The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-09-02
CONVERSION OF
PLANTS FOR War
ORDERS IN HANDS
OF COMMITTEES.
Vice Chairman Of Sub-re-
sion Explains Workings
of the Plan
WILL BE HELP
TO GOVERNMENT
Full Information on All
Factories Will Be Com
piled Soon

draft of the war industries board of
the United States and its auxiliary
bodies, which has been prepared by
j. P. Hardy, Fargo, vice chairman
land manager OF the district known
as sub-region No. 6.
The plan. as outlined by Mr.. Har-
Idy, has wonderful possibilities for
\ North Dakota, and may result in
the bringing of a large number OF
war orders to North Dakota fac
tories, bringing the work to the men
instead of taking the men to the
work.
There is hardly a factory in the
state that cannot be easily adapted
ITO the manufacture Of something
that the government needs in its
prosecution OF this world war. as is
shown in Mr.. Hardy's outline, and
has been demonstrated in other
states in the country.
That the placing Of orders for war
supplies has become too big a job
for the government to handle alone
lis explained in the draft, which fol-
lows in detail:
OFigin-The resources and con-
version section of the war industries
board was organized at a. meeting
held at Washington, D. c., July Is
and 10, 1918. The first step was
that of dividing the country into 20
regional districts and appointing for
each, representatives of the govern
mont, known as regional advisors.
North Dakota Division-The Six
teenth district, of which North Da--
kota Is a part, comprises the states
OF Minnesota, North Dakota, South
Dakota, Montana, upper peninsula
OF Michigan and northern Wisconsin.
North Dakota being subdivision No.
6 of that district o
Point Of Contact With Washington.
The regional advisors office is.
practically branch office of the war
industries board, so that when the.
washington office requires informa-
ton as to the production of material
gfor the government, it sends an in
curry to the regional advisor who,
in turn, addresses the inquiry to the,
various chairmen Of the regional
sub committees, who through organ
1zation like that we are about to per-
feet, gather the information to-
gether, furnish the results to the re-
gional adviser, who, in turn, trans
mits it to the Washington office.
Plan of Organization-The plan of
organization for each region is iden-
teal, there being a regional chair
man and executive committee COM
posed Of the chairman OF the sub
regions.
Purpose-First, to assemble as
quickly as possible, complete de-
tailed information concerning indus
tries in all parts Of the country as
follows:
(a) Those not now engaged in war
work and capable Of undertaking
such.
(b) Industries only partly engaged
on war work, but able to increase
their production Of war material.
(c1 Industries now employed on
war work whose contracts will soon
be completed.
1t is hoped that by stimulating war
material production in given terri
tory, wage earners may be kept in
their own communities. rather than
making it necessary to transplant
them to the now already saturated
districts OF the east.
Method-To carry out the purpose
above outlined a survey of the states
industrial potentialities will be NEG
essary. Speaking on the subject OF
such surveys, G. A. Otis, chief of war
resources committee, said:
THE survey is entirely up to the
local situation.
In other words, you will get out
of this work in proportion as you |
put into it. The results Of this sur |
yey will be gathered together at the |
office Of the state chairman in |
Fargo, and by him sent to the re- |
gionaI headquarters at ST. Paul. The
survey made and it's results compiled, |
the machinery Of the district can
then be put into operation
The Point of Contact.
The point of contact from now on |
between the governments purchas-
ing agencies and the seller or pro-
Queer of war material will be
through the regional adviser who |
armed with the information obtained
through the surveys, will forward to |
the chairman of the sub -region, re-
which, the information on hand pre- |
dicates, that the sub-region is |
equipped to bid. The benefits, there
fore, that will accrue to each sub
region will be largely measured by
the tlloroughness and skill with |
which the survey is made and tab
uIated. "A mere survey of Industries
in their present condition will not
suffice. An analysis Of the posi-
bilities Of the consersion of existing /
industries from their customary
channels to those of war work, is es-
sential, If the sub-region is to profit
through its organization.
"A study Of the possibility Of new
industries to convert the products of
our soil, into necessary war material.
will suggest itself as a proper func-
ton for this organization. Many
such industries will readily suggest 1
themselves, such as starch factories,
potato flour mills, fiber mills, hemp
factories and clay product works.
Appeal-It is obviously one of the
duties of American citizenship today,
to comply with all requests and re-
spond to all calls made by our ma
tional government.
TO say that North Dakota is not
an industrial state, and therefore,
not interested in the activities of
the war industries board, would
mark us not up to the proper STAN
dard of American citizenship, the re-
quest has come, it is our patriotic
duty to answer it.
Benefits The possibility that war
contracts may filter through to our
state through the machinery of this
coupled with the
thought that wage earnersf may thus
be employed at home, and not COM
PEELED to transplant themselves to
gain employment, and that our fuel