Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-06-23
EVENTS OF THE WEEK

Most of the time of congress during the week has
been taken up with discussion OF food legislation. The
first food bill. which is intended to stimulate production.
is held up in conference. and it is uncertain when action
on 1t will be reached. The second bill. which deals with
matters of distribution, conservation and price fixing,
has been the subject Of animated debate, and some OPP
position to it has developed. While 1t is supported by
some of the most prominent men of both parties. many
of them from the great agricultural sections, and its pro-
visions are believed by the majority in congress to be
helpful both to the consumer and to the producer.
Senator Gore and few others are opposing it vigorously
on the ground that it will be injurious to the producer,
and that as a result of its operation production next year
will fall off. No sound reason seems to have been ad-
vanced for this contention, and it is not believed that it
will have great weight.
AS one of the results Of government control of the
situation in the steel and allied industries. although that
control is potential rather than actual. the price Of steel
Tor merchant ship construction has dropped from SOS to
$56 a ton. Bids at the higher figure were not approved
by the board in charge Of ship construction. and the
latter figure is accepted only tentatively. and may DO
subject to still further reduction.
1t is uncertain just when the men drafted for the
new army will go into training. September / had been
fixed as the date. but the announcement has lust been
made that the time will be extended as it is not expect
ed that the camps will be ready by that time. The men
drawn from North Dakota, 1t is stated, are to go into
training at Des Moines. Iowa. Every effort possible has
been made to get matters in shape for the several camps,
but so much work is necessary, and so much material
will be needed that 1t has not been found possible to
make the preparations in time. The facts have a decided
bearing on the glib utterances made some months ago
that in case Of war the United States could raise IN army
of q million men in q day.
Little by little the United States is entering actively
into the war; Several thousand Americans are now in
France serving with the Allies in various capacities.
Most Of those who have crossed the Atlantic thus far
belong to engineering or other special groups. General
'Pershtng has visited the trenches, and has had an op-
portunity to observe real fighting On a large scale. He
has in charge the work of preparation for the American
forces which will follow him as soon as they can be given
nrOner nr0narafiOn IN fhic oiA Nh r,ar~>@k l. $h~
the training here will be rather brief, and that most of
the real work of this nature will be carried on across the
water. presumably in France. This plan is strongly ad-
Vlsed by most military men because the conditions Of
war change so rapidly that recruits need to receive a
great part of their training. IL not exactly at the front,
at least SO close to it that the lessons which are learned
by experience here can be brought to them with the
smallest possible loss Of time.