The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1918-02-01

be little suffering from hunger and dis
ability. Yet. thousands starve and hun
dreds die for want of help.
In these cities however, every man is |
presumed to help himself and provide
for bis dependent ones and that priva-
tion is caused only by extraordinary cir
cumstances.
In this country, we have seen full
grown cities and towns grow 'over
night" when new land reservations, or
mines we're opened. But they we're the
product of individual effort with but
crude collaboration.
During the last eight months the U.
S. government has been building new
cities, transporting the citizens there
from their former homes and not only
that but at the same time has had to
provide these new citizens with food,
clothing, munitions, and thousand
other necessities of military life. As we
write there are perhaps fifteen or twenty
such new cities in different parts of the
couutry each containing from thirty
thousand to fifty thousand citizen SOL
diers or soldier citizens as one may best
think of them.
There is one great distinction between
the citizen city and tie soldier city.
The former as we have said is the result
of individual effort, probably for many
years. The latter is the sole effort of
the government for few months. The
soldier citizen has no initiative, for him
all things. dwelling. food, clothing, are
provided by his government.
In the citizen city if man fails to get
what he tries for, he blames himself or
circumstances. In the army if there is
any shortage the soldier cusses the gov
eminent.
But when the word "government" is
analized we find that it is composed of
human beings. and because of that it is
far from perfection.
In the building of these "cantonments"
in the provisions for food, clothing, and
munitions, the government has under
taken, and to very great extent, per-
fected perhaps the greatest similar task
ever presented to any government to be
completed in SO brief period.
But as said, the government is COM
posed of finite human beings. Some of
these are selfish and sordid, some are
! simply inacabe. These facts are shown
by results. We hear of these results
from letters from the boys IN camp, and
congressional inquiry discloses failures
or worse in the higher circles.
There are two ways to look at the re-
suits of the preparations for war that
have been hurrying on for the last year.
One, to look at what has been done, the
other to look at what has not been done.
If we turn in either direction there is
much to see.
There is. also another two ways to look
in fixing responsibility for either success
ful performance or lack of it. In the
big things, such as providing guns, con-
tracts for buildings, clothing and food,
the responsibility is with the higher Of
ficlals. In the smaller matters of proper
distribution of supplies and the immedi-
ate care OF the men, there the RESPONSE
bility rests with the MINOR officers both
civikand military.
Individual examples OF suffering from
want of quarters, clothing and food can
mostly be traced to the local military
officers. They have not shown sufficient
initiative or effort for the men immedi.
ately under their care. This will neces-
sarlly be SO when so few of them ever
had such job before. The only way to
get good officers is through process of
trying out.
AS to the "big ones" the great civil
heads of departments, they also are hu-
man. Some are splendid, some are sor-
did, some simply inefficient.
The government has done q great
work in mobllizing million and half of
men, but has fallen down badly in spots.
We have the right to criticise and it is
best to criticise. But let us criticise
with view to improvement. Criticism
will stir up sluggards, clear out the in
efficient and dishonest. and as far as
possible fix the responsibility for short
comings where it belongs.
We are busily engaged in trying to
transform the ship Of state into man
OF war. From merchant ship into a
dreadnaught. It is not simple job.
We are willing to be patient, but when
we find dishonesty or weakness, we need
something beside patience. Only re-
suits will satisfy the American people.
PARA-GRAPHIcs.