St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-05-14
With the People Of the Great
Dominion on Our North
western Border.
From a Modest Beginning
Tremendous Results Are
Fast Developing.
Maj. D. r. MeGinnis Admirably
Sketches the Move to
Abolish Tolls.


coming international reciprocity con-
ventiOn, to be held in st. Paul June 5
and 6.neXt, promises to be SO largely
attended that some account Of the Or
gin Of the movement in the NorthWe est
cannot fail to be Of interest.
At meeting of the Chamber Of Com
merce of Grand Forks, n. d., last July,
a resolution was introduced asking the
secretary to correspond with the various
commercial bodies OF the Northwest,
including Manitoba. asking for an eX-
preston of views on the desirability of
calling a convention to promote better
social and commercial relations be-
tween the two countries. Letters
we're written to the chamber Of
commerce and Commercial club at
st. Paul, the board of trade and
JobberS' union at Minneapolis, the
chamber OF commerce and Jobbers'
union at Duluth, the chamber of COM
merce at West Superior and the board
Of trade at Winnipeg inQuiring if they
indOrSed such movement and if they
would send delegates to d convention at
able in each case and at subsequent
meeting of the Grand Forks chamber
the replies were read, which created
much enthusiasm, and on motion rec
iprOcity committee of ten was ap
pointed, composed of the most prominent
citizens of the city. This committee
met on July %. and on motion from IL.
Z. Rucker it was decided to
Hold a Reciprocity Convention.
or conference, as it was modestly put
by the committee. AS the. movement
was then purely experimental, it was
thought best to confine the call for dele
gates to Manitoba and the northwest
terrtorities Of Canada, and the states
of North and South Dakota, Minnesota
and Wisconsin in the United States,
which was accordingly done. The Ian
guage of the official call was for ga non
political joint conference" and its de-
alterations to be confined TO 1.-THE extern
sion of trade relations between the
Canadian and United States Northwest,
navigation on the great lakes and
deep water ship channel from Lake Su-
peIiOr to the Atlantic Seab0ard."
The latter was added because it was
subject of overwhelming interest to
every commercial interest from the terri
tory named IN the cal, and because, as the
ownership of all the great lakes, eX-
cept Michigan, is divided between Can
ada and the United States. and their out
let, the ST. Lawrence, flows almost en-
trely through the Dominion, any prac-
ticable plan for their improvement on a
magnitude suitable for deep sea-
commerce would evidently bring
about concert of action be-
ntIin hn
terests of Manitoba and our North
west are identical in that respect
The Signers to the call we're II. B. Grit
fifth, Charles Rand, H. p. Rucker, E.
r. jacob, M. f. Murphy, George B.
Winship, w. H. Brown, w. r. Bierly,
Alex Mather, E. Nash, A. q. johnson
and H. l.. Withheld.
AS acceptanceS of the call and Motif
cation of the appointment of delegates
began to pour in it became evident that
the convention met popular demand,
but when the convention held its OPEN
ing session OIL the morning of Sept. its
sponsors were not prepared to see the
trains come in from all directions loaded
with delegates not only from important
places like st. Paul, Minneapolis, West
Superior, Duluth and Winnipeg, but
also from such thriving, though smaller,
points as CrookSton, Devils Lake,
Valley City and st. Cloud.
st. Paul in the Van.
st. Paul from the first had given
hearty encouragement to the
movement and its delegation num-
bered twenty-three prominent repre-
sentatiYes of its various commercial
bodies. Duluth and West Superior had
live delegations to the number of over
twenty each, while Minneapolis had
goodly number from the board of trade
and JobberS' union in attendance.
Winnipeg sent a strong delegation of
its best people who were on hand thefirSt
day, which was still further augmented
the next day. Brandon and Portage la
Prairie sent some of the most able par
Elephants in the convention.
1t was a bright autumn day, and 1t
was an inspiring sight to see the dele
gates from two countries meet in the
cause of international amity and COM
merce, and march in procession through
the bright sunshine from the Hotel De-
cotah to the Metropolitan opera house,
where the sessions were held.
The convention, composed as it was
of live business men, Immediately Or
gained by the appointment of commit
tees OH credentials, order of business,
permanent organization and resolu-
tons. The convention was called to
order by President George B. Clifford,
of the Grand Forks chamber of COM
merce, and then Hon. James Fisher, NJ.
2. p, OF Winnipeg. was chosen tem-
porary chairman, and Joseph II. Beck,
of st. Paul, was made temporary secre-
tary. The temporary organization was
followed by the permanent organization
INxy no al Of A
North Dakota, as chairman, and James
Fisher as vice chairman. and d. r. Nc
GinnS as secretary, and Charles n.
Bell, of Winnipeg; j. II. Beck, of st.
Paul, and A. S. Thompson, of Duluth,
as assistant secretaries.
The deliberations of the convention
were marked from the first by the
heartiest good will between the dis
tinguished representatives of the two
countries and by unanimIty of senti-
ment on the questions at issue.
On the second day Chairman E. V.
Smalley, or the committee on resolu-
lions, reported in favor Of the reduction
of all
Restrictions on Trade
as far as consistent with the revenue
requirements of each; in favor of per-
feet freedom in construction of railways
across the boundary, and in favor of the
enlargement Of existing waterways
and the construction of additional means
of water communication from the great
lakes to the sea, and that the commerce
passing through said channels, whether
natural or artificial, should be free from
all tolls"
Before adjournment sine die the con-
vention effected permanent organiza-
tiOn by naming as president Gov. An
drew II. Burke, of North Dakota; sec
retaries, Charles N. Bell, S. A. Thomp-
son. j. Il. Beck and d. r. McGinnis,
and executive committee, A. c. Fraser,
of Brandon. Man.. p. II. Kelley and j.
A. Gregg, of st. Paul; j. G. Eliel. of
Minneapolis; T. S. ESterbrook, of West
Superior; F. F. McIver, of Duluth, and
A. Macdonald, of Winnipeg.
The executive committee was in
structed to call the next convention
within six months at ST. Paul. but after
wards, by general consent. the time was
extended and the date of the second
convention made June and 6, 1894.
since tha first convention the canti