St. Paul daily globe., 1895-12-01
A SPLENDID BEGINNING.

Those Tfio have contended that the
work of the immigration conven-
ton held recently in this city was con-
fined principally to the reading of
papers and the delivery of addresses,
and have scoffed at the idea
that practical advantage could
come out of it, are COM
mended to the splendid beginning
made yesterday by the Minnesota
State immigration association. There
is nothing undecided or unpromis-
ing about this. The executive COM
mittee was called together by Mr..
Schurmeier, who stated that Mime
that 100000 can be added to our popu-
lation in a short period by making
known to the home seeker the natural
advantages of this state. His sug-
gestions met with unanimous ap-
proval, and it was decided to Sc
lect at once, as. secretary and treas
urer of the association, man thor
oughly familiar with the work to be
done; active, enthusiastic and hav-
ing the confidence of the people. An
excellent choice was, made by the
election of Mr.. P. B. Groat to this re-
sponsible position. He is possessed
of all the qualities required for the
campaign. He is a tireless worker,
Northwest as we'll as any man in it.
AS the active manager of the immi-
grafton movement he will be an able
and successful general.
The first move to place the aSSocia-
ton on working basis was the pres
entation by Mr., Theodore L. Schur-
meier, the president of the conven-
ton and of the Minnesota organiza-
ton, of a check for s2y5e0. This mag
niffcent gift was made without con-
ditionS or reservations, simply as
testimonial of Mr.. Schurmeier's faith
in the movement, and, his measure of
it's Importance to the. business inter-
ests of the state. 1t is an instance
of generosity and public spirit so
striking as to call for the heartiest
recognition by the people, in whose
interest this great donation wiz be
expended. The organization was then
completed by providing for head
quarters, for the prepa ration Of I'm
migration literature, and forszthe
adoption of a plan r9organizing
| the work in the several counties, of
the state. There was nothing
forced or perfunctory in the pro-
gramme. The gentlemen who repre-
sent the several congressional dis
tricts are full of the idea, and re-
port that in each Of them the asso-
citation will find ardent supporters
and helpers in its work, and will be
able to bring about great benefits
to the people and the interests of the
state.
The whole work of encouraging
immigration is now under actual
headway, in the hands Of practical
and earnest men, in an incredibly
short space of time. The first fruit
of the convention is at once tangible
and imposing. 1t has realized all
I that was hoped or expected from it
1t has already commanded success,
and it has great triumphs before it,
whose blessings will descend not upon
one community OF state, but upon the
whole Northwest. The movement has
struck the right key and has been
taken hold of by the right men. The
instincts of the people tell them that
by increasing our population we shall
increase our general prosperity and
multiply our industries, and it is
being pushed ahead not as a mat-
ter of sentiment, but as business
movement OF the first ma gnitude. We