The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-06-01
ROBERTSON TALKS
FOLLOWING A VISIT AT DIES
MONIES HE LEARNS OF
GREAT ACTIVITIES.

Jas. Robertson returned today
from Des Moines, by way Of Mason
City, where he vas joined by his wife
who accompanied him home. Mr..
Robertson attended the delegation of
masterbuilders of 10 states called to-
gether there by the government au-
thorities, for organization to contrib
ute to the success of the war. While
most Of the states had master build
ers' organizations as states, some of
them were organized only as detach-
ed locals. By this meeting a coop
Grafton of the whole is effected
through the government request.
The idea of the movement, Mr..
GRAFTON among contractors and build
ers whereby large government works
may be built without the necessity of
seeking or waiting for large concerns
to be able to handle it. BY this CO.
ordination the smaller concerns of a
state or district will join forces and
equipment to an extent great enough
to complete the work or perform the
service. Mr.. Robertson says that for
instance there will be some large
buildings erected at Fort Meade.
Probably no single contractor of the
state could handle the work in the
specified time. Several of the small
er ones, by pooling their labor and
equipment will undertake the work,
and be able to have il done.
While at Des Moines Mr.. Robert
son visited Camp Dodge, and de-
scribes the tremendous work being
carried on there. The streets are
concrete, and they have complete
sewer, water and lighting plants. He
saw 10000 men arrive from Kansas,
Missouri and Nebraska. A like nurl-
Der had been SEN out eastward a day
or SO before. D~isposing of and plac-
ing the men where they belong pro-
ceeds like clockwork, and the han
ding of supplies outdoes any private
industry In the world in magnitude
and regularity.
In his talk with military men, Mr..
Robertson says that the government
is developing great farms, and will
raise its own livestock and wheat to
a great extent. Contracts are being
made for the land and the necessary.
buildings and equipments for the en-
terprises. Men of special qualifica-
tions are being indicted from civil
life, and are ever now in training to
that end. Walter Freiburghaus and
Earl Randall, who go today to Vir-
ginia will undoubtedly find them
selves eventually employed in the an
imal industry designed to furnish the
fighting men with army beef and
bacon. These things are figured on
a 10-year basis. Not only will we
probably always hereafter maintain
a greater standing army at home, but
once we have our expected force of
soldiers in France it will take years
to bring them home. And once home
our long-sighted Uncle Sam will not
turn the millions loose upon the
country in one devastating flood.
For the greatest statesmen of the
greatest nation on earth sees the eff
feet of this, and will use judgment.
They are looking farther ahead to-
ward the welfare of the industries
and people than they used to. Long
live such wisdom!
We are much out of the current OF
great events here, he says. In the
larger cities one sees the movement
of great things. Men, not in hun
dreds or thousands, but tens of thou
sands in o. D., moving steadily on
ward to the performance of one great
, duty. Supplies and organizations
not like a great packing, steel or OF
r industry, but great enough to EN-
brace and engulf them all, supplying
the every need of millions of men
Talk, not of private gain or individ
ual effort, but of consolidation Of tn,
, Unreasonable u of the great
r est country on earth. All movin,
along like a world-engulfing tide
without even an eddy where tn
small kicker or the ~coldblooded graft
er is trying to create a diversion t
his own ACCOMPLISHMENT or priyat