The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-12-02

, the ships are still needed to send sup
| plies to our men overseas and to
bring the men back as fast as the
| disturbed conditions on The other
side of the water permit; but even
there restraints are being relaxed as
much as possible and more and more
as the weeks go by.
Work of Many Boards.
Never before have there been
agencies in existence in this
country which knew so much OF
the field of supply; Of labor and
of industry as the war indus
tries board, the war trade board,
the labor department, the food
administration and the fuel ad-
ministration have known since
their labors became thoroughly
systematized; and they have not
been isolated agencies; they
have been directed by men who
represented the permanent de-
partments of the government
and so have been the centers OF
unified and cooperative action.
It has been the policy Of the ex-
ecutive, therefore. since the
armistice was assured (Which IS
in effect a complete submission
of the enemy to put the knowl-
edge of these bodies at the dis
posal of the business men of the
country and to offer their intel
Iigent mediation at every point
and in every matter where It
was desired.
Employment Must BE Given All.
1t is surprising how fast the
process Of return to a peace footing
has moved in the three weeks since
the fighting stopped. 1t promises to
outruu any inquiry that may be in
stituted and any aid that may be Of
fered. 1t will not be easy to direct
it any better than it will direct it
self. The American business man is
of quick initiative. The ordinary and
normal processes of private init1a-
tive will not, however, provide i'm
mediate employment for the men of
our returning armies. Those who
are of trained capacity, those who
are skilled workmen, those who have
acquired familiarity with established
business, those who are ready and
willing to go to the farms, all those
whose aptitudes are known or will
be sought out by employers will lind
no difficulty, it is safe to say, in
finding place and employment. But
there will be others who will be at
loss where to gain a livelihood I'M
less pains are taken to guide them
and put them in the way of work.
There will be a large floating
residum of labor which should
not be left wholly to shift for
itself. It seems to me important
therefore, that the development
Of public works of every sort
should be promptly resumed in
order that opportunities should
be created for unskilled labor in
particular, and that plans should
be made for such developments
of our unused lands and our
natural resources as we have
hitherto lacked stimulation to
undertake.
Arid Lands.
7 particularly direct your attention
to the very practical plans which
the secretary of the interior has
developed in his annual report and
before your committees for the re-
clamation Of arid, swamp and cut
over lands which might, if the states
were willing and able to cooperate,
redeem some three hundred million
acres of land for cultivation. There
are said to be fifteen or twenty mill
lion acres of land in the west at
present arid, for whose reclamation
water is available if properly con-
served. There are about two hun
dred and thirty million acres from
which the forests have been cut, but
which have never yet been cleared
for the pIow and which lie waste
and desolate. These lie scattered all
over the union. And there are near
ly eighty million acres of land that
lie under swamps or subject to
periodical overflow or too wet for
anything but grazing which it is
perfectly feasible to drain and pro-
tect and redeem. The congress can
at once direct thousands Of the re-
turning soldiers to the reclamation
Of the arid lands which it has al
ready undertaken, if it will but en-
large the plans and appropriations
which it has entrusted to the depart
ment of the interior. 1t is possible
in dealing with our unused land to
the effect a great rural and agricul-
tural development which will afford
the best sort of opportunity to men
who want to help themselves; and
the secretary of the interior has
thought the possible methods out In
q way which is worthy of our most
friendly attention.
Indemnities Will Serve Alone.
I have spoken of the control which
must yet for q while, perhaps for a
long while, be exercised over ship
ping because Of the priority of SER
vice to which our forces overseas are
entitled and which should also be &C
corded the shipments which are to
save recently liberated peoples from
starvation and many devastated reg
ions from permanent ruin.
Plea For Belgium and France.
May I not say special word about
the needs of Belgium and northern
France? No sums of money paid by
way Of indemnity will serve OF them
selves to save them from hopeless
disadvantage for years to come.
Something more must be done than
merely find the money. If they had
money and raw materials in abund-
ance tomorrow they could not re-
sumo their place in the industry of
the WorId--the very important place
they held before the flame Of war
swept across them. Many OF their
factories are RACED to the ground.
Much of their machinery is destroyed
or has been taken away. Their peo-
pie are scattered and many Of their
best workmen are dead. Their mar
kets will be taken by others if they
are not in some special way assisted
to rebuild their factories and re-