Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-06-02

EVENTS OF THE WEEK
On Tuesday of the coming week the male residents
OF the United States between the ages of 81 and 81 will
be registered in order that the federal government may
have a complete list Of such persons. from which list viii
be selected the half million mon who are to constitute
the new national army which Is to be created under the
terms Of the recently enacted Law. During the week just
past the matter of registration has occupied more general
attention throughout the country than any other subject,
partly because of the general approval of the registration
plan and the preparations therefor, and partly because
of tho reasonable efforts being made by various persons
to impede the work and thereby to nullify the efforts Of
the government.
There have been found numerous cases Of opposition
to the draft and to the registration which is to precede it,
and government officials have evidence indicating that in
addition to the opposition which comes from individual
slackers here and there, a part of this opposition is due
to the activity Of German sympathizers, and a part to
the work of Socialist agitators who are making an or
sanized effort to defeat the purpose of the government.
Notwithstanding the explicit terms of the law, which
makes it a misdemeanor punishable by a years impris-
onment to fail to register, or to induce others to do SO.
opposition to registration has developed in many Of the
larger cities, and the attitude of many Of the DIRECTORS
is defiant and Incorporating. Predictions are made
of bloody riots on registration day, and If riotinR is at
tempted it is certain that some of those who are now
so active in voicing their distates for military service will
be given some unpalatable doses of the fighting which
they oppose so strenuously, for there will be no tolera-
ton of any sedittous acts In connection with this very
essential work. The government means business, and
there is sufficient sentiment in the country to back it up
against any possible demonstrations by DIRECTORS of all
kinds. ..'' f
Excellent progress is being made in placing the LIB
>erty Loan bonds. All over the country committees are
At work receiving subscriptions for these bonds. and no
doubt is entertained that the loan will be very largely
oversubscribed. The committee having this work in
charge in Grand Forks has reported subscriptions Of
over 100000. and the work is still going on. The small
denomination Of the smallest bonds. $50, with the op-
portunities that have been provided for payment in in
staI1ments. makes it possible for many who have not
current funds available to take one or more of the bonds
and pay for them later, while the untaxed earnings,
sl-2 per cent. with the privilege of exchange for a bond
of higher earning power if such are issued later on, gives
a satisfactory yield in addition to providing the best Sc
curity in the world.
While Socialists are busy in this country with plans
to obstruct registration and draft, foreign Socialists are
likewise busy in the cause Of autocracy under the guise
OF a peace movement. The Stockholm conference is the
center Of these foreign activities. There German So
cialists have repeated the proposal that has come from
Germany in various forms at other times Of peace with
out annexation or indennities." Another statement of
the plan is that Germany. having started something
that she finds she cannot finish, now seeks to crawnsh,
and to withdraw from the fruitless fight without being
penalized for her nisbehavior.
The sentiments Of the German Socialists are re-
echoed by various Socialistic groups in this country,
while in Russia another branch of the order is doing
its best to aid the German cause by proposing tmpos-
sible political and economic conditions for the new pro-
visional government. Whether Socialism attracts tho
perverted or perverts after it has attracted is not
clear, but throughout the world there is to be traced a
direct connection between unsound socialistic theories
and the orderly processes of law and reason through
which alone democracies are able to govern themselves
that it seems quite fair to condemn Socialism as a men
ACE to peace and liberty throughout the world.
=
Congress is at work on food legislation, and the pas
sage of the revised food control bill is possible at almost
any moment. While only the late Washington dispatches
can tell Of the exact provisions of the bill it is quite GER
tain that very large powers will be placed in the hands
Of the president in the direction of food regulation, and
that severe penalties will be provided for those who un-
dertake to monopolize supplies and thereby create e-
tortionate prices, 1t is expected that authority will
govern the president to FIX minimum prices for important
food staples. and to regulate the sale and distribution of
them.
ssss F
For the time being, at least, the censorship authority
which the president believes is necessary la discarded,
the house having eliminated this feature from the es-
Dtonage bill. 1t does not follow that one may therefore
SOAK ana write as he plsases with impunity, for there
have been at all times on the statute books laws inniot-
Ing sevAre penalties, oven to the death penalty. for ths
uttsrapce Of treasonable sentiments. These lawx have
not bsen repealed. and those who have objected to the
several proposals. for censorship believe that the .extsttng
lews equip the government with ample power to deal
Htth al Objectionable utterancsA.
T . $3.50 . . =
The msrchant marine bill, With its appropriation
gof 375e,o0o.oeo, - on the way to passage. r1era has
lAapm q little hurry oysr alleged differences between CEN
9stget Gpethals and 1nsMbsry Of the defense 8connminton.
~ EattSrs appear&ts hans bssn rishted. ana aosthals i. Is
ahsed,, With full authority. II ~ undsrstood that gths
sNIespgram contemplats4 Tor sths building of cniy WeodsnI
s%a46tps = this tiss - ssnadhanssA aad ysSssis 81 boths
aS1ll4 M stssl - t. ~ built CO ~ - ~ nAter4al5 On
SzAgsseSa slsaaaisd. T 50 ~ - 1ha.sr,d Isl aesahass
sssgfssH1St hss 49, osfssswsg TsvSssu;sI Il ~. s = s
sNS(lll sqHs ytssss1S esAgsssy5lB e. naase4bvy 4ssgSst4nH5psrs1
essassss 90 tese.ss iaes5AA hss ssssssa $500 -