davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-05-08
CROP OUTLOOK PROMISING,

Wilqiston, N. D., May 8.-Crop
prospects in the Williston district
are the best at this time of the Geas-
on that they have been in numAar
OF years. The recent SHOWS and rains
have thoroughly saturated the
ground with moisture Many of the
farmers are agreed that the pres
ent spring is very similar to the
spring Of 1892, the year in which the
northwest produced one Of its great
est crops.
For state news. read The Forum.
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-05-08
LOSES HAND I'M MILL.

Alamo, N. D. May S.-M. e.
Thompson saw his hand ground to
bits when his arm became caught in
the feed mill which is run in con-
nection with the elevator here. He
managed to extricate his arm be-
fore it, too, was pulled into the
threads Of the mill.
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-05-08
WRITES FATHER
FROM pUGoUT.

Park River, N. D., May S.-From a
'Dugout Somewhere in France"
Harry Overbye, a Park River soldier,
writes his father, living here, that he
does not mind machine gun fire but
when the enemy starts sending over
box-car Of explosives at a time,
he feels like crawling into a rat
hole
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-05-08
AMERICANS ON
ITALIAN FRONT
tBy Associated Press.l

New York. May s.The presence
of IAN American contingent and a
Bohemian legion on the italian front
is reported in a dispatch from Aus
triaR war press headquarters, dated
April s, to The Berliner Tageblatt, a
copy OF which has been received
here. The number OF supposed
Americans or to what arm of the
service they belong is not reported
by the newspapers correspondent,
who adds that the British and French
auxiliary troops are no longer on the
Italian front.
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-05-08
1T IS MAYOR NASH NOW.
Grand Forks Man Has Won Promotion
in Quartermasters' Corps

Grand Forks, N. D.. May Sword
Nash, of Nash Bros, wholesalers. who
enlisted last fall and has been in the
medical supplies purchasing depart
ment with offices in New York city,
has been commissioned major in the
uuartermaSterS' corps,
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-05-08

Now that so many American women
are stepping into business. the prac-
ticai street froek steps out of the
background and demands attention.
And really the seasons newest s0usi-
ness froeks are SO smart and jaunty
that almost anyone would, be tempted
TO join the eight-hour-a-day class Just
In order to wear one of them.
Miss Business Woman In the picture
has an eKquisitely tailored frock of
tan tricotine trimmed with navy blue
buttons and unique pockets quantity
tied. The roll collar on her frock Isl
of white georgette ais is the Tiny gilet
which is embroidered in navy yarn.
Her sailor. and of course Miss Busf-
mess Woman has at least one sailor
hat. lis of rough straw and also navy
blue.
She cannot, however, give up all Of
OF her fads and fancies just because
she is In business and SO she insists
on wearing dainty high-heeled patent
leather oxfoEdE,
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-07-30

Ias you said it, as news. Then I would
print an editorial calling attention to the
news item and pointing out with emphasis
that the excellent Dr.. Dernburg had made
an ass of himself again and that the pub
lie could see for itself what a fool he
must be to think that the American peo-
pie would ever fall for his sort of propa-
ganda."
Captain Albert frowned. DR.. Rumely
looked decidedly uneasy. DR.. Dernburg,
the only one of the trio with a sense of
humor. saw the point and laughed
heartily.
During the morning one Or two other
men, whose names 1 did not clearly get
at the time but who were obviously Ger
man, came in and went out of the room.
One, a short, thicl;set man with q
Kaiserlischer Schnurrbart, remained for
an hour or so, listening but taking no
appreciate part in the conversation. 1t
was well after noon before we left, DIR.
Rumely, Mr.. Lambin and myself. The
breakfast dishes were still on the table.
''Dr. Dernburg is wonderful man,
said DIR. Runely as we drove away. "He
is the man who reorganized the colonial
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-07-30

in this instance had approached Mr.
Stoddard through another mediary and
had been met with a firm refusal to sell
to German interests at any price. Still
later l learned of the efforts of another
group, the Printers and Publishers AS
ISOLATION l think it was called, COM
posed of American citizens of German
birth, who were trying to raise money
among people of their own kind with
which either to buy the Mail or start
new paper. Their plan fell through. l
was told, when they got to quarrellins
among themselves as to which one should
get the Iron Cross! / do not know that
to be true--I give it for what it is worth.
Then one day late in January or early
in February, 1915, DIR. Rumely again tele
phoned me from I.aporte to meet him
at the Union League Club for dinner.
We had barely seated ourselves at the
dinner table when he pulled typewriter
document out of his pocket and handed 1t
TO r:s. ..s.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-07-30
Run1ely and Dernburg
on Epe of LuSitania Loss
inPl0tt0 uyEpening Mail
Captain Albert Father of Golden Book of Germans in
America" Other Member OF "Big Three in Approach
ing F. P. Sockbridge in Use of Newspaper for Huns

Read that" he said, land tell me what
you think of it,"
read the paper through carefully. 1t
was several pages long and outlined In
considerable detail plan for the pur-
chase of New York newspaper and its
development along new lines. There was
not a word or hint or suggestion of Ger
man purpose or propaganda in the docu'
ment. It dealt with the possibilities be-
fore a newspaper that should make itself
the leader in certain fields of news and
which should develop the class Of ma
terial known to newspaper men as
features" along certain specified new
II lines. 1t discussed the possibilities of a
syndicate to handle and distribute these
features to other newspapers. There
were plenty of figures in the document
and estimates of a highly optimistic char
acter as to the profits to be expected.
Knew He Could Name Newspaper.
I folded the paper and handed it back
to DR.. Rumely.
II can name the paper said
81 can't tell you it's name, but if you
guess right I will not say anything"
he replied.
1.-The Evening Mail" ventured. He
smiled but said nothing.
What DO you think of the plan:" he
asked as we attacked our soup.
THAT document was never drawn up
by a newspaper man." l replied. 1T is
too much of a roseate dream. Money
isn't made as easily as that in the news
paper business. l am not familiar with
the Mails present equipment, but the
last knew about its plant it was totally
inadequate to carry out this project The
syndicate business isn't as easy as this
document would lead one to believe,
either I'd like to know more about the
capital available and how long the back.
ers would be willing to spend money be-
fore expressing an opinion on the general
scheme"
III tell you all about it, he said
You are right in your guess. 1t is the
Evening Mail. This document was
drawn up by S. S. Mcclure. You know
he originated the newspaper syndicate
idea and made a great success of it.
have just been to New York and l can
swing the deal with a very small amount
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-07-30

Iof capital--less than a quarter of mill
ion, believe"
Before we so any farther is the money
going to be furnished by the Kaiser or
the Printers and Publishers Association? =
asked.
Denied lie Had Hun Backing.
Neither he replied. This IS .
strictly legitimate business proposition
no propaganda whatever connected with
lit. You know that have always been
interested in the newspaper business, aud
am looking for something to get into
where can develop my ideas. New York
seems to be the place for me. A great
New York newspaper could be made a
powerful leader of public opinion all over
the country. We have no newspaper OF
national circulation the logical place for
one is in New York. With the aid of the
syndicate it could shape the thoughts Of
the whole country
Not if you still want to shape peoples
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-07-30

could do nothing from the outside, so
far as the Evening Mail wss concerned.
We had previously come to a tentative
agreement on terms. so a contract was
quickly drawn up and signed by Dr..
Rumely on behalf Of corporation We.
to be organized.
took a fast train for Chicago the fol-.
lowing day. Friday morning. May I. I
got my business affairs in Chicago quick
ly into shape and severed my connections
in that city. as DR.. Rumely had urged
that I close things up there as quickly az
possible; the Mail might be taken over
any day.
AS 1 went out to. luncheon the news.
boys were crying Extra 1 bought a
paper The big, black headline fairly
Ieaped from the page at me-
"LUSITANIA TORPEDoEDw
(The next article in this series
will tell of the actual transfer OF
the Evening Mail to DR.. Rumely's
control and the beginning Of its
pro-German propoganda).
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-07-30

auditor and business manager. Whom
could / suggest?
1t happened that had lunched that day
with Frank NJ. Lambin, formerly auditor
of the Chicago Tribune. told DR..
Rumely Lambin would be the very man
If he would come with US. He asked me
to write him at once all / knew about
Lambin, which I did A few days later
he came to Chicago and again I met him
ct the Union League Club, this time for
, luncheon. Here he introduced me to
Horace Brand, the editor and publisher
of the Illinois Stats Zeitung, the Oldest
German daily in Chicago, which has re-
Gently suspended publication. He had
been talking to Mr.. Brand about his New
York venture, for when he left us to 60
to the telephone Mr.. Brand began to talk
to me about it. We both agreed that DIR.
Rumely would know a great deal more
about the newspaper business very shortly
than he had vet learned.
| Wanted to Get Lambin's Aid.
The doctor was returning to New York
that evening. He wanted me to sound
out Lambin and find out whether he
would come to New York. Lambin finally
on my persuasion agreed to come along
for a limited period.
The conversation on the train was al.
most exclusively on details of newspaper
business management,
DR.. Rumely had suite Of rooms at the
Manhattan Hotel. He invited Lambiu
and myself to put up with him, but Lam
/ min preferred another hotel and 1 de-
cided to stop at a friends apartment.
1t was perfectly plain from the first
that, whatever DR.. Rumely's real motives
and backing might be, Mr.. Mcclure was
anything but pro-German. Indeed, he
complained bitterly that he found it ex-
ceedingy hard even to be neutral.
II love Great Britain ASIA son loves
his mother" he said. II think the idea
of a neutral newspaper is sound one
from business point of view, but do
not believe shall he able to keep the
editorial page neutral. However, DR..
Rumely assures me that am to have a
free hand, and if I show any hostility
either way it will be his friends who will
suffer-
! There seem to be lot of Germans
around here" remarked. why does DR..
Rumely stay here: Is he getting the
money for the paper from German
sources?"
''It is all coming from Americans, he
assures me-" Mr.. Mcclure replied. Il
would not be with him if it were not.
have known the doctor long time, and
l believe him to be perfectly honest.
am willing to accept his assurance that
it is all American money. 1 think you
can rely on that"
| On Tuesday evening we had q long
conference in DR.. Rumely's rooms at the
hotel. Mr.. Mcclure, Lambin and my
self discussed the newspaper business
from various viewpoints and Mr.. Nc.
CIure particularly talked about certain
features which he thought would be ez-
cellent circulation builders. As We took
our leave DR.. Rumely asked Lambin
and myself to have breakfast with him
| the following morning.
BE here promptly at eight O'Clock"
he said. We promised.
Telephone to Doctors Room.
At eight o'clock on Wednesday morning
Lambin and met IN the hotel lobby anc
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-07-30

ness. Dr. Dernburg and Captain Al
bert seated themselves on a sofa at one
end of the room; DR. Rumely occupied q
chair near the middle; Lambin and my
self made ourselves comfortable in ad-
joining easy chairs at the opposite end of
the room. Cigars and cigarettes were
| handed about.
whats this all about?" Lambin whis-
pered to me.
Search met I rejoined. Lets stick
it out and see" We did not have long
to wait.
DR.. Dernburg, DR.. Rumely explained,
was himself a newspaper man; his father
had founded one of the great newspape
of Berlin. We might, he thought, get
some valuable suggestions about run
ming a newspaper from him.
DR.. Dernburg began at once to ask
questions. Captain Albert occasionally
! interposed with an inquiry of his own.
The questions were asked principally OF
Lambin, and related to the financial
management of newspapers. The sub.
! ject is one upon which Mr.. Lambin is an
expert and an enthusiast, and in few
minutes he was explaining in detail
methods of bookkeeping. the cost OF white
paper and the hundreds of other techni
cal phases of newspaper production.
| For two or three hours the questioning
of Lambin continued Then DR.. Dern'
burg turned to me and asked many Ques-
tions about the editorial cost Of news.
paper making, methods OF organizing
newspaper stats, the collection of news
the press associations, and particularly
ways in which editors determine public
sentiment and appeal to it.
How far can newspaper go against
public sentiment?" was the gist of ont
of his questions. Not very far, l told
him, if it were run as a newspaper ana
not as an organ. 1 explained, too, thai
newspapers which were organs fol
special interests were not very highly re
garded in America.
"How would you 60 about it." he asked
ito interest the public in something tina
was unpopular"
Zone good way is to attack it EDITOR
ally" I said. 1.-The influence OF news
: paper editorials is much less than editor
generally believe, and their readers ar
quite likely to take the opposite view
point" This was, of course, an inten
tional exaggeration, my purpose being t
implant the suggestion in DIR. Rumeiy'
mind, especially, that il he were contem
plating the advocacy of the German caus
/ on the editorial page of the Mail he woul'
damage it rather than help it.
DernburE Becomes Insistent.
e But suppose you wanted people t
: know about something they were preju
diced against" persisted DR.. Dernburg.
What, for instance" 1 inquired.
LET US say-myself," he replied with
smile.
THAT would be easy" I answered hin
, Il would print what you had to say, jus
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-07-30

are with Germany; perhaps you don't
know that Mr.. Mcclure is personally
pro- british. He is a North OF Ireland
Protestant, you know
1T would be an interesting expert
ment," 1 commented. Il don't believe 1t
would last very long. but there might be
good deal of fun while it lasted"
Mr.. Mcclure will be actively associated
with me in the management DR.. Rumely
continued. "ue will control the paper S
editorial policies and direct the develop
ment of the syndicate. But Mr.. Mcclure
is not practical newspaper man, and
neither am l. We were discussing who
we could get to come in with us, and I
was just about to mention you when
Mr.. Mcclure suggested that you would
be a good man
Surprised Mt Mcclure Endorsement.
I was greatly surprised, and said so.
THE last time / saw Mr.. Mcclure we
disagreed so violently that l was sure
was permanently in his bad graces,"
said. And you certainly must be aware
that I have no sympathy whatever with
your point of view on the war
THAT is one of the reasons we want
you with us-because You do not hest
by your convictions" said the doctor
Il expect to take over the business and
financial management and to take part
in directing the general editorial policy
subject to Mr.. McClure's approval.
shall make mistakes, / am sure, and
want some one with me who will not
hesitate to tell me frankly when I am
making a mistake"
Nothing could have been more flatter-
ing. "What would you expect me tc
dog I asked.
Whatever you can do best he re-
piled. "Will you come with us? l tell
you frankly that I am not inclined to
60 on with the matter unless can count
on your help and advice
IF the proposition is what you say it
is, straight business venture, with no
strings or behind the scenes influences,
no propaganda, no German money, then
I'll go in with you if we can come to sat
isfactory financial TERMS I finally said.
Il want to so in as managing editor; to
take charge of the news and feature end
of the paper l don't care what you put
on the editorial page-that influences no.
body. and it will be in good hands if Mr..
Mcclure is in charge. The place where
poison works is in the news, and Ill go
with you only on the agreement and I'M
Outstanding that am to have full and
absolute control of the news, with no
appeal from my judgment as to what Is
and what is not news. I want it under
stood that at the first attempt to twist,
distort, suppress, magnify or otherwise
manipulate news I'm through"
Was Confident Of Closing Deal.
'T It is agreed" said DR.. Rumely. i
ON going back to New York in day "
two and expect to have the whole deal
closed in a couple of weeks. I'll wire
you when it is settled"
Again confided in my wise old friend.
He shook his head. 1T doesn't smell
good to me-" he said, but if they are
going to try any funny business you can
do more good on the job than on the out
side. Better go along, but watch your
STEP"
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-07-30
Amazing Story Of the Life Of an American Who Placed German
Institutions Above the Traditions Of His Native LdDd

policy of the German Empire. The only
successful than Germany is in the man
agement of her colonies DR.. Dernburs
visited all the English colonies and studied
English methods and was able to bring
about great reforms in the German
methods when he became Minister for the
Colonies"
But what did he do with the Evening
Mail?" l asked.
"Oh, nothins-nothing at ALL" replied
DR.. Rumely. He is simply friend.
Naturally he is interested in any effort
to establish neutral paper in New
York"
The good DR.. Dernburg was very much
interested. 1t seemed to me. As soon az
Lambin and I were alone together We
began asking each other what it was all
tabout. When We Joined Mr.. Mcclure
later We told him about the breakfast
party. We was greatly disturbed.
1T am under contract to Dr. Rumely."
he said. but shall break my contract
liz he is getting German money in this
venture I have perfect confidence in
him and shall ask him about it know
he will tell me the truth
Mr.. Mcclure later reported to mo that
Dr. Rumely had stated with positiveness
that he knew the source of every dollar
Of money that was to be invested In the
Mail and that it was all American money
and owned by American citizens.
| I asked DR.. Rumely the direct question
again:-"Is the German government put
ting any money into the purchase OF the
Mail?"
Declares Aid Il from Americans.
There is not dollar going In except
from American sources" he replied. 1T
will be an American newspaper. owned by
American citizens. Every stakeholder and
every director will be American citi-
zen. OF course. there will be some inter-
ests that are friendly to Germany, but
they will not exercise any control Of the
papers policies.
The more Lambin and talked about
the matter with each other the more puz-
zled we both were; there was great diff
Guilty in reconciling the visit to Dernburg 3
apartment with the statements made to US
about the financial control of the paper.
Up to this time there had been no public
intimation that the Evening Mail was to
change hands At this time, indeed. as
learned later. Mr.. Stoddard did not be-
lieve DR.. Rumely would be able to raise
the money required.
Late that afternoon DR.. Rumely met me
lby appointment in the Hotel Manhattan.
Il am ready to sign binding contract
: for your services" he said.
l had been given the 'once-over" and
pronounced safe!
/ 1t was too interesting a situation to
remain out of. Besides. while 1 might
find II impossible to do very much for
/ my country on the inside. l certainly
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-07-30
(THIRD lNSTALMENT.)


do not think saw DR.. Rumely after
our late session at the Union League Club
in September, 1914, until some time in
January, 1915. We exchanged occasional
letters, but no reference was made by
either Of us to the conversation of that
evening. l think the letters were mainly
devoted to discussion of William Allen
Whites proposal that the progressive
party should get together on the platform
of government ownership of railroads,
concerning which Mr.. White had asked
each of us, among many others, to express
an opinion. Nor did l hear much or see
many evidences of German propaganda,
and as by this time had become accus-
toned to DR.. Rumely's sudden leaps from
one project to another concluded that he
had dropped the idea. In fact. / rather
flattered myself that / had converted
him by pointing out the error of his ways.
At Christmas time, 1914, / came East
for brief holiday. In New York l dined
with an old friend who told me he had
been in negotiation with Henry l.. Stod-
dard for the purchase Of the Evening
Mail.
'Who is back of your" asked
"a group of New York business men,"
ne replied. II don't think they are going
TO get the money together, but have at
least got Stoddard to admit that the paper
is for sale. l am telling you this because
II the deal goes through 1 shall be con-
cerned in the management and l want
you associated with me-"
l assured him that I would be glad to
20 in with him if the matter came to
favorable issue, and returned to Chicago.
No. long afterward l had letter from
him saying that the original deal had
fallen through, but that he had been APP
preached by other interests who wanted
him to act for them in the purchase and
management of the Mail. These interests,
he said were directly financed by the
German government.
Warned Against German Aid.
Poison Keep off, / wrote him.
Later i was informed that the persons
who represented the German government
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-07-30

thoughts along the pro-German lines we
discussed last autumn" I objected.
mo, it would not be pro-German
paper at ALL" he said. Both Mr..
Mcclure and myself are agreed that there
is room in New York for a neutral paper
All the New York papers are pro-Ally
and violently anti-German. Here in Chi.
cago the papers are neutral, but New
York is taking this war very seriously
You know, Of course, that my sympathie:
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-07-30

A month passed without word. Then
Dr. Rumely telephoned me from Rolling
Prairie that he was making progress and
that I should hold myself in readiness
for a Quick call to New York. There was
some exchange of letters and kilograms
in the next two or three weeks; then he
called me up from New York by telephone
and said the deal was closed and that be
wanted to get the best possible man az
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-07-30

By FRANK P. STOCKBRIDGE.
copyright, 1913, The New York Herald
Co. All Rights Reservedl
copyright, Canada, by The New York
Herald Col