The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-09-20

An Industrial Nation.
I'm the last quarter of a century
the United States has ceased to be,
primarily, an agricultural, and has
become as well, an industrial coun-
try" said Mr.. Bridges. mo solution
can be made OF the problem OF mar
keting and distribution until we fol-
low the example of eastern states
and cities by socializing the primary
functions that have to do with mar
keting and distribution, such as
railways, street railways and ter
minal facilities Of the great sea-
ports.
The increase of the actual pur-
chasing power OF the given wage Is
more important than increase in the
money wage. The protest OF pur-
chaser and consumer on the shrink
age OF the dollar are inseparable.
I'VE must develop trolley freight
and motor truck freight carrying
facilities and eliminate the wasteful
horse. / believe the ideal plan for
marketing and. distribution of food
products would be:
Publicly owned terminal ware
lenses, elevators and cold storage
plantsLthese connected with a pub
lie terminal railway. ~
''2.-These brought into direct con-
tact with the producers in adjacent
territory by publicly owned and op-
Grated auto freight trucks taking
the products directly from the farm
TO the terminal warehouse.
"A publicly owned wholesale
terminal market under the same au-
thority as that operating the ter
minal warehouse and the auto freight
rs@vm tee wwV@hrIZ
thus sell produce either at auction
or private sale for the producer.
"4.-The establishment OF great
cooperative consumers associations
whose agents would buy directly
from the public terminal market or
warehouse. II we will add to this,
ownership and operation
OF our steam railway system and
government ownership and operation
Of the waterfront Of our great natur-
al seaports which are the gateways
of ocean borne commerce, we viii
find that we have tied the string to
the soaring kite Of the ever-rising
prices of basic national supplies"
Demands Are just.
The nation is facing a shortage in
copper, which with mines in Mon
tana shut down was described as
by Miss Jeanette Rankin,
representative in congress from
Montana. The demands of the Butte
strikers are just, she said, and term
ed "unpatriotic," unjust demands by
labor or capital during the war.
The development Of the country
must depend upon the combined ef-
forts of capital and labor" said Miss
Both Iare necessary, and
both must respect the just demands
of each other if industry is to pro-
ceed. It is unpatriotic of either fac
ton to make unjust demands. The
demands that labor is making In
Butte at the present time are rea-
sonable and just and for the welfare
OF the country they should be re-
spected.
THE chief grievance of the Butte
miners is the socalled 'rustling card
system employed by the Anaconda
Copper company, which operates
against any organized attempt Of
the miners to secure safer and bet
ter working conditions. The men are
out on strike, and have been for
several weeks. They intend to re-
main out until their demand to have
the. rustling card system abolished
is granted.
"The men expect to have their
difficulties settled peaceably, III spite
OF the fact that one instance Of vio-
lence occurred early in the strike
when Frank Little was lynched by a
party Of masked men. Violence of
this sort has no place in any COM
which is struggling toward |
civilization. The spirit which seeks
TO destroy life and property strikes !
Its blow always at those least able /
to Withstand 1t. and is worthy only
of contempt.
To-day, with the mines shut down,
we are facing an alarming decrease
n the production of copper. Accord
ng to estimates OF, the National |
Council OF Defense, the normal pro- /
luction OF 10000, 900 pounds Of cop
per a month is being checked. This
sopper is needed in almost every i
0ranch of me 2hanical endeayor.
"And, meanwhile, the greatest,
most liberty loving nation in the /
world Is engaged In war-in the most
tremendous conflict recorded In his-
oFy. The effort OF all right-thinking !
people at this time is to ascrifice as
title as possible Of the constructive 1
.orces, and to be more generous with
hose things which will protect life
md reduce suffering. With the as i
Continued on Page Two.