The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-06-21
GRAND SUCCESS.
This is the Verdict on M. B. A.
Picnic.
Thousands of Strangers Flock to the
City to Enjoy Day of Pleasure
and Recreation.

The first annual picnic of the Mid
land Modern Brotherhood of America
picnic association, which is being
held in this city today, is a grand sue
cess in every way. Our people welcome
the thousands of strangers who are
thronging our streets and Sibley park
in joyous freedom from the cares of
business 1t is the general hope that
they will take home with them the
happiest possible memories of their
day off.
The Brotherhood is composed of
splendid class of people if the gentle
men who are the city's guests today
are fair sample. They are picked
from every walk of life-the merchant,
mechanic and professional man united
today in having one common good
time
The crowd began to come in last
night and this forenoon brought in
thousands. The trains were filed to
the platforms, and the good natured
crowd came from all over the north
west.
Among the early corners were L. B.
Hanley, supreme president of the Or
der, A. G, Elliott, supreme secretary,
and DR.. o. B. Wyant, editor of the
official paper, Modern Brotherhood,
and former head physician, all of
Upton, Iowa E. w. Richter of Owa-
tonna, national director for Minnesota
V. A. Greer of Elmore, supreme treas
urer; @. A. Fountain of Clark, S. D.,
national director for South Dakota G.
P. Savage of Yankton, S. D., chair
man of the supreme auditing COM
Inittee; F. A. Jacobs of Minneapolis,
state manager; and Prof. W. A.
Doran, of Mason City, Iowa, state
manager for Iowa, and former national
director for that state.
The Juvenile band of this city in its
pretty, new red uniforms, and the
bands from Morgan and Delavan fur
nished music.
A parade was formed at II a. M,
and after marching through some of
the streets halt was made at the G.
& N. W. depot grounds, where some
speechmaking was INDUCED in.
Rev. E. B. Jones of Owatonna offer
ed prayer, Mayor Petersen extended a
welcome to the visitors and gave them
the freedom of the city, and National
Director Richter responded on behalf
of the Brotherhood with some we'll
chosen remarks.
Early this afternoon the march was
taken up to Sibley park, where many
had gone during the forenoon to spend
the day. Thousands swarmed to the
park in hundreds of conveyances.
There Supreme President Hanley, Rev.
Jones and others gave addresses.
The horse races were called at three
o'clock, and the Albert Lea and
Waseca ball teams played ball. An
automobile race and other sports were
also on the program.
This evening there will be two or
three dances ---'
The officers of the picnic association
say that there would have been 20, 900
in the city if the railroads had done
their share. AS it was, they are
gratified with the attendance.
Tonight there will be dances in the
A. o. U. W. and Athletic halls, and
concert at the opera house.
The eating houses had a rush at
noon, and prbably will again this eve
ming.
Some of the business houses were de-
corated, but this was not undertaken
as generally as it should have been.
The crowd was exceedingly orderly,
and although the entire police force
was on duty, there was little need for
it's services.
Waseca won the ball game by score
of to f.