The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-07-19
This Tells You What Not
To Say, and What Not To :.
DO As Defense Body Sees 1t

Bismarck, N d.. July l9,-The
three familiar little monks that hear
no evil, see no evil and speak no
evtl' have been adopted as the guild
ing stars Of the North Dakota council
OF defense in adopting a lengthy set
of resolutions which insist on a
soft pedal on charges OF pro Ger
manism. The resolutions are an
outcome Of hearing conducted for
the benefit Of E A. Tostevin, presi-
dent Of The Mandan Pioneer Pub
fishing company, following his states
ment to the effect that Frazier's 15,-
600 majority represented the pro-
German vote in North Dakota.
The resolutions recite that it has
been brought to the attention of the
council of defense that many per-
sons, several organizations, and some
newspapers in this state have made
utteranees and statements, by
speech, publication and otherwise,
which by their terms serve to charge,
tnsinuate and infer that certain
persons and classes OF our people
within this state are pro- German
and disloyal, and which further
thereby serve to create or incite dis
sension and discord among our peo-
pie"
The council then recites North Da-
kota's record for loyalty in sup
porting every activity Of our fed
eral government, to which the coun-
ell points with pride, and the coun-
ell tinds that "it Is vitality essential
that no acts or utterances by our
people should be permitted or toler-
ated which serve uniustly to charge
any of our people with acts of dis
loyalty or which serve to render a
Eel AZ
of our people, or which serve to
hinder and impair the efficiency and
co operation Of our people in I'M
itedIy supporting every war actiy-
ity," and the council resolves that
whereas this council of defense is
a proper body constituted so by law
in this state to whom should be re-
ported all acts, statements or utter
ances Of any OF our citizens that may
be characterized as disloyal, or
which may serve to hamper or inn
pair the efficiency OF our federal
government in the prosecution of this
war. and whereas 1t is the duty OF
every person in this state and every
organization In this state to prompt
IL report all acts statements or ut
terances which may be characterized
as disloyal to this council of de-
tense FOR investigation and consider
alton. and whereas this council of
defense within it's powers and duties
will repress and prevent all acts
fhat serve to promote disloyalty or
fhat evidence a lack Of patriotism,
az far as lies within it's powers. and
will report promptly all acts or
utterances or statements that violate
any OF the penal acts Of our state
concerning sedition, violation Of the
eepionage act or other war penal
"a ssi1res. to- the courts for vigorous
prosecution against the charged of
lenders.
citizens In this state to stand firrn-
III behind our President and our ma
tion in this great world struggle,
and to charge no one OF our Fellow
psople with being disloyal or I'M
nafriotic. except before q proper tri-
bnnaI constituted by law or before
flIis body" and the council winds Up
hv ordering:
Don't Gall Them Pro. ceFnaaHs.
sgphat no person or persons, pup-