The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-09-01
THE END OF A PERFECT WEEK

This has been an exciting week in
Fargo.
The towns pulse was hitting about
120 Tuesday, and it has not resumed
its normal gait yet.
Veterans Of SO recalled the Cop
perhead riots of the Civil war, and
perhaps looked up at the wall where
the old musket reposed, calculating
they had one good scrap left in them
yet IL Uncle Sam needed 1t.
The Company B boys figured they
could stop on the way to France and
clean out any traitors they found.
And the rest of us peaceful, every
day citizens of Fargo in our least
sober moments, rather regretted that
the Doves hadn't been permitted to
flock here so we could show EN-.
But it's all over as far as Fargo
is concerned, and the birds with the
broken pinions are fluttering around
the country looking for a place to
aIight, with the country taking pot
shots at them. Their convention is
now more of a vaudeville show than
a serious menace thanks to the
good sense Of such crowds as those
OF Tuesday night.
And now as a little Saturday night
mental diversion, it would not be
amiss to calmly examine their plat
form.
What do the Doves want or pro-
TESS to want?
Peace Of course. So does every
humane man and woman. There is
no quarrel with them there.
What is their program?
First-The restatSment of peace
terms.
second-The repeal of the draft
law.
Third-The keeping of the Ameri-
can army at home, and sending only
money and munitions abroad.
Fourth-The Russian peace for
mula Of no annexations, no indemni-
ties, and free development of small
natlonalities.
The first plea was answered by
President Wilson in his reply to the
Pope. Americas peace terms have
been stated and restated repeatedly
They have not changed since Amer
lea entered the war. Az
The repeal of the draft law now
would make America a negligible
factor in the war for six months to
come. The entire army would have
to be reformed. 1t is not a debatable
question now. America decided 1t
six months ago. She chose the best
boat available to cross the river.
Shall she jump out in the middle Of
the stream, sink or swim back to
shore. and select a leaky one?
To keep American forces at home
and fight this war with money would
make 1t a dollar war; indeed. What
American could ever hold up his
head again, if this country permitted
England and France to fight its bat
tie, while it held their coats? Ma
lions have a code of honor as we'll
as individuals.
The Russian peace formula has
been threshed over until IL IL trite.
America has expressed herself for
no annexations-except those nee
essary to free oppressed peoples. 1t
favors no indemnities-except those
necessary to undo, as far as pos
sible, wrongs actually done. It Is
fighting for the freedom of small
nations. No annexations means Ar
menia left to the Turk. No indemni-
ties. means Belgium left to fight
alone against starvation and ruin.
There are other planks In the plat
form. Consumption Of wealth is one
OF them. and the government is now
busy deciding how far it can safely
go with the CONSUMPTION. It must be
"selective CONSUMPTION" like the con-
scription OF men. Il Is not a problem
to be settled offhand. If by wealth
is meant all capital invested in in
dustry, farms, railroads, and fac
tories, complete CONSUMPTION would
paraiyze the country for decade.
and il isn't necessary any more than
complete CONSUMPTION Of men.
Another plank is the maintenance
Of standards of labor during the war.
It is the one issue which might
probably be discussed. but the gov
eminent now has q special commis-
sion working on this very problem.
Much is made of the right Of free
speech and the right Of assembly.
Persons whose intentions are wholly
peaceful may with all propriety be
denied the right OF assembly IL such
assembly threatens the general peace
81 the community. The constitution
expressly forbids giving laid or COM
fort 70 the enemy. and classes it as
treason. That such convention
would give aid and comfort" to the
enemy, no sane person can doubt.