waged from sunrise to sun
down without loss of more than so
per cent. What they are now do
ing seems to offer every prospect
of increasing the carnage. Sticking
to the old blueback spelling book
as means Of training the young
idea how to shoot, and to webster's
dictionary in manning the heavier
guns, they are all about to enter upon
contests in which mighty battles are
to be fought first in school districts.
The survivors Of these struggles are
then to fight battle for the su-
premacy Of the township, the town
ship champions will contest for the
county. the county victors will con-
test for the state, and at last, the
three state champions will meet in a
very Armageddon of battle to deter
mine on which of the three flags the
sun Of glory shall shine. we shudder
at the contemplation OF such frightful
destinations in the ranks as must re-
suit from this long and arduous cam
paigning Whole batralions will be
swept OFF the field at a word. Mr..
Rooseveft's simplified spelling would
be more merciful, but such is his zest
FLOR var II not for slaughter. that we
are sure, If he can follow the CAM
paign in any one OF the states and
then see the last desperate Titanic