The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1904-02-05

that they were a big source Of
revenue to the city, he had sworn
out warrants which the county
attorney wouldn't allow served
and he had then gone to the gov
ernor and the state authorities
and they had told him it was a
local affair and referred him to
the grand jury. When the grand
jury was drawn it had been made
!. up Of saloon keepers and gamb-
lers and he had been compelled
to drop the matter and it was
common talk about town that
Higgins had received $3.50 for his
action He had built the first
Presbyterian church in this city
and the gamblers had not con
tributed a cent to it either. The
people would get what they
wanted. The town was in debt
and the passing ofthe CRATER was
to be hoped for. Ii the people
of Bemldji wanted reform he
would lead any committee that
looked to action in that direction.
How it would be done was a
question he was not prepared to
answer. He would be pleased to
have some body wise him up,
he said. He did not believe in
criticising the city officials. He
complimented Mayor Ludinging-
ton. He was one of the best Off
cials the city had ever had and if
he was a candidate for reelection
he would lay aside his mackinaW,
and work for him. Neither did
be believe the chief of police or
sheriff should be criticised. If
the taxpayers really wanted to
do something they should get
busy. They would find the gamb-
lers and wheel dealers foemen
worthy of their nettle.
SMITH OF HERMAN.
George Smith was the next
speaker. He was from Herman
and used to be town marshal
there. He had voted to close up
the saloons and had been, the
next village marshal. When he
attempted to do his duty the
ministers had gone back on him.
He. believed Christian people
should go about this thing .sys-
tematically God was with them,
but God couldn' t do it all. Away
back in '66 he had marched from
Louisiana to Texas to fight for
the stars and strips. They told
him going up that God was with.
him and that he fought in the
cause Of humanity but when they
got to Texas they got an awful
licking and they had to run all
the way back. He didn't think
this was Gods fault. The gen
erals were to blame. He did not
think reform would be accom-
plished in a day. He hoped that
Bemidji would be cleansed so:
that when her real estate men
went to talk to the Iowa fellows
they wouldn't need to carry a
soap tank to purify it's reputa-
ton. They would use plenty Of
soft soap anyhow. The move
ment should have skirmishers5
fankers and rear guards and
they must expect to take some.
lickings before their end was
accomplished.
LADY AND BEMIDJI.
A lady was the next speaker.
She told how on a recent visit
she had been compelled to defend
the town against all sorts of
stories. Every body said it was
a tough place, she said, but she
had defended it and thought
something ought to be done to
make it a little more respectable.
BUSINESS MEN INVITED TO TALK.
Mrs. Trask, the president pre-
siding, stated that the meeting
would be pleased to hear the
business mans side of the argu-
ment. The w. G. e. U. wanted a
full and free expression of
opinion.
PORTER NYE AND THE SMALL BOY
Porter Nye then took the floor.
He didn t think Bemidji was the