The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-10-14
In The Open Forum
A Column Devoted To The Task OF Keep
ing UP With North Dakota Editors

The Parshall Leader advocates the dropping OF
German from the public schools, in the follow
ing editorial:
: The Leader is absolutely opposed to the
teaching of German any other foreign
language in our schools for at least perioa
of twenty years to come. This war has
taught a lesson in nationalism that can
never reach fruition till the of the Amer
lean language becomes universal-we favor
compulsory school attendance and the compul-
sorry use Of the English language in daily in g.
tercourse, for a long period, would not be a
bad idea. The and speedy method to
make real Americans Of the many nests of
foreigners we harbor in our midst is to corn
pei them to learn and talk our language.
that will apply with added force when the
tide OF European immigration Swells after the
war, In speaking of terminating teaching
German in our schools, we are just as much
opposed to teaching French, Scandinavian or
any language other than EnSlish-we ia
vor concentration the idea OF bringing
about nationalism for long period to come.
Making the of the English language COM
pulsory would naturally tend to disseminating
papers in any language other than the English,
that would have a tremendous influence on the
end sought, the rearing and paking of 100 per
cent Americans. Our melting pot will never
melt with efficiency and precision till the
babel of tongues that find refuge in America
is welded together by the use Of univer-
sal language. fn-
The Grand Forks Herald comments on the in
activity of Fearless William as follows:
The people of Grand Forks are interested
in the matter of rates for gas, heat and
some time ago there were many expressions
of dissatisfaction, and it quickly developed
that no local body had authority in the
premises, such authority being vested ex-
clusively in the state railway commission
The only possible course was to bring the
subject to the attention of the commission
and ask for an adjustment which would be
equitable to all parties
Steps were taken by the city council to-
ward this end. In order that the matter
might be presented inteIligently there was
necessary statement OF the value of the
property of the power company devoted to the
Grand Forks service of the cost of operation,
and of the earnings. To obtain this infornla
ton survey of the property was necessary.
also an audit of the books OF the company.
1t developed that the commission had no
funds which could be applied to the collec-
ton of this information, and in the absence
of it there were various delays. The city
authorities have endeavored to expedite mat
tiers and the commission has been ready 10
proceed with the hearing whenever the par
ties were ready.
The attorney general has it appears, had
an audit of the companys books made
although the commission had not been notified
OF that fact up to yesterday when the board
was in session here. On inquiry, however
the city authorities were notified from the Of
flee OF the attorney general some days ago
that the audit had been completed, and that
the report would be forwarded on receipt Of
the cost of preparing it. That cost was not
stated Al statement OF the cost was requesey
ed by wire, and UP to last night no reply
had been received, although there has been
ample Time