The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-05-05
THE EDITORIAL MEETING.

THE EDITORIAL MEETING.
!" Comments on the North Dakota editorial war
conference held in Bismarck week ago are gen.
orally helpful and hopeful. Among those who at
tended we find but one discordant note. Dave
Larin of the Parshall Leader, and good Lacquer,
undertakes to critcise the capital city because the
Liberty day audience at the Auditorium was not
large. Unfortunately, Mr.. Larin could not be
here for other meetings when time after time
Bismarck filled the Auditorium to Overlooking and
was forced to turn hundreds away. He was not
here for the council Of defense war conference,
when on several nights Bismarck people packed
both the Auditorium and the Grand theatre. Nor
did MIR. Larin, apparently, understand that Bis
marck had had little warning of this meeting;
that until the last moment the impression had
been that it would be confined to newspaper men.
The Tribune, for Mr. Larin's sake regrets that,
after Bismarck has done all in it's power to make
the Parshall Leader mans stay in the city pleas
ant, he should return home and abuse his host.
But, Bismarck's patriotism needs no defense from
such carping critics-we have too many concerts
and visible evidences of the loyalty of our capital
city to warrant any argument over the subject. i.
Editor Crazy of the Devils Lake World was not
here. He says editorialy that had he been here ne
would not have walked across the street to attend
the conference, because he does not admire MIR.
Box Mr.. Box is not the state of North Dakota
nor is he the council of defense. The Tribune has
found in him capable secretary. He has said
and done many things which merit hearty COM
niendations One of his first declarations was that
80 long as he remained secretary Of the defense
council no politics would be injected into it. And
he has kept his word. On the program for the
newspaper mems conference were Jerry D. Bacon
Norman Black, and Jim McGahan. Only McGahan
could attend, but Jerry Bacon and Norman Black
put in an appearance they could have received just
as hearty reception and as courteous an audience
as was given the Mnot fire-eater. The confer
ence made J. E. Rothwel, managing editor OF the
Fargo Forum, chairman of it's important COM
mttees on resolutions, to which was lett the work.
ng out of program of publicity, and on this COM
mittee were Ernest L. Peterson of Dickinson, NJ
J. Connolly of Amdon, G. w. Stewart Of Wilton
and other men whose independence and honesty
have never been questioned.
League newspaper men may have been in the
majority, or the ants may have had the greater
number of representatives here. No one knew or
cared. Nobody said word about politics. The
meeting was really inspiring in its revelation
that in spite of all the bitterness which may be
engendered by fractional dispute, the newspaper
men of this state are bigger than politics; that,
in the final analysis, they true-blue Americans
who will assay 100 percent under any test.
Mr. Crary's attitude is Disappointing He is
q mighty good newspaper man, fearless and
convincing writer, and man whose influence
Devils Lake needs, but he needs little political
anti-toxin. The Tribune believes that as the
months roll on Mr.. Crary will be convinced of his
mistaken attitude toward the council Of defense.
So long as this body of men, no matter what their
politics nor by whom appointed, labor for the best
. interests of America and North Dakota, they
!: deserve and must have the support of every real
American in North Dakota. And, The Tribune,
here at home, on the watch every day, has failed
to discover any act Of this new council Of defense
which would Justify criticism The Tribune hopes
that the council of defense will continue to hold it.
self aloof from politics that it will proceed in the
7 good work so we'll begun, and The Tribune is
confident that if the council does this it will have
( no cause to complain of lack Of cooperation from
the press, no matter how strongly that press may
be opposed to the politics of the men who have
been suspected of having had something to do
with the organization of this council.
We must not lose sight of the fact that the fed
eral government insists upon operating through
these state councils of Defense They were created
at the request of the national government; their
inspiration in practically everything that is done
comes from the central bureau Of the National
: Council of Defense at Washington. The moment
politics is made factor in such an organization
all of it's efficiency is lost The North Dakota
Council of Defense has shown no disposition to
play politics. Until it does let us be broad enough
and practical enough to give the council that CO.
operation which is essential to its success. Only
through such cooperation can we do the things