Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-04-21

GRAND FOR
manner. Just how much the acreage can be increased
In time for this crop can scarcely be estimated At this
time, but it seems certain that an effort being made
will result in better culture in the more careful handling
Of the crop at harvest time, and in . considerably aug
mented yield.
Among the groups of men who have interested them
selves in this problem are the North Dakota bankers,
who held a conference at Fargo early in tho week to ar
range, through the creation of committees, and in other
ways. for the handling Of credits in such a manner that
the farmers Of the state would be able to do their very
best work under the best conditions. At this meeting a
forceful speech was made by President Decker, of the
Northwestern National bank of Minneapolis. who pre-
sented one view Of the war which is both interesting and
instructive. Mr.. Decker said that while he had not voted
for President Wilson, he was glad that he had been
elected. for, had his opponent been elected, and had the
country then been obliged to enter into war. the thought
would always have remained in some minds that had
the election resulted otherwise war might have been
averted. Mr.. Decker's point is we'll made. President
Wilson has unquestionably tried to keep the country out
of war. He did not desire war. That cannot be disputed.
For more than two years under his administration we
had avoided war. And yet, with that desire for peace
in his mind, and with the record Of his effort to demon
strate his wish. President Wilson was compelled. at last.
to accept war AZ an accomplished fact. and to urge that
1t be made a vigorous one. The insvitableness Of the
war, and the earnest desire Of the American people and
government for peace could not be better demonstrated
.
Having passed the war loan, congress Is now busy
with a bill for the creation of a large army. In this
matter there is none of the unanimity which character
lied the passage Of the war loan. The president, the war
department, and more of those, official and unohacal.
who are at all familiar with military organization,j urge
that the army be raised by consumption. They urge a
selective CONSUMPTION. in which intelligent attention shall
be given, not merely to tho physical fitness Of the man
under consideration as a possible soldier. but to his rel
alive fitness for service in the army or at home.
This form of CONSUMPTION is urged on two main
grounds. First, 1t Is held that service where service is
needed is the duty of the citizen, of every citizen. and
that the same opportunities should be given and the
same obligations imposed on all. Second, 1t is held that
only under CONSUMPTION, with the regulations properly
adjusted, can it be possible for the government to have
reasonable assurance that only those best fitted for serv-
ice in the field are chosen for that service, and only
those best fitted for the equally important work of keep
ing the wheels of industry moving are assigned to that
duty. The bill embodying the governments views was
approved by a majority Of the senate committee, while
a majority of the house committee prefer the retention
Of the old volunteer system.
Food prices continue to soar. Wheat prices dropped
a few cents following the action of the Canadian govern
ment In aboltshing the duty on imports Of wheat and
wheat products from the United States. action which.
under our tariff law, automatically resulted in the re-
moval of our own import duty on Canadian wheat. At
first 1t was expected that there would be a large influx
of Canadian wheat, but the probability Of this soon disap-
peared, and prices speedily jumped back to their former
level. and beyond it. Prices Of other foods have adj
vanced In like manner. The uncertainty as to conditions
appears to have stimulated speculation, and it is report
ed that in the large cities there are vast stores of foods
Of almost all kinds held by spectators who have wit
messed the value of their holdings increase by leaps and
bounds. The price activity has been stimulated, it is
said. by city householders who have been buying in large
quantities through fear Of further advance. This action
has tended to produce the very advance which it was
intended to guard against.
It will be something new for the United States to
have a controller of foods. and an arrangement for Ak
ing their prices. but both of these things have been dis
cussed as by no means remote probabilities. 1t has been
suggested that 1t may be necessary for the government
to place a minimum price on many food articles in order
to insure their liberal production, and also that maximum
prices may be fixed in order to protect the consumer. 1t
is certain. in any event, that there will be something of
a radical nature done to put a stop to mere speculation
in foods, and the problem Of distribution is also one
which is certain to receive attention.
.
An impressive scene was witnessed in London on
Friday. when, on the day after the anniversary Of the
battle of Lexington, where the first shots in the Ameri-
can revolution were fired, a religious service was held
in st. Paul's cathedral in recognition Of the entrance of
the United States into this war as the friend and ally
Of the empire of which the thirteen colonies formed a
part. American flags dew from Westminster Abbey,
from the Parliament houses, aid from public buildings.
The king and queen were present at the exercises, and
the audience Joined in singing 1.-The Star spangled Ban
ner," 1.-The Battle Hymn OF the Republic" and God
Save the King"
Now that several weeks have elapsed since the dra-
matte revolution in Russia, 1t is not strange to find that
in the process Of readjustment there is friction between
the various elements which contributed to the DOWNFALL
Of the despotism and the establishment Of a provisional
government recognising only the authority of the people.
The men representing respectively the provisional gov