The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-02-23

made possible by the contribution o
$50 from the Fargo Votes For Won
en- league. which made that sum at |
suffrage tea given last October, wa
not held at Christmas time, as haC
been planned, but on Feb. 6, accord
ing to a letter just received by thu
league leaders from Mrs. Ida B. Wis
Smith, Cedar Rapids, Ia, who wen
to Camp Dodge especially for thu
occasion, as agent for the loca
| league. Mrs. Smith is president o.
the Iowa w. G. T. U. and a promin'
emit suffrage worker. Having visited
North Dakota last fall. when she at
| tended the annual North Dakota w
| Q. T. u. convention at Valley City
| Mrs. Smith takes an especial Interest
in the North Dakota boys and volun-
| teered to undertake the arrange
ments for the party above mention
ed. a..
Mrs. Smith writes that the boys
seemed to enjoy greatly the idea OF
q Christmas party in February. some
| saying they would call it their Valen-
tine. The letter in part, is as fol-
lows:
Held At Army Club.
Feb. 9Th, was the first available
| date for the Army club This is the
handsome Shriners' temple which
was taken over by the War Recrea-
| ton Bureau for the exclusive mill
| tary events to be given under their
auspices. The party was under the
| supervision of the War Recreation
| secretary, thus giving it all the
prestige that can be given to things
of the kind, and by this official ap-
proval securing for the men special
leave. The building has all the rooms
OF the most desirable sort of mems
clubs, including an immense ball
room or auditorium. In this case 1t
was an auditorium.
You have no idea how difficult it
is to find people at these military
camps. The War Recreation secre-
tary is supposed to find out every
thing. He reported that from the
official statistician he found there
were but forty North Dakota men at
Camp Dodge, the larger number of
them having been sent south the first
Of December. Some of the women
went out and looked up the matter,
and found some North Dakota boys
who took the matter in hand, and
through us all we found $50 scatter
ed through the various regiments and
companies. The official invitation
was given by the recreation secre-
tary and the boys themselves talked
to one another until think every
one knew Of the occasion.
THE city federation of the w. G.
T. u. took the local arrangements in
charge. We consulted the BOYS as to
what they would like to have by way
Of entertainment. They thought they
would enjoy a musical very much
So we planned an evening OF music
and readings. The young women who
read were especially happy in their
selections of readings and am sure
never saw a group Of boys enjoy
an evening Of that kind more than
they did that night. Ireally became
very much worried as to the lateness
Of the hour for they insisted not only
on encoring every number, but
sometimes even a third selection.
After the trio sang their medley,
Keep The Home Fires Burning,
asked the boys to sing it for their
own home folks. They sang it
beautifully but under it l could hear
a pathos that should be glad to
pass on to you. They were such
wonderfully fine boys. know you
will keep the Home Fires burning
for such splendid young men to come
home to.
1--WE had invited about fifteen
couples, men and their wives, select
ing them carefully in view OF their
ability to make friends with the boys
on such short notice. The men
greeted them at the door downstairs
and visited with them in the Tent
Room, which is their name for the
cloak room of the club, and then aft
err a while brought them upstairs in
groups where the women received
them in the parlor. We did not have
a receiving line. but tried to appear
very much at home so that all being
strangers the boys would not be self
conscious. We had about 20 nice
young women that I think the boys
appreciated very much being present.
They visited, some Of the boys en-
joying playing checkers with the
men. and then we went into the
auditorium for the program. ! gave
a little talk to the boys explaining
the occasion and expressing to them
your keen interest in them, and your
appreciation Of their spirit, and YOU
may be sure / did not forget to re-
mind them that when IL came time
to vote for suffrage in North Dakota
they were to bark back and remem-
Der it was the Votes For Women
league that had given them this
pleasant evening. liz they work as
hard as they applauded. you are sure
OF the ballot already You may be
quite sure that while the w. @. T.
u. had to appear in the matter local
~, neither the boys nor the general
public failed to know that they were
but general agents in the matter,
and that your organization was the
first one outside Of the state, indeed
the only one. to in this way show
of their mems service.
cat the conclusion OF the program
they went to the dining room. al
few men felt they could not stay,
because for some reason they had
not secured special leave. and had to
be back by midnight. Camp Dodge
is is miles from Des Moines and the
roads were thawed and they feared /
delay. But ia soldiers were served. /
You understand the local people paid
for their own refreshments. They
were served generous portions OF
layer ice cream. There was nice home
made cake, and the pieces were so
large one boy said, Why this piece
Is a hunk. There was coffee In |
addition, served by the Official /
cateress at the club.
Il have sent In Mrs. #. FL. WiIder's 1
care q package of the programs. I
These seemed TO be much appreciat- |
ed by the soldiers and we printed /
$50 Of them so that those who could /
not come could have the souvenir. 1
)ne young sergeant agreed TO be
responsible for every absentee roceiv- j