Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, February 18, 1915, Page 1

e VOLUME 13, NO. 43 . BEMIDJI, MINKESOTA, THURSDA' EVENING, FEBRUARY 18, 1915. LAWWOULDTENDTO AID DEVELOPMENT Nord Introduces Measure Which Will Make It Possible to Obtain More Land in Northern Minnesota. WOULD OFFSET PREUS BILL “Millions of Acres Can Be Thrown Open to Settlers by Land Com- panies,” Says Legislator. Quicker development of northern Minnesota by making it possible for land companies and individuals to purchase more state land than the state laws have hitherto permitted, and as an offset to the bill proposed by State Auditor Preus limiting the sale of state lands to actual settlers, is the intent of a bill introduced in the senate and house yesterday by Senator Leonard H. Nord and Rep- resentative H. J. Miner, of this leg- islative district. This on the theory that so long as the state maintains its present laggard policy toward the develop- ment of its public domain, even the land speculators is a kindlier and more progressive landlord than the state of Minnesota. Senator Nord and Representative Miner are strongly opposed to the policy announced by State Auditor Preus, and proposed to be carried out by bills introduced in the house by Representative Charles H. Warner of Aitkin and Charles W. Bouck of Royalton, and in the senate yes- terday by Senators O. H. Griggs of Virginia and N. S. Hegnes of Argyle. ‘What They Contend. They believe that the effect of this policy would be to condemn a large area of northern Minnesota to inde- finite stagnation, under the incum- brance of great stretches of state land that pay no taxes, harbor no farmers and contribute nothing whatever to the development of the state. Moreover, they contend that devel- opment companies, if permilt;d to buy state land in large tracts, would develop it, advertise it and settle it much more rapidly than the state will. They figure;” foo, that the state will be ahead because the price of the land sold will go into the per- manent school funds, and the land itself will immediately begin to pay taxes to both the state and the lo- calities in which it is situated. Includes Beltrami. Koochiching county, they point out, contains 822,844 acres of state land, mostly swamp. If this could be sold at the constitutional mini- mum price of $5 per acre, the sale would add to the permanent funds, $4,114,220. The annual interest on the deferred payments on this land would bring the state in upward of $150,000 every year, and millions of dollars would be added to the tax- able value of Koochiching county and the state. This is but one county, and the figures could be extended to include Beltrami and other northern Minne- sota counties having a large area of state lands. The bill which State Auditor Preus has had introduced in both branches of the legislature restores the pro- visions of the Cole law of 1905, which limited sales to 320 acres to each individual, and required every purchased to make certain improve- ments within five years. In the new bill the limit is fixed at 160 acres. The house committee on public do- main took up the house bill yester- day, and on request of Representa- tive Miner put it over until next Tuesday for a hearing. Statement of Position.’ Senator Nord and Representative Miner issued a statement of their position, which follows: “To re-enact the old Cole law, making it impossible to sell state land except to homesteaders, and not to exceed 160 acres to any omne pur- chaser, would be a public calamity, a crime against the best interests of Minnesota. “The law would apply almost en- tirely to a very few of the counties in northern Minnesota, where nature has set so many barriers in the way of human settlement and develop- ment. If the state land were prai- rie, or rolling lands, like the most of the state, it would be a proper law—in fact the only law needed to secure actual settlers. “But when we realize that a large part of this state land is either cov- ered with stumps, or a veritable swamp, how in the name of common sense do you suppose you can induce a man to buy 160 acres of such land, and actually go upon it to clear it, drain it and gain a living upon it? Mighty Little Settlement. “Under the old Cole law, there was mighty little settlement and devel- opment in northern Minnesota. We saw tens of thousands of people an- nually passing through Minnesota settling upon the semi-arid plains and plateaus of the Rocky mountain states, or quitting the ‘Stars and Stripes’ to become subjects of Great Britian, in Canada. Notwithstand- ing that northern Minnesota has as fertile soil, as healthful a climate, and as great productive capacity as the very best of other states, such ‘fool legislation’ as the old Cole law simply paralyzed all efforts to set- tle northern Minnesota. “Who would be foolish enough to pay the state of Minnesota five or more dollars per acre, for 160 acres of swamp land, when he could get from the Federal government, by homesteading, adjoining land for nothing? ‘“ “This bill,’ they say, ‘would stop land speculation.’ “Yes, it would, but it would stop the sale of state land also. It would leave northern Minnesota for decades, just what it is today. No man of in- telligence is going to buy 160 acres of swamp or stump land, when he (Continued on last page). TOPLAYROTARY CLUBFIVE Fast Duluth Basketball Quint Comes Here for Three-Game Series With “Big Bemidg” Team. FAST CONTEST TONIGHT CERTAIN Beginning a three-game series the fast Rotary club basketball team of Duluth will meet the “Big Bemidg” aggregation at the Armory this eve- ning. The Rotary club five has made an enviable record this season and comes to Bemidji bent on taking the long end of the score in two, if not all, of the three contests. Well known athletes comprise the visit- ors, men who have shown their worth in almost every line of athletic en- deavor. At one forward will be rey” Harris, the former Duluth high school crack. Tuesday night the Rotary club scored forty points on Oswego, being defeated by a nar- row margin. In speaking of the part Harris played the Herald said: “Har- ris gave a scintillating exhibition of play for the home guard. The Du- luth leader scored eight field bas- kets and his work at all times was of the stellar order.” Then there will be the famous Bradley boys, Dick and Bill, who with Johnson,Zeeman and Solheim comprise a most for- midable combination. For Bemidji, Peck will be at cen- ter, while Captain Howe is expected to be stationed at forward after an absence of several weeks from the game because of an injury. Bran- don will play the other forward and Miller is expected to break into the game. The guards will be Jacob- son, Trafton and Bestul. The game will start promptly at 8:15. RUSSIANS DRIVEN FROM | KALOMES BY AUSTRIANS (United Press) Vienna, Feb. 18.—According to in- formation given out by the war de- partment here distinct successes have been secured. After two days’ fierce fighting the Russians were driven from Kalomes City, which is now in possession of the Austrians. By bril- liant bayonet charges the Austrians captured Pruthe bridge in the Car- pathians, where the fighting has not diminished. “Mor- EXPERT TO BE IN CHARGE. In writing from Minneapolis, R. C. Haymer, the Bemidji land man who recently was successful in an attempt to interest twin city capital in the establishment of a celery and pro- duce farm here, the result bringing about the organization of what will be known as the Northern Celery company says: ‘“After much effort we have secured the services of Jacob Dryke, who has been growing celery for thirty-two years, nineteen years in Minnesota and the balance of the time in Michigan. For the past few years he has been in charge of the well known Hartley celery farm near GERMANY STANDS FIRM ON WAR ZONE BLOCKADE (United Press) Berlin, Feb. 18.—Although the complete text of Germany’s answer has not been printed, the summaries indicate that the empire standsfirm now in its war zone order. It states that the giving of the advance notice relieves Germany of all responsibility. At London, with the dawning of the day cold and gloomy, Britishers are confident that Germany’s warn- ing is nothing more than a bluff. Some say there will be losses, while others say that it’s all in the game. Dispatches from Berlin say that Ger- many launched 100 submarines this morning. 2 Many Britishers are betting three to one that there will be no ships sunk by night. The Adriatic, one of the White Star liners, arrived safely at Liverpool this morning, not a sin- gle hostile ship having been encoun- tered. NEW ORDER GOVERNS FRENCH IN TRENCHES (United Press) Paris, Feb. 18.—Orders were given this afternoon by the French war department that previous military orders, eommanding more attentiom: to soldiers in the field be given. The order makes it compulsory that each: French soldier shall remove his shoes and socks for not less than fifteen- minutes, twice every twenty-four hours, and failure to do so involves severe punishment. Physicians’ no- ticing frozen feet, other parts of the body being untouched, decided that this was accounted for by blood not circulating in the feet, due to shoes not being removed. As a conse- quence gangerene sets in, the feet come off and their terms in the tren- ches are reduced. PLANDEEP WATER WAY FOR SHIPS ON MISSISSIPPI St. Louis, Feb. 18.—Hoping to per- fect a permanent organization for local and foreign commerce from the. - Mississippi, Missouri and Ohio rivers to New Orleans the second annual convention of the River Terminal Association of the Mississippi Valley State convened here today at the call of two governors*and a former state executive. Governors E. W. Major of Missouri and Edward F. Dunne of Illinois and former governor A..O. Eberhart of Minnesota sent invitations to 1,500 persons including ' the governors of states on the three rivers, and repre- sentatives citizens and officials of cities and towns in the same terri- tory. The invitations recite the need for terminal facilities if the territory traversed by the rivers is to benefit by the expenditure of $200,000,000 voted by congress to improve the three rivers. SCIENCE GIRLS TO ENTERTAIN High School Class Will Give Dinner Series for Their Mothers, This evening members of the do- mestic science class of the Bemidji high school will entertain ten guests at a Valentine party. This is the first of a series of parties and_din- ners to be given by the class. . Five of the girls will entertain at a time and the rest of the class will assist. The next dinner will be given on ‘Washington’s birthday, one St. Pat- rick’s day and another at Easter. The party tonight will be held in Superintendent’s Dyer’s office and the menu will be as follows: Grape fruit cocktails, Nabiscoes, tomato bisque, croutons, celery stuffed with cottage cheese, olives, radishes, salt- ed almonds, roast chicken with dress- ing, mashed potatoes, peas and car- rots in timbol cases, hot rolls, cran- berry jell, apple and date salad, nut- bread sandwiches, maraschino ice cream, cake, coffee and mints. Grand Rapids. This will, without any doubt, spell success of the enter- prise.” SCOO! \WRITES IN-SC00P \$ £+ \ PUNK \N SPOTS -NoT- i Valentine colors and emblems will be used in decorating the room and (Continued on last page.) THE CUB REPORTER (ERES ANOTHER READER. Our Slogén': Population in 1925” VERDICT FOR DEFENDANT Jury Decides That Clearbrook Mer- chants Cannot Collect From Lars Quam—Out Short Time. After a deliberation of but three|are all engaged in shipping’ within hours the district court jury in the|the new war zone which ‘the Ger- case of L. E. Opheim and Carl Es-imans have established or: will at- peseth against Lars Quam, involving the payment of a merchandise ac- count, brought in a verdict favoring the defendant late yesterday after- noon. The case -began yesterday morning, the plaintiffs, who are Clearbrook merchants, being repre- sented by Attorney E. T. Evenson, of that village, and Attorney John L. Brown, of Bemidji, appeared for the defendant. Immediately following Judge ‘Wright’s charge to the jury in the Quam case, the damage suit of Lars E. Nelson, of Thorhult, who is suing Swan S. Larson and Charles W. Pet- ers for $5,000 because of an assault, was taken up. The jury was secured and considerable evidence introduced before adjournment last evening. The case was resumed this morn- ing and it is expected that it will go to the jury this afternoon. Attorney Henry Funkley of Bemidji and Attor- ney J. M. Bishop of Thief River Falls are appearing for the defend- ant in the case, while Attorney C. W. Scrutchin represents the plaintiff. It had been expected that the crim- inal calendar: would be moved to- day, the England larceny case being brought for trial, but on account of | the illness of the defendant, it has bgen continugd ‘en the calgndar,uto, be reached later during the term. ~PLAY BRAINERD MONDAY High. School Basketball Quint to Make Journey. Next Monday morning the Bemidji high school basketball team will journey to Brainerd where it will play the school team of that city. The Bemidji boys defeated the Brain- erd quint in this city last Saturday evening, but will play a return game. Many local rooters will be present at the game as Bemidji delegates to the Sunday School convention in that city next Saturday will remain over to witness the contest. Those who will make the trip are, Captain Ray Johnson, Lloyd Tanmer, -Claude Bailey, Fred Graham, Alec Cameron, George Graham, Coach Bestul and James Malone. WILSON TO CONTINUE FIGHT FOR TEN DAYS (United Press) ‘Washington, Feb. 18.—The pres- ident in a statement made this morn- ing indicated that he is willing to consider the ship purchase bill for another ten days and that if it has not passed by that time that it will be abandoned. He is not willing to cause an extra session, and would rather abandon the bill, blaming Re- publicans for its failure to pass. MERCHANTS’ PICTURE TAKEN Hakkerup, the photographer, is to- day distributing pictures taken by him -at the Tuesday meeting of the Bemidji Merchants’ association. The picture was taken by flash-light and is unusually good. Hakkerup plans to take a picture of those in attend- ance at the Farmers’ Institute which is to be held here on Saturday, March DAMAGE SUIT NOW ON TRIAL|ricusly concerned in the submarine | BoYS' CONGRESS AT BEAINERD Bemidji Delegates to Attend— Harold Hayner President. BLOCKADE BRINGS ATTENTION OF ‘With Harold Hayner, its president, a Bemidji boy and the son of Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Hayner, presidiiig, the second annuai convention of the Scandinavians, Italians and Dutch All | Boys' Congress will be held at Brain- Enn:edin‘fiiwinc Within New [erd next Saturday and Sunday. 't b & is expected that ten or fifteen Be- War Zone of Germany. midji boys will attend the confer- ence, some going to Brainerd as dele- gates and the others as visitors. Ar- thur Ronneberg of Blackduck is sec- retary of the organization. The Boys’ Congress was organized at Bemidji a year ago, its purpose being for the moral support. of its members. Pres- ident Hayner will address the confer- ence at ome of the Saturday meet- ings, his topic being, “The Object of the Boys’ Congress.” A banquet will be served Saturday night. WILL CANVASS RETURNS Council Will Meet in Special Session This Evening to Make- Official " ‘Count of City Election. NEW - OFFICIALS IN MARCH 1 AGREE T0 ACT IN COMMON Holland’s Assistance in War Would Cause Kaiser to Change Entire (By.J. W. T. Masom) New York, Feb. 18.—The United States is not the only nation se- blogkade of the British Isles. Scandinavians, Italians and- Dutch The tempt to establish. All have ships in commerce and the laws of nations makes -it probable that any one of them may be accidentally torpedoed. But the Scandinavians and Holland- ers have large fleets of vessels plying within the danger areas and if the mistakes are made by the submarine commanders, Dane, Norwegian, Swede or Dutch ships are the .more probable victims. Would Be Difficult. The three Scandinavian countries agreed to act in common for their own defense through the war, re- cently. They are so situated geo- graphically, however, that it would be extremely difficult for them to re- taliate effectively against Germany. A sudden dash might be made, of course, through Denmark and the Kiel canal, but it would be an ex- ceedingly dangerous undertaking to transport troops across the North Sea from the British Isles to the Danish coast. If the German submarines by sink- ing Dutch ships should force Holland into the war, Germany may have io change her entire military strategy. The Dutech army is holding an excel- lent position to attack the German army in Belgium. The Dutch are now-holding their army on.a_ war footing and -at a moment’s notice it would be possible for them to throw themselves against the German line of communication from Aix la Chappelle to Belgium. This is the main artery of supply of the Ger- man army in Belgium and France. It if was broken for a few days, se- rious confusion would prevail along the German front, in Flanders and Northern France, permitting the al- lies to begin an offensive under the most favorable conditions. Holland’s assistance would permit England to send an army into Bel- gium’s northern neighbor for flank at- tacks against the Germany army and for an invasion of Germany by way of the inadequately defended lower Rhine distriet. At the same time the ability of the allied warships to use the Scheldt, which at its mouth is controlled by the Dutch, would probably force the Germans to ‘evacuate Antwerp and would be an added menace to their hold upon Belgium. It is probable that these conditions of military strategy will make the German sub- marines wary of firing on the Dutch flag. For the purpose of making a can- vass of the city election vote of last Tuesday the council will meet in special session at its chambers this evening. The next meeting of the council will be held on Monday, the first dav of March, when the two new members of the body will assume office. -The personnell of the new council will be as follows: = President, Frank S. Lycan. Alderman first ward, John Moberg‘ (re-elected), and J. P. Lahr. Alderman second ward, Sherm Bailey (re-elected), and Tom Smart. Alderman third ward, J. M. Phil- lippi (elected after having been ap- pointed -to fill the unexpired term of Joe Bisiar), and Paul Foucault. Fourth' ward, Rube Miller and Thomas S. Ervin (new member.) As provided for in the charter, the first duty of the new council will be to name the city employes for the following year, among the positions to’ be“filled the following are in- cluded: Clerk-of the water board; city engineer; day desk sergeant and fire truck. driver; night desk ser- geant and fire truck driver. At the same time the mayor will name his police force appointments. George Stein, city clerk, anmounced today that several candidates have filed their election expense ac- coun#s, while others have neglected to do so. It was necessary for all candidates to file an expense account on the Saturday preceding the elec- tion and they are also required to file a final account following the election. GERMANS QUIT BORRAY (United Press) Berlin, Feb. 18.—The German war department admits this afternoon that reverses have been met with in the Argonne region and that the Ger- mans were forced to abandon the vil- lage of Borray and hill commanding it. Before leaving the Germans de- stroyed the French entrenchments there. Heavy fighting is going on north of Rheims. About Lille and Arras and to the north of Perthe, the French and British penetrated German advance position, but were later repulsed. STATE LEADS IN CO-OPERATION Minnesota has more co-operative enterprises than any other state in the Union, according to & bulletin on “Statistics of Co-operation Among Farmers in Minnesota,” by L. D. H. ‘Weld, Chief of the Division of Re- search in Agricultural Economics of the University of Minnesota. The farmers of the state are much more thoroughly organized than is gener- ally realized. On January 1, 1914, there were 2,013 co-operative organi- zations in the state and in the year 1913 these did a total business pl nearly $61,000,000. The organiza- tions include creameries, elevators, stock shipping associations, stores, fire insurance companies, cheese fac- tories, potato warehouses, fruit ship- ping associations, cow testing asso- ciations, lumber yards, cattle and horse breeding associations, . and SAYS EMBARGO WOULD BREAR NEUTEAL POLICY (United Press) Washington, Feb. 18.—President Wilson this morning told a commit- tee of women which had presented a petition for the placing of an em- bargo on foodstuffs that such an ac- tion would break the neutral policy of the United States. No School Monday. As next Monday, February 22, is George Washington’s birth anniver- sary, there will be no sessions of the Bemidji public schools. Many teach- ers plan to take advantage of the three-day vacation and will return 6. to their homes tomorrow night. By “HOP’ METHAT EARFULL-\T MAKES ME- FEEL SO SELF CONSCIoUS — many others. T MO | Maren 9. BENIDJINENTELL *OF NEED FOR NEW NORMAL SCHOOL W. B. Stewart, County Superintend- ent, and A. P. Ritchie, Appear ' Before House Committee. ACTION POSTPONED TILL MARCH Pendergast Quotes Figures Showing Reasons Why Money Should Be Set Apart for Buildings. With W. B. Stewart, -Beltrami county superintendent of schools, A. P. Ritchie, former superintendent of the Bemidji public schools, Repre- sentative L. G. Pendergast and C. G. Schulz, state superintendent of edu- cation, speaking in favor ‘of the bill introduced before beth the senate and house, carrying an appropriation of $150,000 to be used in the establish- ment of buildings here for the sixth Normal school, the measure was con- sidered by the appropriation commit- tee of the house late Tuesday. The bill was introduced some time ago by Senator Nord in the senate and Rep- resentative Pendergast in the house. Action on the bill went over until Stewart Gives Reasons. County Superintendent Stewart discussed the subject at length, illus- trating his remarks with charts show- ing attendance records and other im- portant data relative to the needs and necessity of another nermal school. Mr. Ritchie also spoke. Both Mr. Ritchie and Mr. Stewart ap- peared before the senate finance com- mittee, also. R Superintendent Schulz also spoke in favor of the bill and quodted Chair- man Torrance, of the state normal school board, as urging the need of additional normal school facilities. He answered many questions relat- ing to the subject. Pendergast Quotes Figures. Representative Pendergast said that Bemidji had bought and deeded. to the state 20 -acres on the shares- of Lake Bemidji which land he saig was worth $50,000. . He thought it - was up to Minnesota to show its good faith by doing something for the 3 donor. He said the so-called sixth normal school district (comprising the counties of Beltrami, Polk, Kitt- son, Roseau, Marshall, Red Lake, Pennington, Clearwater, Hubbard, ‘Wadena, Cass, Itasca and Koochi- ching), had a school population of 45,702; that the area included there- in comprised 22,000 square miles (practically a fourth of the state) and that the counties, he believed, had a population of 225,000. * The nearest normal schools, said the representative, was the one at Du- luth, 166 miles away, and the other at St. Cloud, 160 miles distant. The assessed valuation of the territory in the sixth normal school district was $130,000,000, he said. It paid in taxes $600,000, he declared. MANY MATTERS T0 COME BEFORE LEGISLATURE St. Paul, Feb. 18.—With almost seven weeks of the session of the Minnesota legislative body completed, only a few really important things have been done. i The passage of a bill permitting the farmers of Northern Minnesota to borrow money on their improved farm lands at three per cent inter- est, the money to be taken from the state school funds, is probably the most important bill that has passed both houses. Of bills having passeq only one house, county option is doubtless the biggest. Among the things yet to be thresh- ed out are, the division of St. Louis county; possible legislation on the matter of the now famous Ruggles timber of Beltrami county; several constitutional amendments; the re- organization of the state government which will include a bill providing for the reduction of the state legis- lature to only one house; a reor- ganization of the educational sys- tem; telephone and public utilities legislation; legislation affecting banks, fnsurance companies and pub- lic institution. SEND MESSAGE TO JAPAN (United Press) . ‘Washington, Feb. 18.—It was = hinted this afternoon that the admin- istration last night forwarded a note to Japan bearing upon the latter’s demand made upon China. Harris Richardson, the St. Paul attorney, was in Bemidji today, be- ing enroute to his home from'Inter- national Falls where he has spemt several days in the trial of cases in the Koochiching county district