The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-11-29
TO QUIT now
INPATRIOTIC,
SAYSLAWRENCE
Commercial Club President
Reviews Clubs War
Activities

To limit the activities Of the Fargo
Commercial club. which is about to
close a most successful year In war
and patriotic activities. by curtailing
subscriptions to the budget is not
playing the game. according to a LETT
ter lust mailed to the club members
over the signature OF Aubrey Law
renee, president.
President Lawrence reviews war
activities Of the club, showing that
the club has been a factor in or
ganizing and promoting the major
war organizations in Fargo and the
northwest.
The letter follows:
"The club is just closing the first
chapter of its history under war
conditions. The past few months
have been busy ones, fraught with
a multitude OF activities, new in their
general aspect, but, old as the hills In
their basic principles. In other words,
the club has applied its principles to
new practices.
"The departure of Company B and
the drafted forces called for many
little services, unspectacular yet
needful, services that needed the
touch of some definite organization.
1.-The Red Cross reorganization has
been accomplished and the machine
put in perfect working order. The
necessary funds having been raised
by campaign unique in its concep-
tion and gratifying as to results.
THE Y. M. G. A. war work cam
paign effected by practically the
same organization as, that used for
the Red Cross campaign, exceeded
its quota by 40 per cent.
Many men have been guided to
places where they could express their
patriotism by enlistment in one Of
the many arms Of the naval and.
military service, this being through
the Military Training Camp associa-
ton in which the club has been very
active.
THE Four-minute Men league,
now a well established and credit
able state organization, gained its
first impetus through club efforts.
"The Liberty Loan campaign,
though not conducted by the club,
were in both instances aided to no
inconsiderable extent by club effort. !.
THE labor bureaus of the state
requisitioned our aid during the har-
vest and threshing season.
1.-THE various recruiting stations
have drawn on our resources from
time to time.
Various state and city surveys
have been made for such national
movements as that Of food conser-
walton, quartermaster's reserve corps,
etc.
I'm all we have been quite busy
with what may be termed unselfish
movements. Our activities on selfish
lines have been largely confined to
Ia 40 a
which in conjunction with the club
at Grand Forks, we did in the in
terests of the entire northwest in
wheat price fixing hearings at
Washington. The total cost outlay
for this effort was over $1,000 and
made serious inroads on our clubs
finances. The results, however. more
than compensate the financial loss
when the savings to the farmers OF
the state is taken into consideration.
Internationally, this effort resulted
in enhancing the price of wheat
forty cents q bushel, or $3.50 an.
acre to the entire wheat acreage of
the state.
"our semi-annual period closes
Dec: and while we have weathered
the financial storm, and started on
the new year with small balance,
yet, unless past due accounts are
paid now, and the dues falling due
Dec. ! are paid promptly, we shall
find ourselves compelled to curtail
our energies for lack of funds.
ITO relax our club efforts and cur
tail our club subscriptions because
we have taken on patriotic work and
subscriptions, is not playing the
game. To donate to the Red Cross
and Y. M. g. A. war funds, or to in
vest In Liberty bonds, money that
we have been devoting to club pur-
poses is unpatriotic and selfish.
All this means that you should
pay up your dues and budget
promptly and cheerfully.
Yours very truly.
AUBREY LAWRENCE,
aPramideut