davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-02-07
R. G. BILLS TALKS
OF C0NDlTloNSEA
Everybody Busy; Times
Good. Factories put
ing on More Men
THIS IS TO BE
A BANNER YEAR

R. G.. Bills, manager of the Bills
Auto company and chairman of the
board of county commissioners, Is
back from a trip to Denver, Chicago
and Detroit, and says things look
assuring everywhere. He travelled in
company with his brother w. E. Bills
manager of the St. Anthony branch
OF the Bills Auto company. They
are primarily interested in cars, and
spent most of their time on those
subjects.
Mr.. Bills was surprised to learn
that the trade is swinging back to
four-cylinder cars, and dropping
away from the eight, ten and twelve
cylinders. They cost too much, and
they get out of order. The average
man would rather have. the cheaper
car and fewer cylinders to give
trouble than to spend more money
and have car running smoother
while it runs.
The Bills. Auto company handle
the Ford cars. and naturally they
spent considerable time at Detroit
studying them. The Ford factories
: have been made over to produce war
materials, and now thousands Of men
are busy making them over once
more for making cars. Thousands
4of special machines have to be
moved, foundations torn up, and
Ford machines installed.
The factories that have been max
ing Liberty motors will now be de-
voted to making starters for Ford
cars. but the demand for them is so
great that none will reach us this
year excepting on the Sedans,
Coupelet or other special cars.
Bills brothers went out to Dear
born the Ford town, where Ford
tractors are made, and found 1t a
great treat. ror eight or nine miles
between Detroit and Dearborn, were
wheat fields belonging to Mr.. Ford,
that had been farmed with his trac-
tors. Visitors in the tractor factory
see the ingots Of steel go In and trac-
tors come out ready for operating.
A finished tractor moves out every
four minutes. -.
Mr.. Ford is the man who built
the Eagle boats for the government
on the volume plan. They told MIN
It could not be done, and ne replied
that he would show them. After
The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-02-07
FARMERS UNION IN CANADA

The great union of farmers in
Canada known as the United Farm
ers Of Alberta, with membership run
ming into the thousands, has Just fin
ished its annual convention at Ed
monitor.
They have been experimenting
with hail insurance and have not yet
solved the problem. This year they
will hold special election in February
to vote on the matter of forming
hail insurance districts to operate
somewhat as our irrigation districts
do In Idaho and pledge all the
farms In the district to pay their
part of the hail losses of the dis
trict. Any farmer in the district can
withdraw from the insured list by
fling written notice, with the secre-
tary before the season opens.
The association tried building
their own elevators and have adopted
the plan Of organising q corporation
Of some millions of dollars, all owned
by farmers, operating under the
name of the United Grain Growers.
This seems to be success, while the
hail and fire insurance conducted on
the mutual plan has not been. but
they have not given 1t up. An ex-
tended report on the situation was
made to the convention by w. D.
Trego, former Blackfoot man.
showing why the plans already tried
were not sound, and recommending
the district plan.
Mr.. Trego helped to organize the
United Farmers Of Alberta some ten
years ago, the United Grain Growers
corporation about four or five wears
ago, and Is now working to make
every farmer safe from the fury of
the elements when sent in the form
Of hail. He holds the position of
second vice president in the United
Farmers organization and was re-
elected this year in contest where
fifty-one men were nominated for the
first four positions.
The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-02-07
DODGE STANDS
STOF ARMY LIFE
Sergeant Writes of Es-
TEEN for Car Held by
Officers and Men
WHY THE DODGE
CAR is PRAISED

Just how we'll Dodge brothers mo-
tor cars. in actual performance, JUS
titled the confidence placed in them
by the United States government is
a matter that was not made public
either by Dodge brothers or their
distributors during the progress of
the war.
1--WE will not try to influence the
sale of a single car by reason Of the
fact that the Dodge was the only car
in its Class selected by the war de-
partment for the hardest of tests
that could possibly be imposed upon
any motor vehicle" was the factory's
policy.
1t now seems, however, that some
statement or disclosure should be
made of the achievements of Dodge
motor cars in some of their activities
during the great struggle for the
freedom Of all nations.
A letter from young man in
Uncle Sans service gives some light
on the tribute generally paid Dodge
brothers cars.
Sergeant L. A. Corbett. division
headquarters, Camp Fremont, wrote
as follows under date Of November
10:
II was made sergeant and placed
in charge Of the headquarters garage,
where all passenger transportation
was handled. ] now have charge Of
1874 drivers, eighty-three motorcycles
and fifty Dodge brothers cars. The
really main object Of this letter, tho,
is to convey to you the high regard
that every driver and officer here
holds for the Dodge brothers car and
it's performance. 1t would be Diff
ficult even to imagine any service
more exacting or more strenuous
than what these cars are obliged to
stand up understandable drivers
and every conceivable road condi-
TONS"
To-day the public is educated as
to the good points Of this, that or the
other car. Even scho0lboy In the
seventh grade who cannot tell you
the make Of more than half the mo-
tor cars seen on the streets Is the ex-
ception rather than the rule" says
o. e. Bills of the Bingham Motor
company, local Dodge brothers dis
tributors. He will also be able to
tell you many Of the finer points
The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-02-07
FOREST AND SHADE TREES
FOR PLANTING IN IDAHO

In pursuance of its policy to en-
courage the planting Of forest and
shade trees in Idaho, the school of
forestry, University Of Idaho, is again
offering for spring planting limited
number Of tested trees at approxi-
mate cost. These trees are listed
and priced in circular No. s, Forest
and Shade Trees for Planting In
Idaho" Copies Of this circular may
be had on application to the school of
forestry, University Of Idaho, Mos
COW, Idaho. Every prospective
planter should also send for bulletin
los, "Trees-What, Where, When,
and How to Plant"
The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-02-07
REX DUNLAP COMING

Rex Dunlap has written to some
friends that he expects to be in
Blackfoot Friday or Saturday, today,
and wants Mr.. MacCosham to have
q suit Of civilian clothes already laid
out for him to put on. He wants to
get out of his uniform and be able to
go up the street doing as he pleases,
hanging his hands in his pockets II
he wants to, and assuring himself
that he is really back in the old town
where he once lived and had good
Job.
The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-02-07
SOLDIERS INSURANCE
PLANS ARE GIVEN OUT

BOSTON, Mass.-Definite plans Of
the government for converting the
soldiers insurance, given out to no
one else, were read to the Boston
Life Underwriters association at the
annual banquet Jan. II by President
J. X. Voshell of the nationa lassocia-
ton of life underwriters. The plan,
he said would be formally announced
in a bulletin by the government
under the date of Feb. 1. President
Voshell read the following plan from
the typewriter copy furnished him
by the Bureau Of War Risk Insur-
ance:
Information Bulletin No. 1 Bureau Of
War Risk Insurance, Issued by
Conservation Section, Feb. 4. 10
1. Present certificates are one
year renewable term contracts and
may be continued as such for a
period Of five years only from the
declaration Of peace.
2. At any time during this period
Of five years, the term policies may
be converted without medical ex-
animation into any one Of the fol-
lowing six forms: Ordinary life.
twenty-payment life, infringement
life, twenty-year endowment, thirty
year endowment and endowment ma
turing at age 81. If the term policies
are to be converted as above, the
conversion must take place during
the five-year period mentioned.
8. These forms will be the only
ones written and the insurance will
be carried by the government at rates
considerably lower than those in pri-
vate companies.
1. The rates are net rates, based
New-York tribune., 1919-03-16
GuEnerS on the Job;
Commander VindiCafed

When the cavalry reached the bridge the
gunners were even with them. They were
shouting and yelling. They were waving
their hats and they heard the order to un-
timber with a cheer.
Then they settled down to the firing
and the day was
The official record Of that days work was
an unstinted Endorsement Of Captain
Organs initiative and ability. The official
record caused some of the higher officers of
the National Guard to rub their eyes with
amazement. They began to see possibilities
in the artillery arm of the state forces that
they had not even dreamed of before the
man9uvres
The First Battery was ordered to be reor-
ganized the Second Battalion Field Ar
tillcry and the erstwhile private of the Sew
cnth Regiment advanced to field rank
Major ORyan devoted himself to study
of the artillery and while in command of
the Second Battalion wrote his book "Or-
ganization, Maintenance and Training of
Field Batteries" This book became
recognized treatise and was used as a ref
erence work by the postgraduate classes
of Fort Leavenworth.
In May, 1912, Major General Charles Roe,
commanding general of the New York Ma
tonal Guard, retired. Major O'Ryan, then
only thirty eight years old, was chosen in his
place
Back of the appointment was an interest
ing bit of political history. The law of the
state held that no man could be appointed
tn the ma ior GENERALS n1ace unless ho had
been regimental commander or had served
as general officer A bill was quietly
slipped through the Legislature and signed
by the Governor which made possible the
appointment Of an officer who had attained
field rank. Major Organ just qualified
under this new enactment, fer major is
the lowest of field officers.
While Organs ability was generally rec
New-York tribune., 1919-03-16
All Delay Used to
Build Up Division

Every day of delay was utilized by Gen
eral Organ. He had one Of the most ver-
satiie divisions in the American army.
treat levies were made upon II by the War
department for men especially skilled.
these levies took not hundreds, but thou
sands. General O'Ryan met each demand
snilfngly. When finally the strength of his
evasion wss 70 much reduced that he could
not complete the required numerical strength
from all the surplus regiments in Camp
"adsworth, he organized special recruiting
parties that toured the state.
he had gone into the field with volun-
ssss division Of more than the required
strength, and he determined that he would
sfsss the scas with only volunteers in his
e0mmand. When embarkation orders came
- oiv'SiSn was. again up TO war strength,
spS she efforts 10 Grain the new men were
sMons the most intensive ever known in
sse army. Bat there was not man on q
ss'a Division transport who was without
.csss training.
Sarap Wsdswoy:h, nnder General Organ,
7ss o''s cf The show pIscvs Of the army In
New-York tribune., 1919-03-16
No Playing at War;
Real Thing Demanded

That incident illustrates his method. The
men were not playing at being soldiers.
They were in for the real thing.
When the 9th Division landed in France
the perfection of discipline amazed the
Allied commanders. None was more amazed
than Marshal Haig. He visited General
Organs headquarters one day, and the
Dandy Seventh, now the 1O7th, was turned
out for review.
The men marched with such precision
that Marshal Haig paid them what he
thought the finest possible compliment He
told General Organ that they marched like
seasoned British soldiers. While he was
speaking an airplane descended over the
heads of the marching men. According to
some OF the observers it came at one time
within twenty-five feet of the helmets Of
the men OF one battalion. But not a. man
looked up.
No finer test could have been arranged.
Marshal Hnig could restrain his enthusiasm
no longer He congratulated General
O'Ryan in the warmest possible terms, say
ing it was alnost inconceivable that these
men, who only few short months ago were
civilians, could hayc become such splendidly
disciplined soldiers.
General Organ told him with pride that
the men he was reviewing were known in
America civian-soldiers. He told soma-
thing Of the fine traditions Of the old
Seventh Regiment and pledged his word
that the 10th would do just as well in
action as in review.
He made good his pledge. The 107th did
more than well. 1t not only made record
In action, but after it's men were Withdrawn
from combat 70 go to rest camp it furnished
officer material To othsr commands. II is
a proud boaSt Of the men Of the Seventh that
they furnishcd more officers in the war
New-York tribune., 1919-03-16
Major General John F.. Organ
Commander of the eth Division

the various units of the division General
Organ found some we'll known artists. He
did not find as many as he needed for his
purpose, which was not disclosed until he
WAS certain he could carry it into practice.
So he brought pressure to bear upon men
we'll skilled with the pencil and brush and
enlisted them. Then he established a ca
moudagc school. soon the training grounds
we're dotted with paper mach6 horses and
figures Of dead Germans.
Just before the artillery units were or
dered overseas General O'Ryan decided that
as his men would have to creep behind Il
barrage in actual combat, the sooner they
became accustomed to the sensation the
better. He ordered the artillery out on
distant range. Then he sent tie infantry
regiments on long hikes, at the conclusion
of which they went under an actual bar
rage. 1t was the first time troops had un-
dergone any such test this side Of the
water.
New-York tribune., 1919-03-16
Forbade His Men to
Smoke i'm Public

In the mobilization days, preceding the
departure Of the division for Camp Wads-
worth, General O'Ryan had issued an order
forbddng the officers and men from smoking
while on the streets or in public convey
ances. This order had been the subject of
much adverse comment in the daily news
papers, and the soldiers had come to the
same view once held by officers of the regu-
lar army, that the division commander was
"strutting militia martinez" General
O'Ryan had learned the psychological effect
of little things. If a man would give such
thought to his military bearing that he
would refrain from smoking, because it
would seem unmilitary, the reaction would
manifest itself in his whole attitude toward
soldering. But the men did not glimpse
the larger significance of the commanding
generals order. They only saw that he
was denying them a pleasure
But at Camp Wadsworth, when It became
noised about that the commanding general
was getting up before daybreak and tasting
the mems mess, they came to see that
kind heart and sympathetic, friendly at
titude were concealed beneath the stern
military reasonings.
The steely eyes that could become wistful
betrayed to studious observer that the COM
manding general was real human being.
The incident that betrayed his sympathetic
side 8 shooting. prisoner tried to
escape. A watchful guard was overpowered
and thrown to the ground. He reached for
his rifle and aimed at the fleeing prisoner,
dropping him dead in his tracks.
As matter of military routine, and for
the protection of the guard, he was placed
under arrest and court martial was con-
vened The man was completely exonerated
1t was brought out in the testimony that
the shooting was in strict line of duty.
General ORyan read the court martial
findings. Then he sent word to the COM
manding officer of the regiment that he
wanted the entire company TO which the
guard was attached parade before him >that
evening.
He called the guard from the formation
New-York tribune., 1919-03-16
Unfit Displaced
At Very Outset

AS soon as ne took command he showed
the steel in his makeup. He displaced first
this man. then that. He called into the bat
terry some personal friends who were we'll
qualified for artillery work and who would
be in sympathy with his efforts He went
outside the organization and raised funds
for the purchase of horses which he QUAR-
tered in the armory. He kept his men ever
lastingly at it and made of them just as
proficient horsemen as he had made of the
members of the Second Battery. Then he
took to breeding horses for military pur-
poses. The animals that could not be used
he sold and turned the funds back into tho
organization.
Finally he developed highly efficient
battery and was promoted to the rank of
captain.
1t was while in command Of this battery
that ne attracted the attention of the regu-
lar army.
At Pine Plains, during series Of militia
n1an9uvres, the success of his side in
sham battle depended upon the capture of
a certain bridge. One Of the conditions
that the bridge must be taken bv
cavalry who would be opposed by another
cavalry organization.
A council was held and Captain O'Ryan
suggested that he had solution for the
problem. Even though the opposing force
might be superior in numbers, he still could
capture the brdge-by the use of artillery.
The other officers tried to laugh him down
Whoever heard Of being able to keep the
artillery up with the cavalry? he was asked.
~ can do it," was his reply
There was something in his manner that
was convincing. Without the artillery there
more than an even chance so it
might be worth the effort at any rate, it
was finally reasoned
Captain O'Ryan went to his men. He or
dered four extra horses for each gum He
mounted all his men instead of permitting
them to ride tho limbers, and he discarded
his extra caissons. Then ne told his men
to "ride like hell
"Uness you come to stone wall or a barn
you are to go over any obstace,' were his
instructions.
The next day when his cavalry went into
action the artillery was close behind They
had gone tearing through cornficld and
they had cleared bitches somehow They had
man9uvred through copsc and often they
chop down trees, for General O'Ryan, with
true military instinct, had mapped every
inch of the ground.
New-York tribune., 1919-03-16
Depended on ChapIains
To Preserve Discipline

On one OCCASION General Organ called
conference of the chaplains.
1--WE been with soldiers great deals nd
began. I've seen many chaplains at tkd
posts. Some of the army men have been ;ra-,
clined to regard chaplains as fifth wheela.
chaplain's job is just what he makes 1T.
You that are in this division have msde 4
great deal of your work. You are backing
up the military authorities. You are making
better of the soldiers, and as they ara
better men they will be better soldiers.
"The people of Spartanburg have boon
very hospitable. They have invited our men
into their homes as If they were their own
sons. 1t is part of your job to see that
our men do not violate the condence the
people here have placed in the soldiers"
A few days later the chaplains called the
clergy of the town together at dfnrer
General O'Ryan q guest. He repeated
his statement to the ministers, adding: II
want our men to be we'll received But T
don't want any people of Spartanburg to
have any regrets because they have invited
these soldiers into their homes. As our
chaplains have the responsibility of masking
good men of our soldiers. so you OF fieg
clergy have the responsibility of seeing that
our soldiers surrounded by proper.
wholesome influences"
There something in the generals tone
that was direct as to cause local clergy :.
man to say that the influences of the fa;rl
city Of Spartanburg were. and could only be.
wholesome. General ORyan smiled indul-
gently and then called upon the chaplains to
tell their side of the story. The chaplalns
told of conditions in outlying districts where
women had come with the purpose of plying
an illicit traffic with the soldiers.
This caused General O'Ryan to say that
/ he would permit his men the privileges OF
the city and it's environs only if the condi-
tions were as wholesome as the clergy
thought.
The result OF that meeting was deter
mined effort on the part Of the clergy to see
that no Objectionable person could find any
haven in the city.
From the time of that meeting until the
departure of the division there were no
complaints. AS
The record of the 9th Divisions stay ji
the "City of Success" is new trat ton IN
soldering.
New-York tribune., 1919-03-16
The Man Who Put the Bulldog Spirit Into the u
The Life Story of General ORyanHs Rapid Rise, and the
Military Genius That Has Made Him
By Percy T. Edrop

there. The fateful travelling Office was now
installed in the divisional headquarters
building. General O'Ryan was strengthened
by his new commission as major general
OF the national army.
He consulted his records, which knew no
favorites, which were written only in terms
Of efficiency or the reverse. One day he an
nounccd to the officers the United States
army plan of REMEMBERING the regiments
and of bringing them up to the war strength
of the European organization. This meant
the wiping out of many old commands; ii
meant consultations; it meant the elimna-
ton Of coonels from commands
New-York tribune., 1919-03-16
Always a Defender
OF Men i'm Ranks

Commenting this one day General
Organ said: AT one time there seen I'd 10
be an idea that because a man was a soldier
he was necessarily guilty of all the crimes IN
the calendar. But that day has changed.
Because man has served with the coioyr
he ought to be better man. In my digrin6 4
il shall be that way
The general had no patience with the over
wrought preachers who insisted on reform
ing the soldiers. at is the wrong method
Of approach" he said one day. "My chap
lains, am glad to say, do not approach the
men from that angle. They tell them that
the uniform is badge Of honor not
mark of Disgrace
General Organ counted bis sepice =
soldier as the greatest privilege of his life.
He wanted his men to feel the same way.
After he returned from Europe, having
been under fire with the 9th British Di-
vision, he showed his intensely human side
in friendly talk with group of officers.
THE first time went out to the front
line l did not feel any fear he began
Don't think this is Dragging. Let me finish
the story. Ever since / had become inter
ested in the military as an officer had been
studying tactics and the problems of sup
ply. Before me l saw all these problems
being worked out on grand scale. ] had
studied textbooks. I had dealt with maps
and pins. Now l was dealing with trenches
and human beings. / was fascinated, and
the fascination overcame every other emo
ton.
"The second time / was under fire / saw
a man shot down right before me, within a
few feet. l saw mans head blown off and
we'll, gentlemen, I will leave it to you to
consider how / felt
At the dedication of the Spartanburg Club
for Enlisted Men on a Sunday in March a
band concert was being held. Without an
nouncement the general hurried to the plat
form from which he was to make the prin-
cipal address
Instantly every man was on his feet.
There was no call ''The General 1t was
the automatic response to his insistence up
on the courtesy of the military. There was
something spontaneous about it, sonie-
thing so complimentary, that United States
Senator Calder, who was also scheduled 10
speak, turned to an officer and said. General
0'Rysn will either be made or be broken By
this war. He will emerge great figure or
great failure He can do nothing by half
measures"
Senator Calder's prophecy has been full
Allied in fact.