The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-10-30

are those in this country who pro-
fess not to understand IL. Cannot
they put themselves in Captain
Amundsen's place and get something
of his feeling? Captain Amundsen
regards with repugnance any mark
of distinction coming from German
sources and the aversion which he
feels is certain to be the feeling Of
all right minded men in the course
of time. The time is coming when
those who have been decorated with
they their descendants, will take good
care to conceal the fact.
The Chicago Tribune: The dean
of an agricultural college says that
the farmer has been confused rather
than dilatory in the undertaking of
war obligations and that his isolation
from organized community efforts
puts him out of direct touch with
the influences which readily inspire
townsfolk.
Every one has been subjected to
confusion of advice. That was the
natural consequence of trying to do
in six months a thing that requires
years. The wonder is that the con-
fusion has not been greater, and
greater wonder is that the accom-
plishments have been so great. I'm
doubtedly good intentions on the
farm have gone off in the wrong
direction as often as good intentions
in the cities-if not more often.
The point of isolation is we'll taken.
1t has been insisted upon in the
criticism of the farmer. IL the war
is a dim pageant for urban eyes and
CfF oil n a.
ton, it is yet more dim and more re-
mote for rural jewellers. The point
also must be insisted upon that
while there is a mechanical effort to
break down the agricultural isolation
for community thought and activity
there must not be a political effort
to. create a caste isolation.
Mr.. Hulbert's criticism of the farm
er, a criticism for which the banker
has been pounded ever since he made
1t. was based on experience, and we
hope and believe will have a good
effect. 1t does not answer 1t to say
that this individual or that individual
has done well, bought bonds, sent
sons to the army, etc. No one thinks
that the farmers as a class have be-
come radical Russian individualists.
Country bankers were authority
for the statement that it was useless
to try to interest farmers in LibertS
bonds. Not only that, but nearly
every organizer sent into rural dis
tricts by Chicago houses to prepare
for the selling of bonds came back
discouraged.
If the reports of these organizers
had been accepted as indicating the
temper of the country the prediction
would have been that the United
States would quit in the first round
Of the fight. The very fury which
criticism has aroused in farming Sec
tons indicates that good results are
being obtained from ii.
1t is not at all the farmers fault
that he cannot get in close touch
with community inspiration. He is
bound to be slower to move than a
citizen who can readily get stimula-
ton of thought ami emotion from
such a parade as Chicago saw We'd
nesday. City folk have more time to
inform themselves and they get i'm
pulses from associations.
1t is not altogether the farmers
fault that politics has made a sacred
COW of l1im-not that he protests
much against 1t or dislikes ii. 1t Is
poor business for the nation to have
a sacred cow caste established, and
tics inside congress and out has
done.
Let the criticism of the farmer do
it's work. 1t will be unjust and in
consideration places, but observation
and experience prove that 1t will do
a great deal of good. Politics has
been afraid Of the farmer and, be-
ing afraid Of him, not only has a
volume Of emotional rhetoric about
him but has carried its fears into
legislation and administration.
We cannot very well administer
the country upon the fear that an
important body of citizens win be
furious il there is a drought when
rain is needed. We are in no more
need Of farming caste in this coun-
try than we are of a military caste.
The st. Paul Dispatch: Recent
dispatches carried the story of an
individual in Maryland who did not
know we were immersed in war.
This is less strange in view of the
probability that in Minnesota might
be found hundreds, perhaps thou
sands, who have not the slightest
conception OF the causes which have
drawn America into the maelstrom.
Statistics show that in this state we
have S9,155 Inhabitants unable to
speak the national language and 40, :
SOS illiterates. It is almost humanity
impossible that a majority Of this
portion of our citizenship could have
a correct perspective of the war.
There are communities in Mime
sofa where our language is prac-
ticalIy unspoken. The people flock to
themselves and use and speak only
the language Of the country from
which they came. Their information
of the war and its causes is obtained
wholly from foreign sources-in most
cases pro- German sources at that.
In the absence of all other knowl-
edge how can IL be expected of them
that they realize the high purpose
Of the United States in taking up the
gauntlet for humanity and civiliza-
ton? What do fthey know Of the APP
peal to make the world safe for
democracy
What knowledge they have Of the
war and its events Is drawn entirely
from anti American quarters. They
are made to believe the atrocities IN
Belgium are British lies: they never
heard OF che massacres OF the Ar
menlans; know nothing of sT-boats
Smelling the helpless passengers
crowded upon life-rafts: think of
Edith Cavell as a designing spy; are
taught to believe the sinking Of the
Lusitania was directed by divine
providence. With their origin and
environment how could they be ex-
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