Sioux County pioneer., September 18, 1919, Image 2

About Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929

Image provided by: State Historical Society of North Dakota

                
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NEWS REVIEW OF
CUBBEMT EVENTS
Relations With Mexico Strained
When U. S. Troops Cross Bor
der in Chase of Bandits.
CMRANZA PROTEST FUTILE
President Wilson Discusses Peace
Treaty With Senate Foreign Rela
tions Committee, Without Vis
ible Result—Progress of
the War on Profiteer*
and Hoarders.
By EDWARD W. PICKARD.
Relations with Mexico flared up
again alarmingly last week and the
amateur and unofficial prophets freely
predicted that we would be at war
with our southern neighbor within a
short time. Once more American
troops have crossed the border, with
out asking permission of Carranzn, for
the purpose of capturing Mexicans
who have committed outrages against
American citizens and for whose ac
tions the whiskered one says he can
not be held responsible.
The capture and holding for ransom
of the two army aviators who had lost
their way was the act of a small band
of bandits, but the administration at
Washington shows a growing Inclina
tion to step across the border and
"clean things up" if the federal govern
ment of Mexico cannot do the job. It
appears that a stern warning was Is
sued some time ago to Carranza, to
which he replied at length, stating that
his government would do and was do
ing all In Its power to protect the lives
and property of foreigners In Mexico.
In this case of the captured aviators—
who were released on payment of part
of the ransom—federal troops were
sent after the offenders. The Ameri
can punitive expedition consisted of
part of the Eighth cavalry, aided by
some army flyers. They caught two
bandits and killed four others who
opened fire on them when surrounded.
Under Instructions from his govern
ment, Ambassador Bonlllas entered
protest against the "Invasion" and de
manded the Immediate withdrawal of
the troops. The reply, drafted by Pres
ident Wilson, was a flat refusal to
comply with the demand. The
press of Mexico City was aroused to
loud protest. One or two of the pa
pers there, however, realize the seri
ousness of the situation that has been
created by the numerous outrages
against foreigners and admit that un
less Carranza radically changes his
policies he will Invite disaster to him
self and to Mejclco.
In the United States Indignation Is
by no means confined to the border
states or to those who have suffered,
financially or otherwise, at the hands
of the Mexicans. The demand Is gen
eral that our government give to
American citizens everywhere the full
protection to which they are entitled,
a.nd there Is a feeling that unless it
does so our membership In the
League of Nations would be farcical.
Which brings us to the second great
event of the week, the unprecedented
meeting of the senate committee on
foreign relations with President Wilson
In the White House for the elucida
tion of many points In connection
with the peace treaty and league
covenant. In accordance with the
desires of both parties, the entire
proceedings were given full publicity,
bat a study of them and of the subse
quent comments of the participants
does not show that much was accom
plished in the way of removing the ob
stacles to ratification of the treaty.
Mr. Wilson made a long preliminary
statement to the senators and then an
swered their many questions with all
frankness. His position regarding
interpretations and reservations might
be summarized thus: If ordinary com
mon sense is used In reading the
•treaty and covenant they are unnec
essary If they merely accompany the
act of ratification there is no objec
tion to them but if tbey are made a
part of the resolution of ratification,
long delays would result because all
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1—Aeroinarlne seaplane raking on a bag of late foreign mail for delivery to the steamer Adriatic, whlcn
had left New York for Europe several hours before. 2—Sale of surplus army food In the New York custom
house to employees. 3—Senator Thomas of Colorado who denounced as "nothing short of treason" the de
a a a
the other nations would have to be
asked to accept the language of the
senate as the language of the treaty
It would be especially humiliating to
have to ask the assent of the German
national assembly. Senator Fall
called the president's attention to the
fuct that Germany Is not to be an
original membe^ of the league and
consequently any amendments to the
covenant proposed before her admis
sion would not be submitted to her.
Mr. Wilson admitted this was true
and that the point had not occurred
to him, but he Insisted that Germany
already has a relationship to the
league and that it was the plan to
admit her Immediately.
As for article 10, the crux of the
whole fight, President Wilson Inter
preted it as follows: If the league
calls on the United States to send
troops abroad to preserve the terri
torial Integrity of another member
state from external aggression, the
United States will be under an abso
lutely compelling moral obligation,
though not a legal obligation, to com
ply. But the league cannot call on
the United States for such aid unless
the American member votes his ap
proval In accord with American pub
lic sentiment.
After It was all over, Senator Hitch
cock said the president had clarified
many Involved questions in a wonder
ful manner and that speedy ratifica
tion would be the result. Senator
Lodge said Mc. Wilson had not given
them much real Information and that
the admissions he had made had vin
dicated the criticisms leveled at the
league covenant. Between these ex
tremes stand the "mild reservation
Ists." To capture their votes, Senator
Plttinan of Nevada took the reserva
tions they advocate, called them "In
terpretations or understandings," and
put them Into a resolution which he
presented to the senate for Its adop
tion apart from the resolution of rati
fication. fie asserted that he was act
ing with the president's approval,
whereupon Senator Hitchcock, admin
istration leader, felt himself Ignored
and showed that Plttman's resolution
was not much to his liking. The op
ponents of the covenant were brutal
ly outspoken In condemning the reso
lution. In the course of the lively de
bate Mr. Plttman admitted that the
League of Nations was "hardly more
than a meeting place where the con
sensus of the civilized world may be
obtained and Its moral force brought
to bear."
"If you'll write that Into the league
covenant there will be no difficulty
about Its ratification," Interrupted
Senator Reed of Missouri (Dem.).
Paris correspondents predict that
the peace conference will adjourn
within two or three weeks and that
when It reassembles in November or
December the United States will not
be represented unless in the meantime
the senate shall have ratified the
treaty and decided that we shall ac
cept mandates. The work for the con
ference after it reconvenes will be the
partition of Turkey and the settle
ment of the Thraclan and Adriatic
questions. If the United States does
not take part In these, both Italy and
Greece expect to win their demands,
for the Americans are now their only
opponents. As to Thrace, the Amer
ican delegntlon Insists on the creation
of a buffer state that will give Bul
garia access to the sea.. The Greeks
and Turks, who make up the bulk of
the population of Dedeagatch dis
trict, Involved In this .plan, are bitter
ly opposed to the continuation of any
thing like Bulgarian rule there and
are reported to be preparing to resist
It by arms. It Is not the intention of
the peace conference to leave any part
of Thrace In the possession of Bul
garia.
The council of five hopes that the
Austrian treaty will be signed within
a week. It also is feeling optimistic
about Hungary, where a new coalition
cabinet has been formed, and thinks
It may soon be able to recognize the
government at Budapest and present
the Hungarian treaty for signature.
The week's news from Russia was
somewhat more encouraging, for Ad
miral Kolchak appeared to have
stopped his retreat and to have
checked the pursuing bolshevists.
The red forces were ousted from
Odessa, and lost ground in some other
regions. In the Gulf of Finland a
British fleet encountered a number of
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bolsheviRt vessels and sank four of
them, thereafter concentrating against
Kronstadt. The fortress was bom
barded and the city set on fire.
The situation in Upper Silesia- is
confused and confusing. The Germans
nnd the Poles are fighting each other
In a desultory fashion there/ and both
are contending with the striking
workers of the country who have be
come so violent that the German au
thorities proclaimed martial law.
The new German constitution has
just gone into effect, and a summary
of it has been made-public in -Amer
ica. It seems to be in most respects
an admirable document, designed to
establish and maintain a moderate
and commendable form of republican
government, more strongly centralized
than our own. The powers of the
president are very great The equal
ity of all men and women before the
law is asserted, and titles of nobility
are abolished except "as a part of a
person's name." It Is noticeable, how
ever, that Germany is still called an
empire. It may be added, as a matter
of Interest, that the former kaiser has
just bought a place of residence in
Holland, and that current reports of
his fast falling health are flatly con
tradicted by a correspondent who sees
William nearly every day. vvv-ft'X
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Uncle Sam's war against the prof
iteers and hoarders went on steadily
If not so swiftly as the victims of the
H. C. of L. might have hoped. The
ultimate consumer hailed with en
thusiasm the assertion by Attorney
General Palmer that the small retail
ers as well as the big retailers and
the wholesalers are going to feel' the
heavy hand of the department of jus
tice. He appeared before the house
committee on agriculture to discuss
proposed amendments to the food con
trol act, and argued against a pro
vision that would exempt from prose
cution as profiteers those retailers
who do an annual business below
$100,000. Many of the complaints of
extortionate prices, he said, are
against the small dealers and he add
ed he would feel hopeless If he were
restricted to the larger dealers. Mr.
Palmer also asked the committee to
withdraw the proposed provision giv
ing the president authority to fix
prices. This, he said, he considered'
unnecessary and calculated to provoke
too much discussion. The only amend
ments he favored were one extending
the scope of the act to Include wear*
ing apparel and containers of foods,
feeds and fertilizers, and one Impos
ing a penalty of $5,000 or Imprison
ment for two years for profiteering.
The i?reat quantities of foodstuffs
which have been seized In various
cities by the agents of the department
of justice will not .be placed on the
market until proper court proceedings
have been completed. Meanwhile the
government Is disposing of Its vast
surplus army stores practically at
cost, and the way In which hundreds
of thousands of people struggle for la
chance to buy these commodities Is
sufficient evidence of their need.
The actors' strike, after spreading
to Chicago, became so stubborn a
struggle there that the unions of mu
sicans and stage hands were called
on for li^ipf with the result that near-'
ly every'theater Was obliged to close.
Efforts to end the strike amicably in
New York were fruitless, and it was
said there It might be extended to cov
er the entire country and all hail
shows. Including the movies.
Within a week there probably will
be a conference between the officials
of the steel workers' unions and rep
resentatives of the United States Steel
corporation. If it is refused by the
latter, a committee headed by Samuel
Gompers Is einpower/ed to call a strike
forthwith. The corporation maintains
the open shop, and the unions "wish to
present to It a rather portentous list
of 12 basic demands.
Cudahy, Wis., and Hammond, Ind.,
were the scenes of strike riots and
state troops were hurried to both
places to restore order, which they
d,d-
The fanners have won their fight
against daylight saving, for although
the rest of the population is unani
mous In Its favor, the bill for repeal
of the law was passed by both house
and senate over the veto of President
Wilson.
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8I0UX C0UNTY PIONEER
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FARMERS SHOULD
STUDY DOCKAGE
Many Producers Imposed Upon
by Elevators, Asserts
J. A. McGovern.
Many farmers are being Imposed
upon in the sale of grain because of
lack of information on the new dock-'
age law, according to J. A. McGovern,
deputy state inspector of grades,
weights and measures'
"It is absolutely necessary for the
farmers to inform themselves on this
law If they are to enjoy full protec
tion," said Mr. McGovern. "There
have come to my notice many cases
where farmers have been swindled be
cause they lacked knowledge of the
new dockage law. Efforts have been
made to spread the-proper information
among the farmers, but they have not
been wholly successful. Instructions
on this Important subject were pub
lished In the North Dakota Leader of
May 24, but many of the farmers evi
dently did not read them.
"It is important that the farmers
acquire a.knowledge of the rules gov
erning dockage without delay as the
new crop has begun to come in and
grain sales Involving millions of dol
lars have started. This office is
watching the elevators. Men are kept
out in the field for this purpose con
tinually. But we must have the co
operation of the farmers. We want
the farmers to register all complaints
with us Immediately, and if necessary,
to ylre them in to the "Grain Inspec
tion Department, Agricultural College,
N. D."
Points to Remember.
Mr. McGovern explained briefly es
sential points the farmers should keep
in mind to protect themselves:
Under the new law farmers are to
receive the market price of the dock
age, or the dockage itself, after the
elevator has been paid for cleaning the
grain.
If the farmer does not want the
dockage when it Is offered hlin and as
a consequence the elevator refuses to
pay him for It and fails to deduct it
from the charges for cleaning the
grain, the farmer upon complaint can
get the entire money back he paid for
having the grain cleaned.
If there is no local market price for
dockage, the price allowed the farmer
shall be the price at the nearest mar
ket for the dockage minus freight and
other charges to that market!'
The elevator company shall be al
lowed 2 per centT of wheat and rye
dockage, for which it shall not be re
quired to pay.
The elevators are allowed 1 per cent
of flaxseed dockage as waste for which
they are not required to pay.
They are allowed 3 per cent as
waste In mill oats dockage. Mill oats
dockage is dockage having 4 per cent
OP more of oats, wild oats, corn, bar
ley, speltz, enimer, millet, timothy
seed, wild peas, mustard seed, alfalfa
seed, clover seed, buckwheat, pigeon
grass, or any grain having a feed
value.
No compensation Is allowed
top
dockage having no feed value, such as
cockle, kingheads, weed seeds, weed
stems, straw,, chaff, darnell, quack
grass, Canada thistle, sow thistle,
dodder, wild, rose, wild onions, French
wged seeds, sand and dirt.
Dockage is determined by .separat
ing it from the gtalh, weighing it and
inspecting it. Dockage determined in
any other manner is unlawful.
How Farmers Are Cheated.
Mr. McGovern told of a typlcul case
where a farmer was imposed upon be
cause of ills lack of information re
garding the new law. He sold 100
bushels of wheat to an elevator. The
dockage was clussed as mill oats dock
age and was 5 per cent. It amounted
to 300 pounds. The elevator was al
lowed 3 per cent or 180 pounds. This
left 120 pounds of mill oats dockage
for which the elevator owed the
farmer. At $20 per ton for this kind
of dockage, the' elevator owed the
farmer $1.20 for dockage. At 2 cents
per bushel for cleaning the wheat, the
fanner owed the elevator man $2..
The elevator man said he did not
want the dockage and offered it to the
farmer.- The farmer didn't want it.
The elevator man kept the docknge,
but charged the farmer the full price
.for cleaning his wheat "Instead of de
ducting the price of the dockage, $1.20,
from the cleaning charges, $2.00, and
paying the farmer the difference, 80
cents, he charged the farmer $2.00 on
the grounds that the farmer had been,
offered his dockage back and would
not take it.
When this case was brought to the
attention of the state grain inspection
department, the' elevator was com
pelled to return the $2.00 to the
'»rmer-
ly#
A Minneapolis dispatch says that the
grain gamblers will be allowed soon to
trade in futures. This great tntqulty
was abolished during the war when we
tod. our hands full fighting the central
powers. With one enemy removed, it
is now thought, no doubt, that it will
do no great harm to turn the other one
loose upon us.
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The British government is consider
ing going back to the system of public
regulation and control in vogue during
the war to stop profiteering. The high
cost of living is proving as disastrous
as the war and demands war measures.
A plan ts afoot to use the hailed out
crops for pasture for the starving cat
tle of the North Dakota and Montana
drouth regions.
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DO YOU KNOW-
North Dakota's manufactured
products were worth $21,147,000
in 1014, although it Is the most
agricultural state in the Union.
Natural gas is found in com
mercial quantities In the
.north
ern part of the state, and is
being used for illuminating and
Industrial purposes.
North Dakota has vast cement
deposits.
North Dakota has the highest
grade clay in the Union for
pressed' brick, fire brick and
pottery.
North Dakota has five hun
dred tons of lignite.
In 1918 North Dakota raised
grain as follows: Wheat, 101,
000,000 bushels oats, 60,512,000
bushels barley, 37,281,000 bush
els flax, 6,864,000 bushels rye,
20,422,000 bushels.
North Dakota exceeded any
other state in the Union for
acreage sown of wheat, barley,
rye and flax.
The value of animals killed
for home use In North Dakota
in 1917 was $5,828,000.
North Dakotans, in 1917, re
ceived ,$17,813,000 for cattle,
hogs and sheep sold.
North Dakota has more than
42,000-acres of artificial forests.
The farmers of the state paid
out ln l917 $16,294,000 in wages.
The value of the North Da
kota creamery Industry in 1918
Was $25,000,000.
In the spring of 1918 there
were in North Dakota 648,273
horses, 7,088 mules, 983,075 cat
tle, 167,235 sheep, 447,808 hogs,
and 278,886 milk cattle.
More than 2,000 elevators,
with a capacity of more than
60,000,000. bushels, are needed
every year to handle the grain
products of North Dakota.
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CORN IN BEST CONDITION
OF NORTH DAKOTA CROPS
The United States agricultural de
partment reports the condition of
crops August 1 in different parts of the
state as follows:
Northwest district: Corn, 80 to 90
per cent wheat, 50 to 60 oats, 35 to
50 barley, 30 to 50 potatoes, 60 to 80
flax, 25 to 50.
North-Central district Corn, 65 to
90 wheat, 25 to 50 oats, 18 to 55
barley, 10 to 50 potatoes, 45 to 70
flax, 15 to 70.
Northeast district: Corn, 95 to 98
wheat, 65 to 75 oats, 54 to 80 bar
ley, 55 to. 80 potatoes, 69 to. 85 flax,
71 to 95.
West Central district: Corn, 70 to
70 wheat, 21 to 65 oats, 16 to 54
barley, 19 to 56 potatoes, 40 to 55
flax, 15 to 45.
Central district: Corn, 70 to 93
wheat, 38 to 72 oats, 45 to 75 pota
toes, 65 to 80 flax, 52 to .78.
East Central district: Corn, 9Q to
100 wheat, 53 to 66 oats, 65 to 76
barley, 65 to 80 potatoes,' 79 to 85
flax, 78 to 90.
Southwestern district: Corn, 25 to
65 wheat, 10 to 25 oats, 10 to 20
barley,' 10 to'30 potatoes, 25 tcf 50
flax, 10 to 15.
South Central district: Corn, 65 to
90 wheat, 30 to 63 oats, ,30 to 60
barley, 20 to 63 potatoes, 35 to 6)3
flax,-20 to 50.
Southeastern district: Corn, 90 to
100 wheat, 43 to CIO oats, 50 to 80
bat ley, 50 to 70 potatoes, 56 'to 85
flax, 40 to 95. 1^
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NOTED EXPERT FAVORS
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP
Another blow was struck against the
private ownership of public utilities
when Pelos. F. Wilcox, New. York
franchise expert, told the federal elec-,
trlcal railroad commission last week
that private street railway systenw In
the Unl,ted Statef have broken down
and that, municipal ownership Is the
only solution of the American street
railway! problem.
Drawing from an experience with
trolley matters running back over
many years, Mr. Wilcox stated that
street railways should yield a fixed re
turn and should not be based on
speculation "that service instead of
profit should be the governing motive
behind street railways that strikes
should be avoided by affording full
protection to the workers, and that
the operatives shouid be organized and
should be given a share In the man
agement of the street railway systems.
"No ultimate solution of. the problems
can be reached," said Mr. Wilcox, "un
less we undertake local transportation
as a public function,"
These same conclusions were re^ehed
recently by the public utilities .com
mission of Massachusetts.
The Minneapolis millers' combine
have entered into an agreement to pay
only the minimum guaranteed price for
wheat,, although, the market price is
way above this $£ure. Thek* profits
Will b"e con8iderably increased They
offer 'many exbuses, but. conceal the
reason, which is, that they are able to
dolt
A great hone sale yill be held at
Dickinson August 28 and 27 for the
purpose of relieving the drouth sec
tions from a surplus of these anim^
and helping the farmers. It is be
lieved that a market can be found for
these horses in the Southern states.
A new oil can has a flexible spout to
reach places in machinery difficult of
aceeas without spilling.
WHUTCROPLOSS
LESSON TO STATE
Prosperity and Safety Rest oiti
Diversified Farming, De
clares Dr. Ladd. 01
The decline of the North Dakota""
wheat crop at least 50 per cent underf
original estimates should constitute the^
most impressive lesson the state ha»
ever had in the. value of diversified
farming, according to President E. F_
Ladd of the state-Agricultural college.'
"Nortli Dakota placed Its main de- rf
pendence in wheat as usual," said Dr.f
Ladd, "and near the end of a year1
which started out.under the most pro
pitlous circumstances, it finds it placed,
its eggs In the wrong basket The only
remedy for this condition is for the
farmers of this state to place their eggs.
in the future in several baskets.
"It has unfortunately happened that".
the peculiar agencies destructive to
wheat crops were usually prevalent in$
the irtate this year. With drouth in the,
west"hot winds and moisture spreading- *'..,
rust in the east, and with a plague of*~
grasshoppers, North Dakota's special
crop—her almost exclusive market has-'4'
ket—fared badly.
"In striking contrast to tills, is the.
condition of other crops, showing that1''
had the crops of this state been prop-
erly diversified, the farmers would have
hardly-noticed the wheat losses. As ittj..
is, many who placed their entire reli-.,
nnce on wheat are almost ruined.
"Among the crops that have appaiv
ently not suffered are corn and alfalfa..*
We have a good corn crop coming on in*&<s
the eastern part of the state, and even
in the western port where the drouthK v.
has wrought such havoc with wheat,,- 4
the crop Is doing well. Alfalfa seems "V
to be doing, well everywhere.- These '•J
crops have almost entirely escaped the^
serious deterioration wheat has suf-W
fered.
"There are other'distinct advantages
In raising these crops along with wheat S
and other crops. They supply the best
kind of feed for dairy cows, hogs and
poultry. Fanners who keep these do
mestlc animals will find that they will
provide a constant income for the faro
ily the year-round. From such dlversl-j
fled farming come valuable by-products.
A variety of crops also furnish crop "$•
rotation which keeps the .soil free fromj
a a a
maximum crops. One crop of corn or -~l
potatoes gets the land in splendid
shape for a wheat crop, and alfalfa,
^because it supplies the soil with nltro
is one of the best fertilizers''
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MILLERS HAVE SCHEME TO
SWINDLE WHEAT GROWERS
Only timely action of congress can'
save the farmers from the latest""
The, senate agricultural committee
has uncovered" a %cheme of the millers
to buy the grain around this figure and
make it
:lnto
ing top prices. Unless the government
makes changes in wheat standards the'
farmer will lose hundreds of millions
of dollars and the millers will make,
fortunes at their expense.
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scheme of the milling interests to get .* 1
under the government guarantee ofr
$2.26 per bushel and get wheat this'
year at a1 much lower figure. Heat^-'F 1
drouth and other causes have produced
hundreds of, millions of bushels of
shriveled wheat. The present federal--
grain grading laws permit the purchase
of such wheat as a lower and cheaper
grade. It is believed that much of It
will be graded in a class that will bring
only $1.50 per bushel.
high-grade flour command-
The federal grades are not based on r:
the flour producing quality of the
wheat. On the contrary, the grades
established in North Dakota are based -li
on the actual grades of flour the wheat
will produce,- It is believed that the
federal government may be compelled
to adopt the North Dakota system, If
it properly protects the farmer.
ARMY TRUCKS HERE TO
AID IN ROAD BUILDING
New and valuable three and five-ton
army trucks are coming into the state
highway commission every day from
various army camps throughout the
-country. They are sent by* the war de
partinent to be used in building and
maintaining, state roads which received
federal aid.
The trucks, are being distributed to
the counties as soUn as they" come, 3
Over 300 of them have been assigned ft
to the state, but as yet only a part of
that number has arrived. Some coun
ties have asked for as high as 20 of
these trucks to be used in bettering
their roads.
The government specifies that they 4
can be used for no other purpose than-
building and maintaining roads In"
counties which have federal- aid pro-v
Jects. Next year Itf is planned to In-'*
crease the number of miles of. road laid
with the aid of the squadrons of
trucks.
to wear mustaches during -business
hours! Thls-remarkable order afforded
the public so much amusement that it
was sooncanceled.
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A retail grocery at Blgghampton, N."*
I.i has been fined $500 for charging 15
cents a pound for sugar. This is the "j
first conviction in the new campaign to 'vV4
reduce the cost of living by punishing^1
profiteers. As usual, it was the little
fellow/rather than the big malefactor
that got It
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Army orders regarding mustaches re-,
call the fact that the Bank of England f"a 'v
once Issued an "order forbidding clerks1,
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