Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, February 9, 1909, Page 1

THE BEMIDJ1 D I i i YRR I e e Y VOLUME 6. NUMBER 251. BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA, TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 9, 1909. 5 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE ON FARM LIFE SENT CONGRESS Roosevelt Tells of Needs of People in the Country and Transmits Report of the Country Life Commission.— Three Prominent Needs for Farmers. 1 Washington Feb. 9. — President | Roosevelt sent to congress today a special message transmitting the re- port of the country life commission, appointed by him to investigate the ~conditions of life on the farms of the country and to make recommendations of ways and means whereby farm life may be made more remunerative and attractive. In the message the president lays stress upon the fact that the farmers | and their families are the stay and strength of the country and that what- | ever tends to make their lives less burdensome or unattractive is neces- sary to the interests of the nation. He praises the work of the members of the commission, who, as he says, have labored without pay and do not now ask compensation for their work. The only recommendation in the mes- I transmit herewith the report of the commission on country life. At the outset I desire to point out that not a dollar of the public money has been paid to any commissioner for his work on the commission. The report shows the general condi- tion of farming life in the open coun- try and points out its larger problems. It indicates ways in which the govern- ment, national and state, may show the people how to solve some of these problems, and it suggests a continu- ance of the work which the commis- sion began. Methods of the Commission. Judging by thirty public hearings, to which farmers and farmers’ wives from forty states and territories came, and from 120,000 answers to printed questions sent out by the department of agriculture, the commission finds that the general level of country life e (Fror L A BATLEy] PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S COMMISSION ON COUNTRY LIFR. sage 18 tne request for an appropria- tion of $25,000 to enable the commis- slon to digest the material it has col- lected and put it in such shape that it will be available for the nation. In an appendix to the message, pre- ceding the report of the commission, the president comments on the replies made by a Missourl farmer to the ques- tions asked by the commission. “Tc the question, ‘Is the supply of farm la- bor in your neighborhood satisfacto- ry? the answer is, ‘No, because the people have gone out of the baby busi- ness,’ and when asked as to the reme- dy he answers, ‘Give a pention to every mother who gives birth to seven living boys on American soil’” The president’s message is as fol- lows: To the Senate and House of Repre- Bentatives: 1§ high compared With any preceding time or with any other land. If it has in recent years slipped down in some places, it has risen in more places. Its progress has been general, if not uniform. Yet farming does not yield either the profit or the satisfaction that it ought to yield and may be made to yield. ‘There is'discontent in the country and in places discouragement. Farmers as a class do not magnify their calling, and the movement to the towns, though, I am happy to say, less than formerly, is still strong. How Farmers Can Help Themselves. Under our system it is helpful to promote discussion of ways in which the people can help themselves. There are three main directions in which Norway figliest autumn caught oil. in half pound cans. say the same. ROE & M PHONE 206 Roe & Markusen’s Editorial Lent is near—commencing the twenty-fourth of this month—and we want the people to know about a few things that we have in the fish line. We just got in a shipment of the finest Sardines : that ever come to to this city; packed by Concord Can- ning Co., Stavanger Norway, and they guarantee that these Sardines are packed from the fish, and in pure olive We also have BONELESS CODFISH put up in glass, jars, and you get nothing but selected fish. Don’t forget to include a jar in your next order. In CANNED SALMON we have the Blood Red, and the Sockeye, and the Pink, in one pound and To those that like HERRING we want to say that we just got in genuine Three K-Norway Herring— the best we ever had, and if you like herring you will Yours very truly, ARKUSEN, The Reliable Grocers. BEMIDJI, MINN. PHONE 207 namely, bétter Iarming, better Dbusi- ness and better living on the farm., The national department of agricul- ture, which has rendered- services equaled by no other similar depart- ment in any other time or place;-the state departments of agriculture, the state colleges of agriculture and the mechanic arts, especially through their extension work; the state agricultural experiment stations, the Farmers’ un- ion, the grange, the agricultural press and other similar agencies have all combined to place within the reach of the American farmer an amount and quality of agricultural informa- tion which if applied would enable him over large areas to double the production of the farm, The object of the commiission on country life, therefore, is not to help the farmer raise better crops, but to call his attention to the opportunities for better business and better living on the farm. If country life is to be- come what it should be and what I believe it ultimately wii be—one of the most dignified, desirable and sought after ways of earning a living—the farmer must take advantage not only of the agricultural knowledge which is at his disposal, but of the methods which have raised and continue to raise the standards of living and of Intelligence in other callings. Those engaged in all other industrial and commercial callings have found It necessary under modern economic conditions to organize themselves for mutual advantage and for the protec- Hon of their own particular interests In relation to other interests. The tarmers of every progressive Euro- pean country have realized this essen- tial fact and have found in the ‘co- operative system exactly the form of business combination they need. Now, whatever the state may do to- ward improving the practice of agri- culture, it is not within the sphere of mny government to reorganize the farmers’ business or reconstruct the social life of farming communities. It is, however, quite within its power to use its influence and the machinery of publicity which it can control for calling public attention to the needs and the facts. For example, it is the obvious duty of the government to call the attention of farmers to the grow- ing monopolization of water power. The farmers, above all, should have that power, on reasonable terms, for cheap transportation, for lighting their bomes and for innumerable uses in the daily tasks on the farm. Farmers’ Own Work Needed. It would be idle to assert that life on the farm occupies as good a posi- tion in dignity, desirability and busi- ness results as the farmers might easily give it if they chose. One of the chief difficulties is the failure of country life as it exists at present to satisfy the higher social and intellec- tual aspirations of country people. Whether the constant draining away of so much of the best elements in the rural population into the towns is due chiefly to this cause or to the superior business opportunities of city life may be open to question. But no one at all familiar with farm life throughout the United States can fail to recognize the necessity for building up the life of the farm upon its social as well as upon its productive side. E It is true that country life has im- proved greatly in attractiveness, health and comfort and that the farmer's earnings are higher than they were. But city life is advancing even more rapidly because of the greater atten- tion which is being given.by the citi- zens of the towns to their own better- ment. For just this reason the intro- duction of effective agricultural co- pperation throughout the United States Is of the first importance. Where farmers are organized co-operatively they not only avail themselves much more readily of business opportunities and improved methods, but it is found that the organizations which bring them together in the work of their | lives are used also for social and in- tellectual advancement. The co-operative plan is the best plan of organization wherever men have the right spirit to carry it out. Under this plan any business under- taking is managed by a committee. Every man has one vote and only one vote, and every one gets profits ac- cording to what he sells or buys or supplies. It develops individual re- sponsibility and has a moral as well ns a financial value over any other plan. Farmers’ Problems the Whole Country’s I desire only to take counsel with® the farmers as fellow' citizens. It is not the problem of the farmers alone that I am discussing with them, but n problem which affects every city as well as every farm in the country. It Is a problem which the working farm- ers will have to solve for themselves, but it is a problem which also affects in only less degree all the rest of us, ond therefore if we can render any belp toward its solution it is not only our duty but our interest to do s0. The foregoing will, I hope, make it clear why I appointed a commission to consider problems of farm life which have hitherto had far too little atten- tlon and the neglect of which has not only held back life in the country, but also lowered the efficiency of the whole nation. The welfare of the farmer is of vital consequence to the welfare of the whole community. The strength- ening of country life, therefore, is the strengthening of the whole nation, The commission has tried to help the farmers to see clearly their own prob- lem and to see it as a whole, to distin- guish clearly between what the gov- ernment can do and what the farmers must.do for themselves, and it wishes’ to bring not only the farmers, but the nation a8 a whole, to realize that the growing of crops, though an essentlal part, is only a part of country life. LContinued on Last Page] FOUND THAT THEY HAD PAID UNNECESSARY FEES — Candidates for the Unsalaried Oftices Are Not Compelled to Pay Filing Fees. — "By the reading of a passage of law last evening at the ‘meeting of the city council, it was shown that several men who have filed for or held public offices in Bemidji have needlessly paid filing fees. The law states that candidates for unsalaried city- offices do not have to pay filing fees. Mayor Pogue stated that he would like to recover the $15 he has paid in three fees. The council instructed the city clerk to return any filing fees paid by can- didates for unsalaried offices at the coming city election which had not yet been turned over to the -city treasurer. The mayor and others who have made this mistake in former elec- tions were -notified to present bills for the amounts which ought to be refunded to them at some future meeting. City Clerk Maloy stated that he had received $80 in filing fees last year and $90 the yéar before. Bills were presented from the Wheelock and the Bemidji Employ- ment companies asking the return of their $100 licenses with interest, as a result of the recent case of the Blackduck Employment company against the City of Bemidji. Their bills were referred to the city attor- ney. The usual number of other bills were allowed. ' The reports of the city clerk and the city treasurer were laid over until the next meeting. The report of the municipal court for the week ending Saturday, February 6th, and showing $74.10 in fines paid into the city treasury, was read and accep- ted. City-Clerk Maloy-did not repeat the mistake,which he hasmade almost every council meeting since the establishment of the municipal court last August, of reading the report of the municipal court as being for the week ending on Monday. Ordinance No. 38, issuing the bonds voted last Augastand placing 'them in shape to sell to the Commer- cial Investnient company of Duluth, was given its third reading and passed, the vote being as follows; ayes—McCuaig, Miller, E. J. Gould, Marin, Brinkman and Rhea; nayes— none; absent—W. A. Gould, Smart, and Johnson. Chief Knox was instructéd to notify F. M. Malzahn to pay a license for the bowling alley which he owns. Passed Judiciary Committee. Attorney G. M. Torrance received a telegram this morning from Reprel sentative Opsahl stating that the judiciary committee of the house has recommended for passage the bill legalizing Bemidji’s city = water bonds, which were voted upon last August and included the purchase of fire apparatus. Mr. Torrance took this bill to St. Paul a few days ago and Representa- tive Opsahl introduced the bill which was referred to the judiciary committee, ' COUNTY AUDITOR LAYS BLAME ON CITY GLERK Wilmann Claims Present Spreading of Sewer Assessment Is Due fo Maloy. The hearing in the mandamus pro- ceedings brought by the city of Bemidji vs. John Wilmann, as county auditor, wherein the city seeks to compel Mr. Wilmann to spread the sewer assessment over a period of five years instead of one year, was held yesterday. At the time the sewer assessment was turned over to the county audi- tor by City Clerk Thomas Maloy to be spread over the assessment- for this year’s taxes no mention was made of the five yearsand in accord- ance with this order the taxes were levied. Mr. Wilmann followed the exact order of the city clerk and therefore does not feel that he should be obliged to make these corrections, The case was argued before Judge Wright yesterday at chambers and the decision taken underadvisement; Mr. Wilmann was given ten days in which to submit a brief stating his side of the case and the city an addi- tional five days in which to make their reply. The case is an interesting one, and the outcome will be watched closely by the local public. As this is not the first time Mr. Maloy has made serious mistakes of this nature in the levying and spread- ing the sewer assessment, the out come of this casé will be watched with interest. = . Miss McConnell to Wed: Cards have been received in this city announcing the coming marriage of Miss Annabelle McConnell to Irwin C. Johnston, the ceremony to take place at Minneapolis Wednes- day evening, February 17th. " Miss McConnell is well and favor- ably known in this city, having been head clerk in the dry goods depart- ment of ‘the E. H. Winter & Co. store fora number of years. To Be Dressed in Costumes at Sale The ladies of the Methodist church, dressed according to the custom during Washingtan’s time, will hold a Washington’s Birthday sale Saturday evening, February 20th, and will also -serve a New England supper. The ladies will have a large assortment of home- made aprons, handkerchiefs, candies, jellies and canned fruit. MEMBERS OF COMPANY K PREPARING GRAND BALL Will Be Finest Military Affair in North- ern Minnesota on Washington's Birthday. Company K, Third Regiment, Minnesota National Guard, is making elaborate preparations for a ball in this city on Washington’s Birthday that will eclipse any military affair of its kind in northern Minnesota. Such is the result of a recent meet- ing of the members of the militia company. It is estimated that the cost of the decorations and general equipment will amount to over $275. C..C. Collins, the deccrator for O’Leary & Bowser’s store, will have charge of the preparations of the City Hall. Flags, shields, streamers revolving lights and pennants and flowers galore, together with rugs and cozy corners, are a part of the equipment which Mr. Collins intends to use. No expenses will be spared in adoring the hall for this occasion A committee has been appointed to secure music for the evening and a full sized orchestra will be ob- tained for this occasion. Captain Otto of Company K an- nounced this morning that invita- tions will be extended to Governor Johnson and the head officers of the Minnesota National Guard as well as to each company in the Third Regiment. Invitations will have to be presented at the door in order to gain admittance. £ local Birthday Party. Miss Grace Peterson celebrated her eleventh birthday Saturday with eleven other little girls at her home, 700 Bemidji Ave. ° ‘The occasion was a most enjoyable one both for Grace and her friends. Many dainty little tokens of love were received by the hostess, who in turn presented her guests alternately with -dimioutive white lambs and white and black kittens as a memento of the happy event. : ** Secured Good Views. A.. A Richardson, the view photographer, returned last evening from a trip through the logging camps between Redby and Black- duck where he secured some excep- tionally good views, among which were pictures of two of .the Crooks-| ton Lumber company’s.steam haulers in the camps near Red Lake. .| ter, and in order that the chances of : FORTY CENTS PER MONTH BEMIDJI'S ATTITUDE IS BRINGING GOOD RESULTS i’osition Taken By Bemidji on Normal School Question Is Winning Friends and Calling Attention of Legislators MNESoT ) HISTBRICAL SOCIETY, to Needs of North Half of State. St. Paul, Feb. 9. (Special to Daily Pioneer.)—The Bemidji representa- tives who have been during -the present session of the legislature in the interest of securing a sixth state normal school for the north half of the state have won many friends among the legislators by the spirit of fairness which has ever been manifested toward all of the other applicants for the location of the school. Bemidji has thrown aside her personal preferences in the mat- having.a school may not be jeopard- ized, has agreed to any kind of a general bill, which would provide for a school, leaving the question of the location to be decided later, by any fair board or committee from the legislature. In the fair proposition, Bemidji has been ably sustained by the representatives of Park Rapids, Wadena, Thief River Falls, Red Lake Falls and Warren, Cass Lake alone standing out for the location of the school at that point, or no school. In connection with this stand taken by Cass Lake, some of the supporters of that place have caused the statement to be circulated that Bemidji was willing to agree to any plan whereby Cass Lake was not selected as the location, and many untrue statements have been added thereto, those opposed to the general Hinds bill even going so far as to tell the Thief River Falls and other representatives that they were simply playing into -the hands of Bemidji, as they knew their towns stood no show of getting the school. The object of these “fairy talcs”! was to create discord among the six towns that are standing together for the Hinds general bill and all of whom are willing to ‘abide by the findings of any just board or com- mittee which makes a fair and ex- haustive investigation of the differ- ent places. During the different hearings which have been held relative to the granting of a normal for northern Minnesota, a large amount of in- formation has been given concern- ing the rapid development of that section, along educational as well as industrial lines, and also the im- proved moral conditions that now prevail, over those that were -mani- fest a few years ago. The house and senate normal committees are unanimous (with one notable excep- tion) in agreeing that a normal school for the betterment of teachers for that section is needed. Much interest is now being taken in the entire north half of the state, and legislation affecting that sec- tion is receiving more favorable consideration than heretofore; and the delegations from the north coun- try, by their intense loyalty, have brougkt this about. Bemidji has borne. much of the brunt of the battle that has been waged for the “general” bill for the granting of a sixth normal school, leaving the location as a secondary counsideration, and the fairness of | this_ proposition is being recognized more fully, as time passes. Even the members of the house and sen- ate normal school - committee are being impressed with this impar- tiality. _ —A. G. Rutledge. R | | adies’ One lot Ladies’ Skirts| Dress Skirts, $4.50 to $6.50 values, each, this week $2.98 O'leary & Bowse Enormou ifi the insurance field the risks may safely be written. The is one of the subjects we specialize ‘on and give particular attention- essential that keen judgment and mtimate knowledge be exercised when choosing the companies in which The selection of impregnable com- .panies is our business. afford to write you in the weak ones. First National Bank ; o_F*BEMIDJl, M.I_NvN'__ 2 s s Losses past three years make it We cannot 1