The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1895-02-21
TO DOWN IsHISTLES.

TO DOWN THISTLES.
CONFERENCE OF NORTHWESTERN
DELEGATES IN ST. PAUL.
Representatives From Wisconsin,
Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota,
and Minnesota Attend the Convcn-
tion-Strong Resolutions IdoDted,
st. Paul, Feb. 16.-The opening gun
III campaign of determination against
the Russian thistle was fired at the
state house, when dozen gentlemen
representing five of the greatest agri-
cultural states Of the Union met In the
supreme court chamber at the state
capitol, and the first meeting of the
Russian thistle interstate commission
was called to order for the purpose of
devising ways and means to rid the
country Of the noxious weed so threat
ening to agriculture.
After full day spent in deliberation
the convention adopted resolutions ap-
pealing to the legislatures Of those
states Infested by the foreign pest.
The convention was organized by the
selection Of Senator e. J. Jones of
Minnesota rs chairman and Repre-
sentative John j. Lamborn Of Nebras-
ka as secretary. The forenoon was
taken up with the reading of papers
on the subject of the determination of
the thistle, the conditions under which
it thrives, ETC., by Prof. Dewey, en-
Congressman Wilson Of Iowa, Prof.
11aughlin Of North Dakota, and Prof.
Hays, of the state university.
Resolutions Adopted,
The committee on resolutions pre-
sented the following memorial to he
sent to the governors of the various
states infested by the Russian thistle
and to the national congress, which
was adopted as read:
1--WE, the delegates of Minnesota
Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska and North
Dakota, In convention assembled to
consider methods Of DISCRIMINATING the
Russian thistle, to be reported to the
governors of our respective states, and
to memorializing the congress Of the
United States, beg to recommend the
following:
''To the Governor Of
'Whereas The Russian thistle, a for
eign plant recently imported into the
United States, has extended from the
Dakotas to California or the west, tt
New York State on the east, and from
the 34th parallel on the north, render
ing valueless for purposes of agrlcul
ture extensive areas Of our common
| territory. 1t has been carried in ever.
direction by the railways, in stock ant
grain cars and by other means Of car
rying. 1t is rapidly spreading from thu
lines Of transportation to cultivated
farms, open prairie, public common
and highway. 1t has already become
so threatening from it's wide distribu
ton that its eradicat ton has gone be
You'd the power Of the Individual an(
the state, and without the prompt co
operation Of the general government
and immediate, united efforts from al
concerned, it will be impossible to era
icate it. 1t Is fast reaching the semi
| arid regions Of the West and South
west upon lands owned by the fedora
government, where, If once estab
lished, it will continue to pollute al
sections Of the Union. It has already
destroyed farms, ruined homes, drive:
citizens into exile and greatly dimin
ished the products of our fields, esti
mated by millions of dollars, g.
Therefore, Be It Resolved by thi:
convention, That we urge upon thu
governors Of the several states here
represented, the necessity for promD
and viOnro11c RI e.,
elgn invasion upon our greatest of al
Industries, that of agriculture. Tt
that end we would respectfully sug
gest that the attention of our legisla
tive bodies be called to this matter by
special message from your excellency
Concerted Action.
'And be it further resolved by this
| convention, That we deeme it advis
able and necessary that the legisla
lures Of the several states here inter
ested shall adopt joint resolutions tc
he forwarded to the governors of all
the states of the Union, urging con.
certed action upon the lines Of destruc
ton, and preventing distribution OF
said thistle. And
"Resolved, further: First, That all
owners Of real property be required
to clear their one premises of this
weed; second, that where such under
taking shall become of such magnitude
and cost as to be beyond the financial
capacity of such owners Of real estate
then we believe that the character and
habits of this weed justify and require
the appropriation Of public money tc
assist in such undertaking, and we can
not resist the temptation to add that
the necessity for prompt, vigorous and
immediate action is now upon US.
'Resolved, further, That the atten.
ton of congress be called to the terri
BILE affliction now experienced from
the above causes, by the states here
represented, and which threaten the
entire agriculture resources of the ma
ton and, incidentally, all other inter
ests and in self-protectior we request
that immediate action be taken where
by all lands which remain in the ma
tional government, Including aban-
doned lands, shall be cleaned and
taken care of at government expense.
Resolved, further, That, in our
opinion, the conditions prevailing in
some Of the states afflicted are such
that the national government must
render direct assistance to the people
in connection with their state govern
ments, by appropriation Of public