The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1905-06-28
OLD SETTLERS ANNUAL.
over 5000 People Attend the Picnic at
T. HOiem,S Grove.

w. CsO00 HNOR1O '(AC RANoOoh
at the annual gathering of the old
settlers association of Shutdown
and Willow Lake townships at the
farm grove of John T. Hojem, in
Shutdown township, last Thursday.
The crowd was not a record break
er, but it almost equaIled the
throng present on those memorable
occasions when the association en-
| tertained such men as Gov. S. r.
VanSant and United States Senator
Clapp.
The speakers for last Thursday
were Hon. L. Ell. Johnson of Mime
apolis, County Attorney Howard
and the pastor of the Lutheran
church of Shutdown. Hon. w. A.
Nolan of Grand Meadow was to
have been present. On Wednes-
day afternoon he was in Minneapo-
lis ready to take the train for Red
wood Falls, when he received a
message calling him back home on
account of the fatal illness of his
foreman. In addition to the speak
ing w. III. Wallace put up one of
his crack ten minute entertainments
and he had the crowd in uproars Of
laughter during that time. After
the speaking came ball game be-
tween Jalbert Johnson's Redwood
aggregation and the Springfield
club.
Mr.. Johnson S speech was an ex-
position of his views on the county
system. of agricultural schools, a
proposition which he fathered DUR
ing the last session of the legisla-
ture, and which he secured the en-
actment into law, although no ap-
preparation was made to carry out
the purpose. When Mr.. Johnson
finished his 40 minute talk he had
the large crowd of farmers in COM
plete harmony with his views and
he was rendered an ovation. Mr..
Johnson S ideas are to bring the
system of agricultural training as
near home as possible. He appre-
ciated the value of the st. Anthony
school so much that he would have
similar school on a smaller scale
in every county of the state, or one
school for the agricultural students
of two or three counties. He OBJ
posed the proposition to have one
school for each congressional dis
trict, for the reason that it was not
bringing the education close enough
to the farms, and he believed that
the state was abundantly able to
help the county school system. He
gave careful outline Of the work
of one of these schools in Wiscon-
sin, and as he advocated the plan
there were frequent outbursts of
approval.
Mr.. Towards remarks were
along the line of eulogy on the
old settler, and the mingling of the
races in free America, making the
genuine American ciGizen. His
witty remarks and numerous stor-
les were the means of keeping the
crowd in continual laughter. The
Lutheran minister spoke in the
Scandinavian tongue, and the mem
bers of that nationality declared it
was treat. Will Wallace's imita-
tions brought down the house, :"
and then J. A. Schmahl gave a
short Interpretation of reciprocal
demurrage, the subject on which
Mr.. Nolan was to have spoken.
The ball game followed. Jalbert
Johnson's team was defeated by
the Springfield team by score of
10 to within canvas enclosure
set up by the latter team in Mr.. Ho-
jem S pasture. The grounds were
responsible for numerous errors.
The game was a good one, but the
young men from Springfield we're
too much for the locals.
G. w. Whelan, P. 0. Callaghan
and J. 7. Hojem made the occasion
all that it was-a success. The
former two are about all that remain
of the association in that neighbor-
hood, but when the proposition
came up to have the next annual
picnic in Redwood Falls it was vot-
ed down, the people not desiring to
go SO far for the annual gathering.