Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1901-07-19
A GLORIOUS SUCCESS.

ing has passed into history, and it is
now proper to say few words with
reference to the event and the infiu-
ences which made it phenomenal sue.
cess. In the first place the citizens of
Canton donated the beautiful grounds
which gave Elder Dobson the inspira.
ton to go out among the Epworth
Leagues of his district and solicit
money with which he could erect the
magnificent auditorium. Everything
worked in harmony because success
was assured from the moment Canton
donated the grounds. Elder Dobson
raised the money to erect the necessary
buildings. A program was then ar
ranged which included the talent nec-
essary to make the assembly success,
and we all know how we'll the program
committee succeeded. The grounds
we're ready, the auditorium was ready,
the program talent were ready, and
about the first day of, July it became
apparant from reports. received that
the tongue of malice or falsehood had
been busy circulating infamous reports
about Canton being hot bed of small
pox and it was then realized that the
support and patronage expec,ed from
abroad could not be depended upon to
help out in 4 financial way. Here was
an unfortunate condition OF affairs con
fronting the management on the eve
of opening 'he gates Elder Dobsorl
was somewhat alarmed at the threa en- :
ed failure of tho great undertaking,
! and various means which might afford
! relief were discussed. A committee OF
three, Messrs. Thorson, Thayer and
Wirstad was appointed to go ont
through the city and secure the much
needed financial aid by selling season
tickets. These gentlemen soon realiz
ed that this system would not produce
the desired result. and called meet
ing at the court house for Tuesday
evening. July 2. No favorable reports
from abroad had been received The
assembly management and the citizens
Of Canton realized that crisis was
1t hand. It would cost l,4OO to carry
out the pay part Of the program, and
several hundred dollars which was
needed, was nowhere visible The
meeting At the court house was we'll
attended by business men. 1t was pro-
posed that the. city council be asked to
donate $500, and to this end a com
mittee of thirty was appointed to con.
fer with the city council, the mayor
and three aldermen being present at
the court house meeting. A special
meeting of the council was called for
Q o'clock next MOI ming. II was shown
to the mayor and council that Canton
had direct interest IN the success of
the project, because failure ut this
time meant serious set back to Can
ton in more ways than was visible on
the surface. The citizens of Canton
had already invested $25OO in the
grounds, and that Canton was to have
the free use of the auditorium and park
48 weeks in the year, and that Canton
had never allowed anything to fail for
want Of support that was of material
benefit to every man and woman with.
in the city limits. The council prompt.
ly voted donation of $500, and COL
Cuppett and Mr.. Judd offered to loan
the city the cash necessary if funds
were short. The action of the council
was all that was needed to put failure,
in q financial way, out of Elder Dob
sons mind, and the same evening after
the morning vote of confidence, found
all Canton in holiday garb mar rching to
the great auditorium to help rejoice
and sing, Praise God From Whom
All Blessings Flow"
After it is all passed and the praise
Of Canton and her great auditorium
are being sung all over the northwest,
is there man who is not proud of our
mayor and city council and their
action? No one claimed there was
any law under which such city aid
could be given, but when cricis arises
it must be met nolens volens Some
forty or fifty heavy tax payers were
present and they and the council had
little trouble in coming to an under.
standing. All is well that ends we'll,
is saying that holds good through
time. and in this case it applies with
striking force, because the assembly is
out of debt and all bills paid, leaving
handsome surplus in the hands of
Treasurer Wendt, and the city of Can.
ton was not asked to pay one cent of
its patriotic donation. It was this
gratifying condition of affairs which
prompted Elder Dobson to exclaim:
II praise God for the victory of this
hour" just before he announced the
closing hymn. 1t is known that
Judge Kennedy stood ready to give
freely fve-hundred or one thousand
dollars rather than see any failure of
the advertised program and Col. Cup
stood ready to donate 5000 with the
same liberal spirit, and there are others