The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1917-12-13
The Editors Mail Bag
10 The Editor Of The Forum:

i 10 1NG LuAAbAH VI AAAG
In The Fargo Forum for Friday,
lDec. 9th last under the heading, The
American Defense Society,"" etc, /
note q statement of Clarence s.
Thompson, of New York, trustee Of
the American Defense society, which
questions the patriotism or our
commonwealth.
/ The assertion is made that Ger
manism is not opposed. sedition and
disloyalty not punished and that the
opposition to the First Liberty loan
is a matter Of record
Within the bounds of the state the
patriotism Of its people Is not ques-
toned and needs no defense. 10 Mr..
Thompson, however, We would say
that his statements are disproven by
concrete facts. Sedition and dis
loyalty have been dealt with sum
marily and the way of the trans
gressor has indeed proven hard in
our state.
AS to the Liberty loans foated we
wish to inform Mr.. Thompson that
North Dakota's allotment was over
subscribed 73 per cent. one per cent
more than the oversubscription in
Mr.. Thompson's home city, New
York, in fact larger oversubscrip-
ton than any other state. Under
what particular class OF gross dis
loyalty does this oyersubscription
fall, Mr.. Thompson?
is it necessary to call Mr. Thomp
sons attention to North Dakota's s
voIunteers,-her First regiment and
her Smashing Second2 These are
volunteers, Mr.. Thompson, and not
drafted men. Just step over to Long
Island and shake hands with few
of them. They are fair sample. of
our commonwealth. and we are so
proud of them we grow an inch tall
er in presenting them to you.
Our entire state Is active in Red
Cross work. The hum OF the sew
ing machine and the click OF the
knitting needles, is the music Of the
day. Meatless and wheatless days
are observed and in all things our
people are cooperating with the
federal administration to bring the
war to a speedy and successful close
Mr.. Thompson has undoubtedly
erred in looking up this record OF
North Dakota OF which he speaks OF
else the record was not authentic
The latest device of deceiving-
camoufage- have been present
to a great degree at the time the
record was scanned. Petty politics
has, we fear. invaded even the ranks
of our organization bearing such q
distinguished name as the American
Defense society. This is time when
little differences should be put aside
a time for unity and not discord
F'ranklin's statement, I'VE must al
hang together. or else wen all hang
separately" is perhaps just as ap.
: plicable to the present situation as
1t was to the Revolutionary crisis Of
!. 1776.
Can Mr.. Thompson give us one
concrete instance where North Do
kota has not proven herself 100 pei
! cent loyal. furnishing her full quota
of men, money and Red Cross sup
plies for the prosecution OF the war
VIII Mr.. Thompson advise rs Of the
! different states where more OF the
state funds in proportion TO their
wealth has been invested in govern
ment bonds than In North DalSota9
/ have been a subscriber to The
Fargo Forum for 81 number Of years
but have never tried TO dictate to 1t
any policy in the managing Of the
paper. I hereby wish to 90 on rec
ord, however, 10 criticising the man-
. agement Of the paper IN permitting,
in times like these. an article such
as that under the above mentioned
heading to be printed without brand
ing ii a lie or commenting editorial
" on It as libel on our state and
people.
3 Very truly yours
G O HAGASETH.
Pingrees N. ID. Dec. lL