Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, February 19, 1910, Page 1

TH BEMIDJI1 DAILY PION ey e ager MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY. - VOLUME 7. NUMBER 259. BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA, SATURDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 19, 1910. TEN CENTS PER WEEK. “BEMIDJI DID FINELY ENTERTAINING GET-TOGETHER CONVENTION” SAID HON. A. D. STEPHENS, Of Crookston, State Senator for 62d District, Through Whose Efforts a State Agricul- tural School Was Located at Crookston. DULUTH DELEGATION GREATLY PLEASED. W. A. McGonagle of Duluth, presi- dent of the Duluth & Iron Range railway, expressed the sentiments of the Duluth delegation as follows: “The Bemidji conference will go down in history as the most im- portant meeting ever held in north- ern Minnesota. The spirit of unani- mity prevailing at all times during the sessions of the convention must attract the attention of all parts of the state to the fact that northern Minnesota citizens are alive to their own rights and privileges and en- titled to a full sharein the govern- ment of their own state. “The result of the unanimous and enthusiastic work of this convention must and will be the granting of a fair, reasonable and honest reappor- tionment by the legislature of Min- nesota, and a willingness on the part of all districts of the state to join heartil yinthe development of north- ern Minnnesota which gives promise of prompt and ample returns for every dollar expended in such devel- opment. “The city of Bemidji is a revela- tion to many of our delegates, who have visited it for the first time at this convention, and the spirit of hospitality manifested by all its citizens is fully appreciated by our delegation. "We hope that many meetings of similar character to be held in the near future will establish the fact that our interests are common, and that by acting as one man we can and will receive the just recognition that we are entitled to as citizens and taxpayers of the great state of Minnesota.” Imbued with a determination to continue the splendid work of advancing the interests: of the northern half of Minnesota, and harmoniously banded together 'as one man working under unanimously- adopted resolutions that expiess very strongly what is wanted in the matter of reapportionment in the state legislature and promoting every public matter that will redound to the betterment of conditions in this section, more than 300 representa- tive men of thirty counties of the “North Star State” adjourned a two- days’ getting-together convention, late yesterday afternoon, and- left for their homes during the night, well pleased with their stay in the “Hub City of the North,” and praising the good nature that had prevailed in every quarter during the meeting. Bemidji never had within her corporate limits a finer body of progressive “boosters” than were those who came here to mingle with one another and get acquainted, and to ascertain if the hospitality for which Bemidji has become famous was of a genuine character or had been considerably overdrawn. And Bemidji and her warm-hearted business and professional men and citizens in other walks of life arose to the occasion. - Bemidji cashed, without protest, every draft drawn upon her hospi- tality, and was ever attentive to her guests. No better endorsement of this assertion can be given than the statement given out by W. A. Mc-! Gonagle of Duluth, president of the Duluth & Iron Range railway, which is reproduced above. The harmony which prevailed during the convention caused much commendable comment, and was a marked feature of the gathering. The unity of purpose was manifest on all sides. While tbe committee on resolutions wrestled with some difficult problems, and although the arguments, pro and con, in the committee meeting were “straight from the shoulder,” the harmonious spirit prevailed there, also, and the committee was unani- mous in presenting the resolutions, which are given elsewhere on -this page. Lack of space prevents a full|. summing up of the different phases of the convention, but the Pioneer has endeavored to give, each day, as full reports of the meetings as possible, and in this issue is pub- lished synopsis of the closing ad- dresses. At the afternoon session of the convention, the report of the ‘com- mittee on permanent organization ‘was read and accepted, as printed in yesterday’s Pioneer. The matter of the election of per- manent officers of the Northern Minnpesota Development association brought Thomas R. Jobnstone of Crookston to his feet with an enthusiastic speech c¢f commendation for the unanimous election of H. J. Maxfield of Wadena as president and W. R./ Mackenzie of Bemidji as secretary, as a fitting recognition of the labors which they had performed for the success of the convention, the motion being adopted with a cheer. Mayor W. J. Smith of Eveleth, president of the Miners’ National bank of that place, was elected’ treasurer, without opposition. On behalf of St. Louis county, Mayor Haven of Duluth suggested Crookston, “the center of the Réd River Valley,” as the proper place for holding the next annual meeting of the association, being a recogni- tion to northwestern Minnesota, the suggestion being unanimously adopted. Thomas R. Johntsonsof Crookston. ou behalf of his bome city, thanked the convention-for selecting Crooks- ton as the next meeting place. Mr. Johnstone assured the dele- gates that the residents of Crooks- ton, including men, . women and even the school children, would join in extending the visitors a right, royal welcome; and he was loudly applauded. State Senator A. D. Stephens of Crcokston, was called for and.res- ponded with a_ splendid speech on agricultural education, Senator Stephens told of the two systems of agricultural, education, one wherein one system took the girl or boy from the farm and placed them in a high school, away from the environments of actual farming; -the other sending them toan agricultural school like those at Crookston or St. Anthony Park: It would be better to devote more time to making farm life attractive, which would bring more deserters back to the farms, said Mr. Stephens. The other plan is to take the boy or girl away from the farm and place him or her in a city high school, where actual ex- perience on the farm could not be had. The best methods of agricul- tural education will be fought out from now on in this state, whether the boy should be given an educa- tion at an agricultural' school where THE GUESTS Three Hundred Delegates from Thirty Counties Adjourned Their Meeting, Yesterday- Afternoon, with Reluctance, and Left Bemidji with Thanks. RESOLUTIONS, WHICH DEMAND JUSTICE ‘ FOR THIS SECTION, PASS WITH CHEERS Those Who Attended Convention Are Pledged Not to Support Any Legislative Candidate, Who Is Not Pledged in Advance to Reapportmnment. The report of the resolutions com- mittee was adopted by a unanimous and enthusiastic vote. The commit- tee spent much time and deliberation in preparing a set of resolutions that would embody the sentiments expressed by the speakers during the conventions, and the results of their labors was heartily ‘approved. The resolutions: Delegates from thirty counties, of North- ern Minnesota, in Convention assembled at the City of Bemidji, February 17 and 18, 1910, composing the Northern Minne- sota' Development Association, realizing that in northern Minnesota lie the great- est opportunities for fiture development of natural resources and advantages such as no other land possesses and to the end that this development may be speedily accomplished, do hereby adopt the follow- ing resolutions: ‘Whereas; the representation of the northern half of the State in the State Legislature is conceded to be wholly inequitable and unjust in view of the rapid growth in population of that part of the state as compared with other portions, and ‘Whereas, this condition is contrary both to the letter and spirit of the Constitution of the State of Minnesota and to every principal of right and justice. Be it resolved, that this Association demands imperatively that a reappor- tionment be made at the coming session of the Legislature that shall remedy this condition on a basis which will give to alj parts of the state equal representation both in the Senate and the House ‘accord- ing to the population as shown by the United States census of 1910. Be it further resolved, that to this end, we recommend that all candidates for the Senate and for the House of Representa- tives from the counties included in' this organization be required to pledge them- selves to work and vote for such a law regardless of their personal or political interests and that those who fail to' make such pledge be refused support at the polls without regard to party. Be it further resolved, that all pnllucal parties be requested to insert in_their platforms a plank pledging the early pass- age of a just reapportionment law. 2. 'Whereas, No extensive colonization of the unoccupied lands of Northern Minnesota can be accomplished until roads and bridges are constructed, and it is absolutely essential to the highest develop- ment of the agricultural sections of this provided, created to be distributed by the State Highway Commission among the séveral counties of the State of Minnesota. 8. There having been a lack of moneys from time to time in the funds from which loans are made by the State Board of Investment, Be it resolved, that it the wish and will of this Association ' ‘that - ‘Minnesota;’ through its Board of lnv stment, dispose of, at the earliest possible opportunity, enough of the bonds of ‘other states held by this State, necessary to secure' and loan to our own people the ‘money essential to State development, and especially for roads, drainage and schools. Whereas, during the ‘last few years, drainage projects of enormous magnitude have been prosecuted whereby vast areas, of wet and low lands have been reclaimed ‘The Resolutions. and transformed into some of the richest |ing that such a system of rural, graded and most fertile farm lands in the State of Minnesota, and, ‘Whereas, there are two million acres yet remaining unseitled for lack of drain- age and the same are suseptible of drain- age. Therefole, be it resolved that we are heartily in accord with the drainage move- ment commenced by the different coun- ties, the State Drainage Commission and the United States Government, and we recommend that all northern Minnesota counties do all in their power to further the cause of drainage; that the Federal Government be urged to reclaim the millions of acres held by them in trust for : the Cluppewa Indians, and further. that-the:next State Legislature submit a constitutional amendment to the end that appropriation of funds can be made for the straightening and the deepening of the rivers and channels which are the natural outlets of our ‘drainage projects | and to generally assist in this most important work. We urge that all matters pending in the several departments at Washington relat- ing to our Indian Reservations be immedi- ately considered, thereby aiding us in our work of development and improvement of northern Minnesota. Resolved that the Association hereby heartily endorses the campsign of the Minnesota Federation of Commercial Clubs for a State Appropriation of $100,000.00 per year for state ‘advertising under the direction of its immigration department. Resolved, that this' Convention heartily. endorse the conservation. movement and pledges the support of the thirty counties here represented. Resolved, that the Board of Management of the Mninesota State Fair be requested to allow no advertisement of lands except Minnesota lands on the printed matter issued by the State Fair Management; and that the space on the back of all tags or tickets attached to exhibits be offered to to the State Immigration Department, - free of charge, for the purpose of adver- tising Minnesota's agricultural resources. Believing .that one of the important factors of the agricultural development of of -our State is the proper education of our farm boys and girls for farm life, and believing also that the policy of the State should be to offer -as much elementary education as possible to. the farm boys 'and girls in their home schools; that fully appreciating the magnificent urban, graded and high schools which have been built up in the State of Minnesota under State that the best possible roads be | the direction and guidance of the High School Board and by the liberal appropria- Be it therefore resolved, that it is|tions granted by the State Legislature, expedient, proper and absolutely necessary | and realizing that the proper education of that the Legislature submit to the people |‘our rural children is of as much import- | disposing of State lands, having in view for adoption a Constitutional Amendment | ance to the welfare .of the State as the | the proper protection of the permanent providing for the general property tax of 1|«education of its urban children, and further | school fund of the State. mill for road purposes, the fund 'thereby |recognizing that the present system of rural schools offers to the rural children | tion is hereby proffered to the genial educational udfnnmges greatly inferior to | gentleman, whose energy and executive those now offered to our villages and|skill has been in-so great a . measure cities, sota should, preceeding along similar lines to those by which it' has built up iis excellent - system of urban, graded and high schools, build up ‘a system o! .rural, township, graded and high schools:which shall fully meet the ‘needs of our rural population and shall “insure to ‘them in their home schools as much instruction in elementary agriculture, manual training and‘home economies as it is possible. to give. Be it further resolved, that we recom- mend the establisement of more schools in the State of the type of the Crookston School of Agriculture, and- further believ- the city high schools, away from actual agricultural incentives. The selection of an‘ executive committee resulted in the choice of he has -actual farming or taken to| Sixth Congressional district; }‘. A. Patrick of Duluth, for the Eighth Congressional district; Thomas R. ! and high schools can and - will be estab- lished in the near future, Be it further resolved, that the ‘move- ‘ment for.the establishment of agricultural departments in urban high schools be restricted to those high schools so situated that the rural schools surrounding the village or city can secure better results through co-operation with the village or city high school than through independent organization. Further be it resolved, that we recom- mend to the State Legislature the estab- ment of a Rural High School Board whose duties it shall be to foster and direct the building up of an efficient system of rural schools. Wherens. " Northern ~ Minnesota - is- a: region of fnutf’ll soil, splendid waterways and waterpowers, boundless wealth pro- ducing resourges and healthful climate, and is the varitable: parlor of nature’s palace, and ‘Whereas, the said State of Minnesota is possessed of large and extensive areas. of lands secured under special grants from the Federal Government, and said lands as now handled constitute a continuing. ' barrier against the early settlement and development of Northern Minnesota by landlocking “the settlers in this region, making the building of roads impossible, and hence retarding the agricultural development of Northern Minnesota, _Therefore be it resolved, that it is the demand of Northern Minnesota in conven- tion assembled, that speedy adequate relief be afforded by the next Legislature looking to the correction of these evils. That laws be passed imposing a tax on all state lands not used exclusively for public purposes to the end that these vast areas of State lands in Northern Minne- sota may pay their just proportion of the tax necessary for the building of roads, schools and public buildings. That State lands, suitable for agriculture, when sold or offered for sale, be sold in their virgin state with the timber by contract or in fee simple to the end that the settlers building a home on these tracts may have some means of support from the timber while developing these farms. That the State lands, in order to be handled rightly and intelligently be classi- fied and appraised after a thorough examination... That the present method of dealing with actual settlers in matters of contest with ~homesteaders whose entries conflict with State Swamp selec- tions be discouraged by appropriate Legis- lative enactment. That an amendment to the Constitution of the State be submitted to the people ammending article Eight thereof 50 as to permit the enactment of a better and more businesslike method of The unanimous thanks of this conven- responsible for t.he .successful compfetion Be it resolved, that the State of Minne- | of the objects rleslred in the calling of this ‘convention for the spirit of harmony among the thirty counties which his tact has. brought about,, believing this is the beginning . of a new ‘era for northern Minnesota—for.this, we hereby thank Mr. W.R. Mackenzie of Berm i Be it further resolved, that the dele- gates of this convention, each and* every one of them, hereby express their appre- ciation of the courteous, hospitable treat- ment accorded them by the people of the- City of Bemidji during this convention. M. N. Koll, Chairman, .. C. H. MacKenzie, Secretary of the Committee of 33 on Resolutionis = o —————————————————— e ——— o M. N. Koll of Cass Lake, for the who _and Ninth Congressional district, act with : President Maxfield Secretary Mackenzie. The members of the. resolutions | Johnstone of Crookston, for: the|committee were oppointed to super- 'm“%sa’é. iotend -the organization of cuuntyl development clubs in- their local county, the organization to be com- pleted and dues forwarded to Secre- tary Mackenzie within thirty days. St. Louis county was_ permitted to main‘ain its' present development club as member of the new associa- tion, .S. G. Iverson, state auditor was the next speaker. Mr, lverson spoke at consider- able length on the matter of the proposition to tax state lands to aid in building roads and estab. lishing schools, the state’s meth-|. ods of selling lands and the work of the state in secvring swamp lands in the north part of : the state. Mr. Iverson stated that he was here to'learn aud would welccme any suggestion for a change in the methods of conducting ' the busi- ness of the state auditor’s office, which would appear to be oi bene fit to the people, Mr. Iverson gave some interesting statistics relative to. the unprece- dented increase in. the farming dev'elnpment of some of the counties of northeastern Minnesota and ex- pressed himself as being certain that the federal census to be taken the present year would show a very greater percentage of increase than ever. 4 As to the investmént of moneys received from lnnds, timber and mmerals, Mr. Ivefson said: ceived from -our. land, timber. lnd minerals is an important lub]ech I believe we can truthfully say that no state in the Uuion has a sounder method of investing such funds.” Concerning good roads, Mr. Iver- son said: ; “There is one imperative need for: northern Minnesota that stands out above all others. Throughout this entire splendid area.the cry goes up ‘give us good wagon mldq.' The legislatures and ‘state officers in the past have done what they could. The constitution, however, intervenes at this time, and until it is amended, a quarter of a mili state tax is the limit that is permitted. This will produce $275,000 a year, in addition to the sum annually received from the United States government from the five per cent. on’sales of government lands, amounting to about $15,000; and about $12,000 received from investments in the Internal Improvement Land fund, making a total possible sum at the disposal of the legislature of $300,000 a year. “Any rational and practical suggestion that can be advanced here or elsewhere to make state lands- contribute its share to the building of good roads will be wel- come throughout the state, north, south, east and west, for Isay to you. gentle- men, that in the cities, and in the central, southern and western portions of the state far removed from this area, no word of complaint will be heard when good roads for northern Minnesota are proposed; in fact, better roads are needed in every county in“the state. Why should there be any complaint? - This property belongs to the people of the state. - The. building of adequate drainage canals to reclaim swamp lands, and the building of main public thoroughfares through this northern country would, in my opinion add not less than $5 per acre to each of the 3$,000,- 000 acres of .land now owned by the state, or a total benefit of $15,000,000. “An amendment to the constitution for a one-miill state tax has been proposed, and much can b 'said" in ‘favor of it, also for removing the : requirements precedent to obtaining this money. This.is, without question, a sound . roposition, but you will notice that this would not réach state lands without an amendment to the con- stitution. “If the'legistature should pass a law imposing one-mill state tax - for: roads that in itself, would;not bring one_dollar on account , of present const 't\l on, because I do not believe that' you ‘could ‘éver make state propeucy taxable’ under a general tax'law, ‘without specific authority in a constitu- tional aimendment. . “I have a suggesunn along these lines to propose to this : convention. I have discussed it with a great many, and 80 far as 1 have been able to learn it would seem, in the first; place;. free from any legal objection, that is, the pruent con-| stitution appears to pumit it, second it seems to.be feasible. The proposition is this: . ‘Apply the principles’of the present | HON. S. G. IVERSON, State Auditor, Who Spoke at the Conven- tion Yesterday. ASSOGIATION OFFIGERS, President — H. J. Maxfield, Wadena, Secretary—W. R Mackenzie, Be- midji. Treasurer—W. J. Smith, Eveleth. - Committees. Executive—H. J. Maxfield, presi- dent; W. R. Mackenzie, secretary; M. N. Koll, Cass Lake, Sixth Con- gressional district; F. A. Patrick, Duluth;Eighth Congressional district; Thomas R. Johnstone, Crookston, Ninth Congressional district. ' Finance—]Jno. . J..__O'Neil, Park Rapids; J. J. Moran, Deer River; Jno. Dawn, Two Harbors. ‘Agriculture — A. J. McGuire, Grand Rapids; A. M. Duaton, Mc- Intosh; T. H. Canfield, Lake Park. Commerce and Transportation— {P. .E. Dowling, Eveleth; Daniel !Shaw, Thief River Falls; F. J. Mc- Partlin, International Falls. Legislative—E. D. Haven, Duluth; J. W. Wheeler, Crookston; A. Murray, Wadena. - land.raifroad lands, government lands and private lands for benefits caused by the construction of a drainage ditch. The principle appears to be broad and sound. It merely requires the actual owner of tsuch property to pay benefits for the local improvements. The viewers would | 8x the benefits and the damages, if any, caused by the proposed road, and the | total cost would be duly considered. The i order of the court would specifically charge the pro-rata cost of the construction in accordance with the benefits assessed against each’ description of property. This is what is done in cities, in the making of streets, drive-ways and parks. City lots, miles away from" a public drive- way, so declared by competent authority, are made to contribute to the cost of such improvement. The principle is identical. Under an opinion of the attorney general, the ‘state legislature is permitted to appropriate money from the revenue fund to improve or benefit property belonging to the state. This is the principle under which the State Drain- age law appropriation is held to be alegal one. It therefore seems to be that under ‘this, or a similiar proposition, state lands may directly be made:to contribute to the cost of road building. If it, is correct in principle, then the question of detail is a matter of very small consequence. Whether or not you could assess state lands 1 mile, 2 miles, or 10 miles away from a road would be a matter of detail to be worked out later. The suggestion is primarily one to make state lands con- tribute to the building of public roads. There would be no objection whatever to The two could work side by side, and I believe that within a few years we would have splendid highways,. main thorough- fares, traversing every part of “this country into which' the sgttlers from all sides could build t.hen- “cartways, o branch roads. “The actual building of such roads should be left in the hnndl of the State Highway Commission, of a similar body, to supervise. If any better method can be submitted for compelling state lands to pay its share towards road building, I want to say here, that it shall immedi- ately receive my hearty appmval “Minnesota, therefore, joffers to the - home-seeker the most ‘fertile soil this country affords at ‘a price which, when you consider the terms; is practically a state d:aihl[e law to:the building of | gift. You add to thata climateabsolutely ‘we are able t.hgwghnn adg:nfm«wm bemfiu to state \n all familiar with that | unlurpnmed mlrbeu at’ your very door; . lommaed L Pegs] the one-mill state tax in addition to this. * | Wi £