davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-31
WORKERS NEEDED
IN MANY Lines
Government Sends Out Call
For Help in War In
dustries

Washington, Dec. 31.-Civilians are
called upon to start the New Year
with a resolution to serve the coun-
try. il possible, in some industrial
capacity In q statement issued here
today by the IT. 8. Public Service
Reserve OF the Department OF Labor.
The reserve enroils men who are
willing to do war work and records
their qualifications for the benefit Of
war industries that may be in need OF
their abilities. The month OF Janu-
airy has been chosen by the reserve
for a special drive in the northwest
to secure enrollments of mechanics
who can take up ship-buiIding. No
previous experience in building
ships is required, as shipwork can
with tools. The reserve calls at
tention to the patriotic service and
the good wages offered. VIM. Ed
win Hall. national director, said to-
day:
The new year will offer many OPP
portunities to civilians to be Of
service to the country. A great
number of ships must be built, ten
fold the tonnage launched in the
United States a year ago. Airplanes
must be turned out in quantities.
Munitions and soldiers equipment,
almost without limit. must be pro-
duced These things are the civil
ian's working contribution to the
noble cause for which the United
States is at war. To any civilian who
has not yet responded to the obliga-
ton, this New Years resolution is
suggested: Resolved, that until the
United States has won its battle for
democracy, I will stand ready to
work for my country, subordinating
personal interests. to the utmost Of
my ability"
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-31
Says Bolsheviki
Government rs
Most Efficient
fRv Associated Press.l

London, Dec. s1.-The BoIsheviki
government is extremely efficient.
energetic and decisive though faced
by noisy opposition from the privil-
eyed classes who are doing all they
can to check it by sabotage and
libel, according to the Petrograd COR
respondent OF The Daily News. The
correspondent says Petrograd is
more orderly than for some months
before the Bolshevih took control.
The people may not like the Bolshe-
Wiki, he declares, but they obey them
with startling alacrity, and the gov
eminent is based on real force.
The constituent assembly, the COR
respondent hears. will meet as soon
as delegates from the Ukraine ar
rive, perhaps in ten days.
Any attempt to turn oat the Boil
shevih government by force would
result in anarchy favorable to the
Germans, says the correspondents
He writes enthusiastically about
Leon Trotzky, the Bolshevilxi foreign
minister, who told him that the war
would be decided by social rather
than military pressure.
Trotzlxy said the German offer was
victory for the democratic move
ment generally, not only OF the RUS
sian and German democracy. Aus
tria Hungary, he said, is on the
point Of revolt and every country in
Europe is feeling the pressure OF
democFacy from below.
- Democratic pressure, Trotzlxy Cd
quoted as adding. forced the GER
mans to reject their grandiose plans
Of conquest and to accept the peace
in which there are neither conqueTor
nor conquered. He admitted, how
ever that such a peace could hardly
be achieved unless the entente allies
join the negotiations
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-31
Other Mems Views
An Editorial That May or May Not
Square With The Forums
Opinions.

st. Paul Dispatch: A. G. Townley,
head OF the National Nonpartisan
league, sees in the Presidents action
with regard to the railroads the en-
tering wedge OF government owner
ship. Says he: "Other nations have
seen that a nation is best served
when il controls its transportation
facilities"
Have they? Let's take one specific
case and see. Denmark owns and
operates 1874 miles Of railway, SO
per cent Of the country's total. These
lines cost the government $72,533,S9O.
In 1912 total operating expenses were
81, 500, 600 and gross revenue $4,000, :
600. III Denmark had to pay but S1z
per cent interest on the capital il has
invested, the annual charge would be
SIS, 989, 369-and OF course that invest
ed capital had 10 come from some-
where. It is also losing whatever
taxes would come to the state If the
roads were privately owned. As f. G..
r. Gordon, secretary Of the Anti
Socialist league, points out, this
would amount to about 100000 q
year. The net annual deficit cf the
Danish state railways, therefore. is
s2.S32.810.< On top Of this. Denmark
charges a freight rate three times
rs high as In the United States. ~
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-31
WILLIAM c. MeADoo.

It has been intimated that Presi-
dent Wilson is grooming Secretary
McAdoo for the presidency, with the
idea Of keeping the ONCE in the fam
lily.
The suggestion is unfair. untimely
and hardly a fitting subject for dis
cussion at this time. Mr.. McAdoo
has been much in the public eye, but
it was in the pursuance of his duty
as secretary Of the treasury, and
there will be plenty of time two years
from now to talk Of presidential
candidates.
But irrespective Of his political
aspirations, IL he has any beyond
holding his present offices. Mr.. Me-
Adoo is now very much in the lime
light, and holds probably more pow
er than any one man in America ex-
cept the President. He is both secre-
tary of the treasury, and director
general Of the railroads. In the for
mer job he will have charge OF the
raising Of about twenty billions Of
dollars for the current fiscal year, or
enough to pay all the nations ex-
penses for about fifteen years Of
peace. AS director general OF the
railroads, he will have the dictator
ship over 100000 miles of railroads,
and almost the power OF life AMI
death over any business enterprise.
II any industry needs transportation
facilities-and what manufacturing
industry doesn't-it must look to Mr..
McAdoo to get them. or at least Mr..
McAdoo will have the power to re-
fuse such transportation IL he deems
it necessary to do so.
Mr.. McAdoo is 81 years of age,
seven years younger than his dis
tinguished father-in law. He was
graduated at the University Of Ten
nessee and admitted to the bar.
While still in his twenties he was
president OF the Knoxville street
railway company. Later he became
q railroad attorney. His biggest
private enterprise was the construc-
ton of the first tunnels under the
HUDSON river. Three Of his sons are
in the navy.
There is a very wide diversity in.
the estimates Of the ability Of Mr..
McAdoo. His warmest admirers
point to the Hudson river tunnels, to
the federal reserve system, and TO
the Liberty loan financing as proof
positive Of his genius for handling
big plans and enterprises. His
enemies say he nearly wrecked the
tunnel enterprise; that the federal
reserve plan is simply the child Of
Senator AIdrich, and that the Liberty
loans could not fail with the gov
.ernment behind them.
But during the next few months
Mr.. McAdoo viii be put to a test
such as few men would care TO face.
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-31
FARMERS PLAN FOR
STOCK ASSOCIATION
Prominent Speakers Address inter-
estina Meeting Held at New
England.

New England, N. D., Dec. S1.-
Farmers, business men and others
interested in giving Uncle Sam a
bumper crop in 1913, held a meeting
at Dreamland hah last Thursday
afternoon, at the call OF #. @. Orr,
emergency county agent. Livestock
Specialist Peters, OF the extension
department of the Agricultural coli
lege, was among the prominent
speakers, and steps were taken TO
organize county livestock breed
ers' association, with branches at
New England, Regent and Mott.
The advantages of a county farm
bureau also were favofably discuss
ed, and the seed and feed needs of
Hettinger county were taken up.
Farmers of the Alden country, south
OF Regent, told of their experiences
with cheese manufacturing, and 9TH
err communities displayed an interest
in the subject, which was thorough
ly discussed by a representative of
the agricultural extension depart
ment. Grasshopper control was
taken up. and plans for handling the
plague. should it develop next year,
were considered.
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-31
BY The Wheeler Syndicate. Incl

we in this country had to pay similar
rates, the total freight bill of the
United States would be $500, 900, 900,
instead of 81, zoo, 900, 900. And in
Denmark railway wages average 1894
a year. or less than half the average
wage in the United States.
In 1915 West Australia suffered a
net loss Of ss5, 900 as the result OF her
adventure in the steamship business.
At the conclusion of an exhaustive
study of the whole question Of gov
eminent ownership the authority we
have quoted above says: Every state
owned railway in Europe except one
shows large annual deficits, gives
poor service and pays low wages"
Take the German state railways as
an example OF Teutonic efficiency in
government ownership. Wages are
less than half as much as are paid
by American railways and freight
charges are nearly twice as high as
those in the United States. Wherever
a favorable balance is obtained in an
instance of government ownership
abroad, ii is obtained by disregard
ing the capital investment represent
ed, the tax producing possibilities
under private ownership and either
ignoring or ridiculously underesti-
mating depreciation charges. And in
practically every case freight rates
are high and wages less than half
what they are in the United States.
The following table showing the
wages paid on the state-owned rail-
roads of the countries indicated tells
the stoT.v.
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-31

twenty first birthday is in reality
the American spirit-and will leave
comment to you who read this.
Dear Mother and Father: Your
letters came to me yesterday, and
now wish / had said nothing about
aviation until nearer the end Of my
ambulance service. am sorry you
take aviation so hard, FOR the
mortality is only eight per cent more
than that Of the infantry. The whole
argument amounts to this am first
Of all Of military age and must take
up some service, now that we are at
war, am physically fit for aviation,
while there are millions over here
and under age available for ambul-
anciers and camions. Do you wish
me to be called an ambuscade when
/ come home? And that is what
they call us here, now that America
is at war The air life is q bit more
dangerous, but death comes from a
little bullet and is quick and clean.
One is not blown into infinity by
marmite or other high explosives,
which leave unbelievable holes in
ones body. One fights man to man
in the air.
My Wishes are Nothing.
Il must do some military duty,
and my six months experience and
my knowledge of French are OF
value to those whom ann trying to
help. After all. If l am not to sur
vive this war, what difference does
1t make how go about 1t No one
wants to come home more than / do.
No one is more fed up on this war
than l am, but my wishes and your
wishes are almost nothing. Our sor-
row is like sunshine when you think
Of the sorrow caused by the death
Of the 100000 men who have died
since August, 1914. One learns to
feel that death is easy after watch
ing these F'renchmen die. And are
you, my mother and my father, go
ing to refuse to sacrifice one son,
When millions of others have done
far more?
Perhaps 1 am wrong to urge you
to let me go on, but / have all the
papers made out and take the medi-
cal examination soon. In America
we are taught that ones country
comes first, and am now to throw
over the legacy Of the revolution?
In France an aviator is considered
worth a thousand men? Can you
imagine my being worth a thousand
men? However, this Is no time for
joking. Only think of the millions
who have lost more than I can ever
be, of mothers who have lost sew
eral sons, as we'll as their husbands,
and their daughters, ruined by Ger
man of1cers; Of husbands fighting,
never knowing the fate Of their sons,
wives and daughters. God lis watch
ing me, and IL anything should go
wrong, SORROW a little and thank God
that you could sacrifice one so dear
to you in the cause of right. When
you have decided. write to me at
once. All my plans shall stop I'M
til hear again. Once more let me
assure you that realize how much
owe to you and Dad, and viii come
home at permission; come home on
~ to return, for could never stay
away from this war now until 1T
ends"
The permission he asked was
given.
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-31
Buying The Railroads
Samuel o. Dunn in the January Yale
Review,


Samuel o. Dunn in the January Yale
Review.
The government of the United
States has the best credit in the
world, but the purchase Of the rail-
ways would be an enormous tran
saction. The investment in their
road and equipment is $4,000, 00O,-
900. A valuation OF them would
hardly be less. It was commended be-
fore the United States entered the
war that 1t could raise enough capi-
tai to acquire the railways by the
issuance of per cent bonds at par;
and as the return, in interest and
dividends, paid by the railway COM
panies on their outstanding bonds
and stocks during the last five years
for which we have complete statistics
averaged 4.44 per cent, IL was esti-
mated that under government own
ership q large part OF the return paid
on capital could be saved. Recent
experience has demonstrated the
Righteousness OF some OF these estt-
mates. The fact is that the amount
OF capital in the United States seek
ing investment even on the very best
security at low rates OF interest is
relatively small, and it is probable
that, tax and other conditions being
equal, there is not a difference Of
more than one-half Of one per cent
between the return which the invest
ing public will accept on a govern
ment bond, and on a "gilt-edge" Sc
curity Of q large railway company.
Therefore, while under government
ownership ii would not be necessary
to pay SO high a rate Of return as
must be paid to raise capital for
railway companies, it is easy to ex-
aggerate the saving which would he
efTected by substituting the credit
OF the government for that Of private
companies.
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-31

st. Paul. Dec. 31.-Alfred Andre
sen and Mrs. Elsa Greig ANDERSEN,
now the guests of c. c. Hoag, 2O93
Marshall avenue, have become re-
united after a four years separation,
by agreement, in which both were to
try and see which could make good
first. Both have made good. The
meeting between husband and wife
took place in st. Paul as arranged
in 1913. They were Joined here bx
their daughter. Gladys Andersen, II
years old, who has been in Sweden.
Difficulties which Mr. Andersen
encountered in business in Minne-
apolis four years ago led to the pact
by which each was to go separate
way. Mrs. Andersen went to Italy
to cultivate her voice, and Mr.. Andre
sen went to Baker Mont. to develop
fax plant.
Arrested six times in Italy after
the war began, Mrs. ANDERSEN en-
countered difficulty in pursuing her
musical studies. Once at Florence,
while she was giving a concert, the
report spread she was a German spy,
and the audience Kissed and raised a
disturbance until the officers Of the
army had to interfere. The concert
was to raise funds for the Red Cross,
but she was fined $50 for being there
without passport. The concert net
ted $3.50.
Because she went to Italy without
passport, Mr.. Andersen was oblig-
ed to ask Secretary Bryan and Sec
rotary Lansing to get her one.
Because she had more money than
most of the Italian artists, Mrs. AM
dresen said she was under constant
suspicion in Italy, and the govern
ment officials could not realize that
she was being supplied with money
by her husband. She gave her hus-
bands residence as Bismarck, N. D.,
and that led to further suspicion
because they thought that no Amer
'ican could come out of town called
Bismarck. y
Andersen, when he left Minneapo-
lis in 1913 to seek his fortune, de-
cided the west was the place for
him. When the war began he re-
membered the principal supply OF
tow from Russia to Ireland would
be cut off and that the linen manu-
facturers in Scotland and Ireland
would be willing to pay any price for
good tow.
He discovered a process by which
tow could be produced in America
that was accepted by the Irish man
ufacturers, who have guaranteed
good price for ii until five years
after the close OF the war. His first
flax plant was at Baker Mont and
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-31
THE JOKER IN THE AMEND
MENT.

One glazing defect in the proposed
constitutional amendment on prohi-
hilton, has been pointed out by The
New York Sun, and it may be the
joker in the measure, designed to
make difficult or impossible its en-
forcement.
Here 1t is: The Congress and the
several states shall have concurrent
power to enforce this article by APP
propriate legislation.
Imagine, If possible, the confusion
that would result if a wet state like
New York were given concurrent"
power with Congress to enforce
Prohibition. New York would adopt
one set Of regulations and Congress
another It might end by prohibition
being enforced in dry states where
public sentiment favored it, and not
being enforced in wet states where
there was not an overwhelming
sentiment In favor Of it.
There is the probability. Of course,
that the matter would. promptly
reach the courts in which case the
judges would have to settle the old
dispute as to what happens when an
Irresistible force meets an immoyable
object. Both state and nation are
given equal powers by the highest
authority in the land. but both OF
them cannot prevail.
The time Tor action is now, before
any state acts on the amendment.
The wording could be changed with
little difficulty. and It should be
changed n the cause Of fair play to
the amendment ana out Of respect to
the constitution which would be
brought into dlsrepute BY such im-
possible wording.
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-31
LIKE BATTLE ELEPHANTS.
British Tanks at Cambria Also Com
pared with PharaoE1's Chariots,

Berne, Switzerland, Dec. 31.-De-
scribing the battle Of Cambria to
German readers, Lieutenant General
Won Ardenne in The TagebIatt says:
Those who fought in the battle de-
scribe the imposing impression made
by the British tanks which proceed
ed the attack on the widest front.
AS they advanced in masses, with
very small intervals between them,
they reminded one of HannibaPs
battle elephonts or the sickle
chariots of Pharaoh. The booming,
rumbling attack was accompanied
or rather supported from the air by
veritable cloud Of battle aircraft,
while closely pressed masses OF in
fantrys and field artillery followed
the iron wall, three cavalry divis-
ions bringing up the rear"
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-31
PRATT DEAL FAILs.
Huggins Leaves st. Louis without
Sao0wa maaaw.am
tBy Associated Press.

st. Louis, Dec. 31.-Miller Higgins
manager OF the New York Americans,
who has been in ST. Louis for several
days attempting to effect trade for
Derrill Pratt, second baseman OF the
ST. Louis Americans, left Saturday
night for Cincinnati after announcing
that no deal had been made.
Branch Hickey. president Of the st.
Louis Nationals asserted Saturday
night he had not secured a manager
for his club. He announced the re-
lease OF Catcher Toney Brottem to
the Little Rock, Ark, team.
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-31
The American Spirit


/ have tried hard to write an in-
PRODUCTION to what follows. but
can't find the right words. And af-
ter all is any introduction needed
/ think not. SO ] have just written
that title up therefor 1 want To be-
Level do beiieve-that the spirit
emanatlnR from this letter Of an
American boy who volunteered for
the ambulance service IN France and
was at the battle "a Verdun On his
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-31
1917 AND 1918.

Not since the Civil war at least,
has there been a year so filled with
history making events for the United
States as the one which will close at
midnight tonight.
One year ago, America was at
peace with the world. Today she is
at war with Germany and Austria.
One year ago, America had an
army of moth more than 100000 men.
Today she has an army Of more than
100000.
One year ago. food conservation
had not been heard of in America.
Today there are millions Of house
wives pledged to follow 1t.
One year ago the government fix
ing Of prices was unknown. Today
prices are fixed on many Of the neces-
stiles of life. and the program seems
about to be indefinitely extended.
One year ago the Red Cross had
fewer members in the nation than 1t
now has in the state of North Da-
kota.
One year ago government control
OF railroads seemed far in the future,
and something scarcely to be reck-
oued with. Today it is an accom-
plished fact.
One year ago the man who would
predict that America during 1917
would submit quietly to compulsory
military service, would freely and
cheerfuIIy subscribe to $4,000. 0O0, 900
in war bonds. and would be 'In-
vestigating" a government which
brought these about because it didn't
move faster in its war preparations,
would have been locked up as
dangerously insane.
These are but the high lights and
the outward evidences Of the almost
revolutionary changes that have
come about in the nation during the
year 1917. They do no more than
reflect the change in the daily life of
the people. Perhaps for most the
actual physical activities have
changed but little, but the mental
life is reyolutionized. The things
that seemed important a year ago,
are insignificant today, Thousands
Of men, to whom financial success
seemed the one aim in life, who felt
that life was hardly worth living If
they could not reach the upper rings
Of the ladder, have 'chucked it all",
tossed the plans OF years into the
fire, signed up for 1.-THE duration Of
the war" and are letting the future
take care of itself.
The nation Is making over it's esti-
mates Of men on this basis. It no
longer enshrines the successful man
OF business as the one to be emulat-
ed IL possible. Many an American
today would give all he has for the
little gold bar on the shoulder that
indicates a lieutenant's commission,
or the three stripes of the sergeant.
What will the year 1918 contain
fpr the world? Peace perhaps. The
Year 1917 brought the Russian rev.
Olution, and the year just opening
may bring the overthrow of the Ger
man government. But the man who
thoughtfully reviews the events of
the year that is closing, cannot but
see the folly of trying to forecast the
happenings of 1918. The old world is
skidding along too fast for most
men to even keep pace with the
events that are happening, without
attempting to look ahead. There is
but one resolution to be made for the
new year-to do ones duty from day
to day and to hope for a return of
peace and a brighter era of freedom
and equality for men.
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-31
own SERVICE EYAM

Wheatland, N. D.. Dec. 31.-A civil
service examination to I'LL the posi-
ton of rural mail carrier out of here
will be held in Fargo on Jan. -.
Rules and forms OF application may
be secured either at the Fargo or the
Wheatland postofflce. The applicant
must be a male citizen and a resi-
dent Of the territory that is to be
served.