Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-01-19
EVENTS OLA WEEK

EVENTS Or A WEEK
For the first time since the American government
recognized the existence of a state of war with Ger
many more than nine months ago the entire nation has
been shaken into a realization of the actual existence of
the war and something of what it means. The event
which brought this shock to the nation was the issu-
ance of the order by Fuel Administrator Garfield on
Thursday restricting the use of fuel throughout the
eastern half of the country during the five succeeding
days, and on each Monday thereafter for the period of
ten weeks.
It may be said that We have had more than an
academic knowledge of the fact that we were at war.
We have bought bonds; we have paid special taxes; we
for the promotion of the war. We have known that
our industries we're devoted to war work. W. have ex-
perienced the fixing of prices of various commodities
by the government, and have grown accustomed to the
invasion of what ordinarily we have considered our
saqred personal rights. We have known that the rail-
roads of the country had been taken over by the gov
eminent. We have, above all, seen our sons, and
brothers and friends assume military uniforms and de-
part for unknown places; and we have even learned
that already some of them have died in the service of
their country on foreign soil. All this is true, and yet
we have not had a real realizing sense that we were at
war.
4 X 4 + +
Our contributions to the various patriotic funds
have not brought us into touch with the actual exper-
fence of war. The modification of our personal habits
because of war conditions has been largely local and
voluntary. We would not know who was running the
railroads if we had not read about it in the papers. And
as yet there is an atmosphere of unreaHty to many of
us about even the marshaling Of our men for service.
But in a moment, without warming, the government has
laid its hands on the industries of the country and d.
rected that for periods which it has fixed most Of them
shall stop. The wheels cease to turn. Millions of our
industrial population are suddenly idle. Business is
suspended because quarters in which it is ordinarily
transacted are! cold. And all this has been brought
about because one man, acting under authority conferred
on him by congress for war purposes, has signed his
name to a scrap Of paper. The influence of this act
comes home with startling significance to every hamlet
between the two oceans, and because of its pervasiveness
periencins something that we have not before known,
and We realize, all of us. that we are actually at war.
* x q * 4 &
The startling character of the order was such that
every newspaper reader in the country is. familiar with
It's terms The step was taken, it is announced, with
full realization of it's Importance by DIR. Garfield, and,
we may assume, by the president and the secretaries of
war and Of the navy, with whom he conferred, and with
= full understanding that it would bring upon him re-
.monstfance, protest and denunciation. Those things
have come in full measure. The senate. by a vote of so
to 10. adopted a resolution requesting that the applica-
ton of the order be deferred for five days, in order that
there might be an Investigation of the subject, with
hearings. Hundreds of the most prominent newspapers
of the. country, among them being supporters Of the adj
ministration, have joined in savage attacks on the order
land the official who issued it, and there have been
numerous demands for the resembling of the order by
the president and the dismissal Of DR.. GARFIELD. Yet the
order stands and is now in effect, and the president has
made it known that he does not intend to interfere with
its operation.
In the war of words Immediately following the ,s-
suance of the order the food administrator seems to
have made the best showing. He has made a concise
and consistent statement covering the situation in a way
that can be understood by the ordinary reader. He calls
attention to the known fact that the transportation of
the country has been demoralised for months by the
extraordinary demands upon it.; he points out that
while there is a glut of coal at the mines there is a
.dearth where coal is most needed because cars are not
for its transportation: that factories have been
largely and dumping their products upon the
railroads, thereby increasing the congestion; that dock.
ping is tied up in the harbors for lack Of coal with
further to the fact that on top OF all the adverse condi.
sticns with which the country has had to contend 4 giant
storm swept the country from the Gulf to the Great
lakes. practically putting the great railroads of the
ecountry out Of commission for a week. Therefore, the
was reached that instant and drastic actor
- imperative. and instant and drastic action was
-