Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, December 5, 1913, Page 1

VOLUME '11. NO. 188, CONVENTION SEES MERIT*IN SWAMP ISSUE AND URGES LEGISLATION PROHIBITING SALE OF = g PATENTED LANDS UNTIL LAW IS AMENDED s President King and Secretary Mackenzie of Development Association Upheld In Resolution Adopted by Delegates This Morning---Harmony Prevails---Visitors Given Choice of Auto Trip er Boa t Ride PROGRAM OF ADDRESSES COMPLETED THIS AFTERNOON Predictions that the fourth annual convention of the Nortbern Minne- sota Development assocration was to be undermined with dynamite, liable to explode at any moment, were cast to the winds this morning when the tnsolul‘xons prepared by the commit- tee, were approved with one amend- ment, this being in the the recom- mending of a land clearing school. Not a heard resolution upholding the demure was to be when the secretary and president of the asso- t*t***k*********‘k***‘k{**w clation for their action in protest- ing the action of the state in the swamp land issue was read by Sen- ator James P. Doyle, and the dele- zates, appeared delighted because of the manner in which the matter had been -disposed of. The Talkers ‘Talkers on yesterday afternoon’s am were C. F. Scheers, Robert pr Carmichael, S. A. Challmar, assist-| ant superintendent of public in- gtruction, L. H. Johnson, former | speaker of the house, and J. D.| Deets. Those who talked at today’s ses-| Brown, a Koochiching McGuire, sion were A, F. ecounty homesteader, A. J. J. H. Mullen, deputy state engineer, and D. B. Jewell of International; #alls, agricultural agent. Mr. Deets, secretary of the South- ern Minnesota Better De\'c!upmen:i League, was to have talked on “Co- operative Development,” found that so much of his speech was exhausted that he devoted the time alloted for him for a general discussion. Musical Numbers Musical selections were glven by Mrs. George Strickland, soloist, and Mrs. C. R. Sanborn, violinist. Both women\ are musicians of extraordin- ary ability and their numbers were muach appreciated by the convention. That the delegates who have nev- er viited Bemidji before in the ‘summer”’ time, might have an op- portunity of viewing the lake and farming community of Bemidji, auto trips and boat rides were added to the list of entertainment this after- noon. With the sun bright and the| Inke behaving in its most pleasant manner, the trip on the City of Be- midji was much enjoyed and proved quite an oddity, the fact that never before in the histoy of the city has| a boat been able to travel the lake * at so late a date, being well worth | the trip. Straw hats were at a preminm. Co-operative Marketing. The subject of “Co-operative Mar- keting,” was discussed in an able ad- dress by Judge Frank T. Wilson of Stillwater, university extension lec- tarer. The primary object of the co- operative marketing corporation, he sald, is to act as a marketing agency. its imme™™ate effect is not to monop- olize the business, but to compel all other persons engaged in the same business to be content with the same reasonable margin of profit with which the co-operative market ig able to do' business. The whole community is'benefited by the exis- tenc of the market as a price regula- tor, and for this purpose alone it doserves the united support of both producers and consumers. Judge Wil- con offered the following general suggestions concerning practice: “First Make it a community af- fair; enlist volunteer workers, form, them into committees; make strong pnbllclty and canvassing committees farnish marketing news items to the local papers; send out circular let- ters; but above all make a thorough and systematic personal canvass of the entire community—business men ag well as farmers. Divide the ter- ritory and send out the committee, two by two, to solicit members, stock subscriptions, and business for the market. " Have Expert Guidance “Second. Incorporate under expert gaidance. Make the general nature |of the business {promotion of social welfare. isystem will be found exteremely con- |venient in handling stock accounts KKK KKKKK KKK KKKKK * Swamp Land Resolution. * * ‘We recognize the merit and * justice of the representations ¥ * made to the Department of In- % # terior by the president and sec- & * retary of this Association with & * reference to the drainage of % state swamp lands. * ‘We urge legislation provid- ¥ ing that nonme of the swamp X lands hereinafter patented by & the. United States to the State ¥ of Minnesota, be disposed of by * the State, until provision is % made by constitutional amend- *| ment and appropriate legis- ¥ lation for the expenditure of * an adequate portion of the pro- ¥ ceeds of the sale of such lands, % in draining, clearing and oth- erwise improving and re- ¥ claiming, and in building % roads and fire bréaks in, through * and around state, school * swamp B unsold. * * * +* x and lands then remaining R. J. BELL, M. N. KOLL, A. H. CRASSWEILER. Sub committee on unpatendted State lands. T XK KKK E KK KX KKK broad enough to cover the handling of any kind of| farm product or supply, and also the Make the name short. It is better to leave| out the word co-operative.” This term is so often misused and misunder- stood that it may be a positive handicap. It is usually better to omit from the name any reference to any previously organized association or ‘incorporated.’ The Directors “Third, Select as your first board of directors people who are well- known in the community as success- ful in the conduct of their own busi- ness affairs. “Fourth. Capital stock should be valued in terms of ten. The demand of a large number of members. Sound organization and efficient manage- ment will correctly facilitate the sale of stock. The sale of stock will be just the same as the sale of any com- modity—a matter of satisfying the| expected customer that the goods]| are all right. Then it is a matter of ‘solicitation and shoe leather,’ a personal visit to every person in the community. It should be a house to house canvass. The personal proper- ty tax list in the office of the coun- ty treasurer will furnish a good list with which to begin. Business men as well as farmers should be solicited Co-operation is a community affair, Sell only for cash or bankable com- mercial paper. “Fifth. Limit the indebtedness to a certain percentage of the capital stock. Inspection Desirable “Sixth. Inspection or examination at stated times by a non-partisan and disinterested expert is extremely desirable. This will inspire confid- ence, lessen carelessness, and pro- mote efficiency in management. “Seventh. Federate with other co- operative corporations and terminal markets. “Eigth. Make efficiency the con- :|summate object of the co-operative undertaking. Get a manager with as much tact, zeal, and business sense as your most successful local mer- chant. To secure such a man you must pay the price. Pay a fixed salary and an additional bonus or commission on the volume of profit- able business. Your manager must be a man who can gd after business and not wait for business to go after him. The one gfeat reason for making the market a community affair deal- ing in every kind of farm product and supply, is to furnish an oppor- tunity for a big manager to get busi- ness. The manager of a co-operative market ought to be of the same type as the manager of the department store. The same methods which make the successful store will make the succesful market.” Sherman Talks Fred D. Sherman, commi: immigration, said in part: “I want to say a few words rela= tive to the future prospects of the de- velopment of northern Minnesota. I sner of do not intend to quote tax levies, or| public indebtedness of any but I do believe it proper for me at this time to call your attenticn to the danger of allowing conditions to grow which increase your tax burden too much. While 1 am sure I am anxious to see northern Minneso- ta developed; to see good roads, good schoels and good municipal buildings T believe that we should be conserva- tive along these lines and have pro- per consideration for the future. When the prduent purchaser comes to buy land he immediately makes inquiries as to the rate of taxation in the county in which he is interested, as well as its bonded indebtedness. county, “Of course, taxes are always high- er in a new county on account of ithe needed improvements, but when the Dbonded indebtedness is high I frequently find it frightens the con- servative immigrant, who does not like to invest his money in a county where financial obligations are too great. I urge you to be conservative in not contracting too large public debts for development purpose. To build a road around a swamp, or around a hill, is inconvenient, but it is cheaper, and while of course it is practical to build public roads on lines as far as possible in some cases 1 believe, from a conservative stand- point, it is better to lay out tempor- ary roads where construction s easier and less expensive. “There is another subject I want to urge the members of the Northern Minnesota Development association to take an active interest in, and that is the passage of the constitu- tioral amendment creating a revol- ving fund of $250,000 to improve state school lands. I am very anxious to see this measure become a law, and I shall keep up the fight for its passage until the polls are closed. “I want to say that the Minnesota brard of immigration is with you, and is willing to stand by you in this battle for development.” Convict Labor On Roads The afternoon session was opened by an address by C. F. Scheers edi- tor of the Akeley Herald-Tribune, on the subject of “Utilization of Convict Labor on Public Highways.” After paying a tribute to the board of con- trol and the department of labor and industries and pronouncing the Min- nesota state prison the best and most modern prison in the TUnited States Mr. Scheers said: “Warden Wolfer favors use of con- vict lobar on the public highways of the state under the immediate sup- ervision of the board of control and warden, with the state highway com- missioner acting in an advisory ca- pacity in matters appertaining to rcad construction. He would have the same methods ‘apply as to main- tenance and individual remunera- tion as now in effect. Warden Wol- fer would made his road building de- tail from those having the best re- cords, and he would have the con- victs under general supervision of a well trained and thoroughly compet- ent prison official at all times. Such an offfical, having made a study of convict life in general and of the his- tory of each convict under his super- vision would be more fair and bes- tow merit where it rightfully be- longed. The plan of working pris- oners under supervision of township or county officers, inexperienced in handling of conviets, would prove satisfactory or obtain the best results. Under the present laws of Minnesota, convict labor can not be' utilized on highways outside of the prison. Aside from this one point as construed by the attorney general, [BASKET TOSSERS not T0 OPEN SEASON First Game of Year To Be playerl This Evening When Athletic Club Faces Brainerd Bunch. P GHAMPIONSBIP IS AT STAKE {Initial Trial of Rules Since They Have Been Revised Causing Sev- eral Important When the Brainerd and Bemiriji Athletie club basket ball teams meet this evening it will be the first game to be played in this city since the rules have been revised. A few of the changes which have caused interest follow: Center men must face their own basket. Center men not allowed ball; must hit to catch it with hands. Ball out of bounds if man overruns line and fails to withdraw foot im- mediately. Player returning ball out of beunds must be given a free throw. Ball shall be held by the hands only. If any other part of bady is used it is a foul. Supporters of the Bemidji team will witness a game this evening that is being watched with interest by all of the quints through out this section of the state as the contestants e considered two of the strongest ves that are working for the cham- pienship of Northern Minnesota. Brainerd will arrive here this even- ing at six o'clock prepared for the hardest game they will enter this season and will work hard to return heme victors. With Newman, Bell, Brandon, Howe, Peck, and Bestul in almost perfect form the Bemidji supporters are certain that the game will end with the heaviest portion of the score in the possession of these men. Lack of practice can hardly be given as an excuse if Bemidji should lose as every available hour has been used in basket shooting and team work. CLUB SENDS DELEGATES Perhaps no delegates to the con- vention are here under the same cir- cumstances which bring J. R. Roberts and A. W. Atwater of Williams. Both are members of the Williams Farm- ers club which appropriated $50 that the club might be represented at the meeting. Warden Welfer is of the opinion that the board of control and board of parole have plenty of law to enable them to place the convicts on the highways of the state and in mak- ing material for the roads.” Suceess in Other States Letters from officials in other states on this subject were quoted by Mr. Scheers, all testifying to the excellent results attending the em- ployment of convict labor on road {work. Continuing, Mr. Scheers said: “Fourteen states have passed laws, authorizing the employment of con- victs on public highways. President Woodrow. Wilson, while governor of New Jersey, is credited with the in- auguration of convict labor road work along modern lines. In each of the fourteen states mentioned, the movement appears to be a success. “In a few years, Minnesota should be thg leading state in the Union. No state has greater resources con- sequently no state has greater op- portunities. The greatest draw- back is its roads, or lack of roads. Every available prisoner in the penal institutions of the state could be pro- fitably employed on roads in the sec- tion of land owned by the state without being brought into come- tition with free labor. Goods roads through these sections will enhance their value twofold at least. The prisoner will be offered a new field of labor. ‘He will have a chance to get back to nature and na]:utp‘s God irstead of returning to the scene of his downfall to begin the struggle iceident to the-suecess-of-a convict —many of whom fall by the way- side in a moment of discouragement and despondency. I sincerely hope that the Northern Minnesota Devel- opment association will adopt a reso- lution favoring the employment of convict labor on good roads In sec- tins of land owned by the state when not brought into competition with free labor.” 1 3 K KKk KK K FRED D. SHERMAN x E 3 R KKK KKK KK KKK KK KK State Immigration Commissioner Who Gave An Interesting Motion Picture Lecture at Majectic SMOKER WAS SUCCESS City Hall Crowded with Delegates and Citizens of Bemidji When Affair was Called to Order By Burke MANY TALKS OF INTEREST Last evening’s smoker given in honor of the visiting delegates by the Bemidji Commercial club was one of the most successful affairs of its kin ¢ ever before attempted in this city The meeting was complete with good feeling and enthusiasm and when T. J. Burke, who presided, announced that Senator James O’Neil of Cass jLake would act as toastmaster the Iiuu began. Perhaps no man in northern Min- nesota is as well known for his ready wit and illustrations as the Cass Lake man. The senator said that a representative from each of the coun- ties of the Association would be call- ed on for a five minute talk, not of ithe “heavy stuff” variety but more from a standpoint of humor. Among those who talked were the following, Representative Dan O’Neill Arnold of Duluth, McPartlin, Meyers, Prof. Willard, J. D. Deets and A. J. McGuire. Remfrey’s orchestra furnished mu- sic during the evening. The success of the smoker is large- 1y due to Mr. Burke and H. C. Baer. ELKS' LODGE OF SORROW Bemidji Members Will Honor Mem- ory of Their Dead by Memorial Service Sunday Afternoon MARSHALL TO GIVE ADDRESS Next Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock the Bemidji lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks in common with all other Elks, lodges, will hold its annual lodge of sor- row in honor of the brothers who bhave gone before. This is an annual event, set for the first Sunday in December, and is un questionahl'y the most solemn service which the Elks have. The order strives not only to cheer the living members, but to keep green the memory of those who have died. The endeavor of the or- der is well described in its motto: “The faults of our brothers we write upon the sands, their virtues upon the tables of love and memory.” The chief speaker at the memorial services Sunday afternoon at the Brinkman will be Alexander Mar- shall, an attorney of Duluth. The program will begin at 3 o’clock and the public is invited. Humoreske. .....Remfrey Orchestra Opening Ceremonies Opening Ode.. Air Auld Lang Syne Prayer ... ..Rev. H, F. Parshall Solo .... .Miss Margaret Newton Recitation .......Miss Vera Backus Apple Blossoms. . Remfrey Orchestra Memorial Address.. Hon Alexander Marshall Duet. .Miss Edith Irwin and Miss Lizzie Erickson. & Closing Ceremonies........ Lodge Doxology Benediction, Hazen CaSe Dismissed After hearing the evidence against Al Hazen for having allowed John Larson to enter his saloon on last Sunday, the case was dismigsed by Mayor McCuaig. Hazen proved that Larson was in the place to start a fire in the absence of one of the bar-; tenders, X ALLBRIGHT NAMED' ASSOCIATION HEAD Brainerd I.s.wyer Is Unanimous Selec~ tion for President of Development League—Conger Vice-President CROOKSTON MEN TREASURER J. P. Foot Elected To Succeed Wedge Without Opposition—Brainerd Gets Next Winter Convention C. A. Albright, a lawyer of Brain- erd, and vice-president of the north- ern Minnesota Development ‘Associa- tion will succeed Hon. C. M. King of Deer River ag president of that or- ganization, he having been the un- animous choice of the delegates just before the fourth annual convention was brought to a close this afternoon. When the secretary announced that according to the constitution of the association Mr. King could not again be a candidate for president, he already having served two years the suggestion was made that the constitution be changed, in order that he might again lead the associa- tion. The suggestion was .greeted with applause. ‘Without opposition to his selection C. L. Conger, of McIntosh was named as vice-president. J. P. Foot of Crooks ton was elected treasurer. Kelley Named The new members of the exesutive committee are Charles T. Kelly of the 6th district, Major H. B. Eva of the 8th and G. P. Jones of the 9th district. Mr. King the retiring president briefly addressed the convention and said that- while he was leaving the chair he was not leaving the associa- C. A. ALLBRIGHT Brainerd Lawyer Who Was Today Elected President of Develop- ment AsSociation tion and that he intended to remaim a member of it as long as he could ido so, and to aid in causing rapld progress in this the ‘“greatest com- mon wealth on the continent.” Suggests Baudette C. F. Middleton of Baudette called the attention of the delegates to the resolution passed at the Hinckly meeting suggesting that the border city be given the next summer meet- irg and pointed out that Baudette to- day is one theleading citiesof the north and is deserving of being re- cognized. Mr. Stock for Coleraine and Representative O’Neill for Thief River Falls, issued invitations for the next summer meeting. i Brainerd, as had been expected was selected as the place for the nez!' winter’s convention. W. R. Mackenzie, of Bemidji who for four years has been secretary, of the association was renamed to that position by the executive committes late this afternoon. THREE BUY FARMS Reynolds And Winter Close Three Deals Thursday W. D. Miller 'and Clyde Bolyard of Egeland, North Dakota, who recently purchased a farm each south of this city have erected temporary build- ings and have moved their families onto their mew possessions.. Both men are farmers of the first class and expect to make big im- provements on their lands during the next year. It is this class of men whe help build the community and their work will be watched with interest by the surrounding settlers. Penrose Espenshade of the same place also bought a tract of land &’ the same locality, but will not move onto. the place until -spring. { |