St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-08
Russell BIakeIey,

questions affecting trade are usually
relegated to the st. Paul board of trade
for adjudication, our principal object
being to promote the material welfa1e
not of ST. Paul, but of the entire state
of Minnesota. / can hardly realize that
it was twenty-One years ago since I
broached the subject of chamber of
commerce to our leading men and car
ried under my arm a large book for
their signatures to the articles of incor-
pOratl0n. There were 154 SignerS to the
document, and the latest information
l have is that a very large majority of
that number will. be present at our
twenty-first anniversary celebration,
the 10th inst. 80.
Shortly after our organization, quar-
tiers were engaged fOreuS at the corner
OF Third and .Wabaha stl eets, where
the public library is now located, and
we met there for several years. From
the outset the chamber has been sue
cessful in dealing with public matters,
and we have always striven with an eve
single to our material advancement in
business prosperity and building up the
industries OF Minnesota. We are not
like the, New York chamber of COM
merce, as many suppose, for that is a
body organized solely in the interest of
trade, whereas we take in everything
that can possibly inure to our benefit.
A. s. Tallmadge.
A. S. TALLMADGE-Now that the hol-
ldays are over we are getting down to
business again, and at the meeting of the
chamber OF commerce tomorrow MORN
ing we would like to have the public
present, or as many as possible First
and foremost, we want to show off the
Improvements made in our quarters. and
after that discussion of the site for a
new Jail will occupy our attention.
Among the members Of our organization
no one is more punctual in his attend
ance than Gen. I'll. ii. SIBLEY, and this
is true, | am informed, of other societies
to which he belongs. BY the way, l re-
celved an insight into Indian character
during an interview with the general
the other day, which changed me some
what i'll my estimate of the honesty of
that race. People generally regard In
dianS as untrustworthy, untruthful and
inclined to appropriate things that do
not belong to them, but Gen. SIBLEY
throws an entirely different light upon
the subject. He told me that for wears.
while keeping the large traders store at
Mendoza, the only fastening to his
door was leather strap ON the outside.
which he twisted around nail when
ever he was called away. Sometimes he
would be gone for weeks, and no one
was left in charge of the store, but he
placed. implicit confidence in the In
dians that swarmed in this neighbor-
hood. Only once was this confidence
violated, and that was when valuable
pipe, priced for its workmanship
and associations, was missing on his re-
turn after long trip through the coun-
try. He called the head men of the
tribe to the store and told them that
some buck had stolen his pipe during
his absence and he would give them
until the next day to produce the miss
ing article. This put the chiefs upon
their honor, and, sure enough, at the
time appointed the pipe was restored to
its righCful owner and good fellowship
was again established. At the BANQUET
Tuesday evening, we expect to have a
great many pleasant stories of the past
related and the guests will not be given
too much speechmaking. Four set topics
will be discussed by as many different
members of the chamber, commencing
with Gen. j. b. SANBoRN, who will be
followed in turn by Messrs. THOMAS
COCHRAN, Jr., CLAIMING SEABURY
and E. f. DRAKE. An original poem by
young business man of this city will
complete the regular programme, al
though there may bevolunteer speeches
as concluding exercises. We expect to
send the party home to their beds not
later than midnight.