The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-03-08
Other Mems Views
An Editorial That May or May Not
Square With The Forums
Opinions.

The New York Sun: We think of
air as free, water nearly so, in many
places for many uses wholly so; yet
| for the great nitrogen fixing plant
| whose construction the President
authorized on Monday last congress
appropriated $50. 900 900; a plant
whose raw material will be air, its
power water. There 10 competent
engineering authority for faith that
the plant will accomplish its pur-
pose. Ak atmospheric nitrogen gas in
to solids to Supply much needed soil
| food and an essential chemical els-
ment for the manufacture Of high
explosives.
/ 1t may be that had not war re-
quirements made both these products
essentials of peculiar urgency the
government would not have led the
way in such enterprise. II this great
plant, wrestling force from unstable
water, graspinR ponderabls wealth
from invisible air, proves its practical
worth, inevitably much Of the wasted
millions Of horsepower in the waters
of regions now under federal reserve
will be harnessed, to insure plentiful
food for land that food in abundance
may be produced for man.
The Duluth Herald: Germany, be-
cause OF the weakness Of poor, dis
tracted Russia, is grabbing with both
hands. 1t Is stealing vast territory,
people by a vast population. 1t
already has Poland, Serbia, Monte
negro, most sof Rumania, most Of
Belgium, a large area in Northern
France.
But all this has no meaning-utter-
ly no meaning.
will not only keep what she has seiz-
ed but will take anything else she
may have a fancy for.
If Germany LOSES this war, she
won't keep one square foot OF her
nl-gotten gains.
How many square miles Germany
seizes, how many millions of human
beings she puts under subsection by
one variety OF foul means or another,
has no meaning.
What HAS meaning-and a vital
meaning that concerns every civilized
being in the world as nothing else
in all the world now concerns him
is whether Germany is to win or lose
this war. It all rests upon that.
And as to that, we have something
to say-every man, woman and child
has something TO say, and to DO.
The. Milwaukee Wisconsin,: In the
New York legislature a movement is
on foot for the repeal of that states
primary election law and the res
tOration Of the old convention sys-
tenn. Where the primary election
system with all that il embraces in
the way Of legal obstruction to
popular initiative has been introduce
ed, government Of the people by the
people has received a serious set
back.
The New York Sun, urging the en-
actment Of the pending measure in
time to make ii operative in the
choice OF candidates for state office
next fall. observes:
The direct nomination OF candi-
dates at the primaries, complicated
by unofhcfal conventions for the
adoption Of informal platforms, has
proved a mistake. and an expensive
mistake. It has failed to achieve the
results that were promised for IL.
The power OF the bosses remains un-
impaired. The opportunity OF public
spirited citizens to impress their
opinions on their fellows Is circum-
Ecribed by the physical or financial
imposed on their personal
critics. The opportunity for confer
ence and counsel is eliminated. The
party voter Is reduced to the necessi-
ty Of deciding whom, of several
for nomination, he shall
support, without the benefit OF the
and assistance of his assoc
ciates in distant parts OF the state,
and his action tends to be swayed,
not by statewide needs but by the
Of local prejudtces.
New YorlZ's commitment to the pri-
mary election fallacy was later than
but she may rid herself
OF it earlier. in which case the people
OF Wisconsin win have reason for
envy.