The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1917-07-27

Declaring that it is not possible to
exaggerate the gravity of the crisis
which faces the people of the United
States. Assistant Secretary of Agri-
culture Carl Vrooman, in spirited
address this afternoon before a
large crowd at the Interstate fair
grounds, told his audience that "this
is one of the most momentous hours
in our history, if not the most fate
full hour in all history, for as. one of
a sisterhood- of nations we are face
to face with wars most dreadful
handmaiden. Famine"
mot as a people. Of course the
secretary continued, for we can al
ways hope to feed ourselves, but as
one of a sisterhood of nations, we
are face to face with famine right
now We may. not be starving our
selves, but millions of our fellowmen
are"
Delivered Two Addresses.
Mr. Vrooman made two addresses
today, one in the morning at the au-
ditorium and one in the afternoon at
the fair grounds and large crowds
turned out to hear him speak. His
principal address, at the fair
grounds, follows in part:
Never before have the business
men of a nation showed such patri-
otism as they have shown in the
United States during the last three
months. Instead of regarding the war
as an opportunity to extoIt illegiti-
mate war profits from y dazed and
distracted government, many of
them have offered not only their. see-
vices but their enormous business
organizations and properties to the
government on any conditions 1t
might see fit to impose. This is a
splendid and thrilling manifestation
Of the real American spirit.
Few Exceptions to Rule.
Unfortunately, however, there
have been exceptions to this rule
Only recently we have seen the Sec
retary of the navy and the chairman
of the shipping board forced into the
arena in a hand struggle
with an organization of unpatrlotlc,
selfish, sodden steel magnates, intent
only upon extorting from the gov
ernment despicable millions of IL
legitimate profits, while loyal, red
blooded Americans were rushing
eagerly forward to sacrifice money,
ambition, and even life itself, upon
Those of us to whom the gods
have not vouchsafed the distinction
of service in the trenches, evidently
will find opportunity at home to
show courage, self sacrifice and pat
riotic devotion fighting side by side
with those federal officials who have
drawn down upon themselves ven-
ounous abuse for having dared to in
sist on keeping this war free from
any taint of graft, extortion, or 9TH
er forms of illegitimate war profits.
Volunteers in Business World.
'If this war is to be won, we shall
have to put several armies in the
field. II any army OF civilian patriots
be not organized to stand behind the
and fight this great fight
for business honor, while our boys
in khaki are gaining for themselves
and for their country an imperish-
able renown, flghting and dying tri-
,Imphantly in the trenches. that
country win be disgraced at home
bv a despicable scramble for illegi-
innate war profits on steel and coal,
on munitions ana food. Men of
America This degradation must not
come. Ten million OF the flower Of
American manhood by the selective
draft have had their names written |
~ the nations immortal roll of hon.
or. The nation calls today for an |
equal number of volunteers to fight !
ia the business world and at the bal |
lot box. to make the conduct Of this |
war as clean and patriotic, as heroic |
and self-sacrifcing at nome as IL is \
Continued on page FIVE.