The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-09-02
PIONEERS OF STATE
IGNORE FAIRS MUD
Old Settlers Brave Raia and
Siush to Hold Annual Re-
union

Mud-splashed and sodden the plo-
neers of Minnesota gathered in the
log cabin at the state fair grounds
yesterday afternoon for the annual re-
union of the Minnesota Territorial Pho
neers association. Outside the rain
was steadily drizzling and the thou
sands of wandering feet had churned
mud in layers over sidewalks and
crosswaiks, and the wet throngs of
sightseers jostled and struggled, fore
ing the weaker, or more polite, into
the mud, but all this had no effect on
the pioneers.
Some fifty years ago they had fought
the elements, when the elements were
at their best, or worst, and the fact
that it was raining yesterday was
circumstance too trivial to merit seri-.
Gus consideration. So they turned out
in numbers. some in the morning, that
they might see the exhibits and every
car that came from either city brought
its share of members until the meeting
was called in the afternoon.
Previous to the meeting the pioneers
gathered in groups in the log cabin and
exchanged the news of year. There
were some familiar faces missing from
the gathering, and some names were
mentioned that brought look of sad
ness to the time-scarred faces, but
those who We're there were strong and
hopeful, showing that the spirit of the
pioneer does not pass with the years.
Senator Ciapp Speaks
When the time came for the reunion
the pioneers adjourned to the institute
building, where President E. w. Du-
rant called the meeting to order and
introduced Senator Moses E. Clapp as
the speaker of the day.
Senator Clapp's address was in
praise of the spirit that animated the
early settlers, which resulted in the
upbuilding of "a state which in so
Short period of existence could bring
together fair of SO magnificent pro-
portions as the one under way. The
senator placed the success of the state
on the individuality of the pioneers,
their sturdy makeup of mind and body,
their keen intelligence, that asked for
no leader, but which grappled with
every problem as it confronted them
and solved it to suit the needs of the
place and time.
This calm, unobtrusive confidence.
which every man and woman had in
his or her ability. and the democratic
Idea that each was as good as he made
himself, was pointed to by the senator
the succeeding generation. In. the
East the dlctum of some local sage
was followed out with filial obedience
and without question, but once the
pioneers crossed to. the valley of the
Mississippi, each swung loose from his
mental moorings and thereafter it was
question between himself and his
God, and thus the seed of independence
In thought and action was sown.
From these, children, high minded
and sturdy, We're born, and the nucleus
of the population of the great state Of
minnesota. The trials of the parents
had its ennobling effect on their de-.
hood and womanhood, with that
strength of will and body that has
placed Minnesota high among the
states of the Union. He assured the
pioneers that they were the inception
of all they saw before them, and as
sured them that the verdict of the
present and of posterity would be that
their work was well done.
Gen. Baker Tells of Fairs
Gen. J. H. Baker, of Mankato, was
the next speaker, and his address dealt
with fairs. Gen. Baker was secretary
of state when the first state fair was
held in 1860 at Fort Smelling, and acted
as secretary of that fair. He also drew
up the bill which is responsible for the
present state fair.
Gen. Baker described the fair of 1860
in detail, giving its relative value by
the sharp contrast with the present
He then traced the evolution Of the
fairs by describing those for some
twenty years after the first. E A
Bromley, the pictorial historian of the
association, displayed an enlarged pho
tograph of the first fair, which was
viewed with interest by all present,
many of whom attended the incep-
ton of the present one. F. E. O'Brien
read an appropriate poem, which he
afterward sang to the air MY Country
IT'S of Thee" The rest of the after
noon was spent in renewing old ac-
quaintances and visiting points of in
terest about the fair.