The Bemidji pioneer., 1900-09-27
WOOd1llen
Blowout.

Tuesday evening the Modern
Woodmen and Royal Neighbors
had joint oyster banquet and
social gathering at their hall, and
without doubt it was the biggest
lodge event Of the season. Near
ly $50 members Of these orders,
their families and friends dropped
in, and if variety is the spice Of
life, they had their systems well
seasoned.
Tables had been constructed the
full length Of the hall. and chairs
lined along the four sides Of the
hall. In eatables and everything
else, ample arrangements had been
made to accommodate the crowd
id true Woodmen style. The
first hour was devoted to conf
Dental tete-a-tete. "a lodge hymn
opened the show, then AM. Gree
ley mounted the rostrum and an
nounced that he would endeavor
to entertain until the oysters were
ready for the table. But the oys-
ters were stub born, and he spent
nearly half an hour in reciting
dialect and pathetic selections
before the relief squad arrived.
The table was set three times,
and during the second table Rev.
Higgins, acting as toastnaster,
introduced the speakers, with a
few Introductory remarks about
the object Of the lodge and the
gathering.
&. H. Bailey started out in a
humorous vein, unveiling plot Of
the committee on speakers who
invited speakers who we're pretty
sure to be out Of town; he pre-
sented Rey. Higgins with hen
which was impris isoned in the alley
between the Bank Of Bemidji and
Schroeder's store. He then dwelt
more seriously upon fraternity;
the early history Of the Bemidil
Woodmen lodge the pioneer Or
der here-and reconnted the needs
and benefits Of social gatherings,
to promote true living and to
broaden the mind, heart and soul
Of humanity, which greed ani too
close application to business tends
to exterminate. He closed with
a tribute to the wonderful strength
Of character Of this yankee ma
tion.
W. F. Street paid glowing
compliment to fraternity and dis
coursed on liberty, its develop
ment and high realization in this
country. He said he had assured
the committee that at this time of
the wear it would be utterly impos-
sible to talk in public without 60
ing. into politics, and being as
sured a free choice, he would en-
deayor to lead Wes Wright into
the republican camp. He then
spoke on the manifest destiny of
this nation, to carry its liberty and
trade into other lands; if liberty
was good for us, it certainly were
right to confer it upon new terri
tory. He pointed out how trade
followed the flag; how England's
commerce was built up by oppor-
tunities similar to those lately
thrust upon US. Mr.. Streets talk
was deep and highly instructive.
Toastmaster Higgins remarked
that if that speech was political,
he could stand a lot Of it, but in
order to be impartial, he would
call upon that famous Populist. G.
L. Smith.
Mr.Smith mildly insinuated that
the only thing populistie about
him was his whiskers. He then
enlarged upon several topics men
toned by the preceding speakers.
dc said fhe men who avoided soci-
etv in order to stick to work were
spelling their nature and souring
their disposition, and neglectl1ng
a duty which a cheerful world de-,
mands, H. pointed out the rapid
development of our locality and
the world, and cited an instance
when little oyer 80 years ago
China had been in big war over
six months before we heard about
it: to-day even here in the back