The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1906-02-02
SEE AMERICA MOVEMENT
LAUNCHED BY CONFERENCE
"see Europe If You Must, But See
America First" is the Slogan of
the Delegates to the Salt Lake

Salt Lake City-At II o'clock Fri
day, January 26, the 200 men assem-
bled in the armory in the Commercial
club building were called to order by
the chairman, Ex-Governor Heber M.
Wells, and the See America First"
convention became a reality. On the
platform were seated, in addition to
Chairman Wells, Governor George E..
Chamberlain of Oregon, Governor
John G. Cutler Of Utah and Judge O.
w. Powers, who represented Mayor
Ezra Thompson and welcomed the WIS.,
itors on behalf of Salt Lake City. In
opening the conference, Ex-Governor
Wells set forth the aims and objects
of the See America First" movement
IN a brief and pleasing address,
The results hoped to be achieved by
the conference might be expressed in
the following language of Ex-Governor
Wells:
Speaking personally, l have never
been to Europe. But l have batheo
IN the buoyant waters Of both the At.
lantic and the Pacific, have gazed
through southern mists out upon the
Gulf of Mexico and have traversed
the great lakes and the Thousand isl.
ands OF the st. Lawrence. have
heard the great Niagara roar and
have stood spell-bound upon the brink
OF the Grand canyon of the Colorado
amid that death-like stiffness of ma
ture described by Mark Twain as $50
still you can hear the microbes knaw."
l have stalked elk in Jackson's hole
and caught fish in the Yellowstone
river and boiled them hard by in
geyser without taking them off the
hook. l have floated in the briny sur
face of the Great Salt lake and shot
the chutes on Sutro Heights. I have
looped the loop on Coney island and
breathed the fragrant signs of orange
groves in southern California. l have
perspired in the humid atmosphere of
the Mississippi valley, and thrown
snowballs at the attitudes of Pixies
peak. I have gazed in rapt wonder at
The mighty Missouri rolling down to
he sea and have visited the great |
northwest where rolls the Oregon
Short Line. Yet I am not ready for
Europe.
Upon a trip to New York some years
lgo l became acquainted with man
rom Albany-a young druggist-who
lad acquired competency and was
citing off on vacation. asked him
where he was going, and wreathed in
'cstatic smiles he blurted the one
word Europe" I asked him if he
lad ever visited a place called Niagara
Falls, which lay hundred or two
niles to the west of him, and he said:
It's nothing but a lot of water"
Now, gentlemen, submit that that
s the type of fellow we are after. II
We can spread the gospel of See
america First" SO that some of these
asterners who now spend their good
money at Monte Carlo can
e induced to come up and take high
r ground and visit some of the
uburbs of their home towns I feel !
hat our mission will not have been in
ain"
An address of welcome was made ,
y Judge o. w. Powers, while Gov :
rnor Chamberlain of Oregon made I
n address in support of the See t
.merica First" movement.
At the afternoon session the Of +
GERS were selected and the work for a
he convention outlined: The Of +
GERS selected were: Fisher Harris of '
alt Lake City as permanent chair
ian, and permanent vice-chairmen as
blows: Judge J. H. Richards, Boise,
Ia; J. A. Runyon, Kansas City, Mo-; r
. w. Pratt, Tacoma, Wash; w. F. r.
ILLS, Denver, Colo; H. M. Cake,
ortland, Ore; J. K. Persons, Duluth, s
linn; G. e. Edwards, San Francisco, S
al; T. ]. Merry, Butte, Mont. E. ]. n
1estlake Of Minneapolis, permanent e
ecretary; James A. Metcalf of Mis- G
'ula, Mont, first assistant secre- a
Try; J. A. Runyon of Kansas City, "
o., second assistant secretary; a
gorge A. Gordon of Rigby, Ida, SER ',
u
l LA 10