The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-06-14
GENERAL WOOD
PRAISES DENVER
FOR PATRIOTISM
Colorado and Denver Make
Record For War We'll
fare Work

Denver. Colo, June 1.-THE city
Of DeDvaR and the state of Colorado
have SOBDd it pays to lead in war
activity end welfare work for SOL
diers and sailors.
Denver has found its reward from
the praise Of Major General Leonard
A. Wood who has been commander
of Camp Funston, Kansas, and other
high army officials for it's work in
training its draft men before they
leave for the national cantonment
and for raising the morale Of the
men by paying the government
premium on $1,000 insurance for
each man who enters military SER
vice.
Many inquiries have been received
from other states concerning Col
orado's war work and plans. Some
other states, it Is said, already have
put into effect plans for which COL
orado acted as pioneer.
Colorado already has more than
20, 900 men in government military
service. This number is expected to
be increased to 10000 by the end of
the year Approximately one third
are from Denver.
The state council Of defense holds
weekly meetings at which the gov
ernor~ presides. The women's council
also meets weekly.
Most army attention has been call
ed to the training Denver gives all
it's men who viii accept 1t. In this
way many Denver men soon after
being called in the draft have been
made on-commissioned officers.
without the training they would
have been compelled to join the
awkward squad" OF all it has
made better soldiers, say army Of
f1cials. The men are drilled at the
city auditorium by former army and
guard officers paid for the duty.
The Opportunity school, public
institution, also has had a large
share In fitting Denver men for spec
ial army duty. This school has train
ed 600 mechanics for the automobile
service and almost as many tele-
graph and radio operators since this
country entered the war. Even wom-
en- who expect to do ambulance duty
for the Red Cross in France have
learned the secrets Of automobile
repair work in the schools shops.
The city's war activities do not
lawyers have established q legal aid
bureau for soldiers and their fam
lilies at which all legal work is done
without cost to the soldier or his
dependent. 49,.
The Optimists' club also sees to 1t
that those left behind" are taken
care Of and arranges not only
necessities for those needing them,
but outings and gifts at Christmas
time. Theatrical parties also have
been given the absent soldiers de-
pendents by the club.
In the downtown section a club
room has been fitted up for soldiers
to which they are always well
coined. Here they can find writing
material, pool tables, cards and other
diversions Light lunches also may
be had for a nominal price.
State activities include:
Assistance to farmers through
public utilities commission to mar
ket crops when transportation fac
i1ities were limited and congested.
Labor exchanges to meet demands
Of farmers.
Farmers induced to greatly en-
large acreage and own their own
storage facilities. Colorado's crop
last year was the largest in its his
tory and promises greater this year.
Censorship over all solicitation sf
funds to protect public.
Census obtained Of all women and
men with experience in nursing TO
be ready for federal call.
Third regiment Of National Guard
organized to be ready for govern
ment call.
Organization Of q state constabul-
AIRY force to guard the state and act
as peace officers. It may be said
that since the war started not a
single dollars worth Of Colorado
property has been destroyed
through act OF an enemy and not
one soldier has been asked by the
state to guard its property. This is
the only state with this record, 1t Is
said here.