Morris tribune., 1906-03-10
A HOST IMPORTANT QUESTION.

greatest mgrations i'll history has taken place,
and people have gone by the thousands from
the states south and east of Minnesota to the
prairies of Dakota and Canada. They have past
within sight of more desirable land nearer to
market right here in Minnesota, but Minnesota
did not advertise her resources while Canada did
correspondent to the Minneapolis Journal,
III. C. Erwin, of ST. Cloud, makes the suggestion
that estate development be given prominent
place in the questions to be discussed in the
coming state campaign. The suggestion is one
of wisdom and the question of "state develop
ment' is much more important to the people of
the state than any of the national issues which
usurp prominent place in our state cam
paigns. Estate development has many sides.
Perhaps first of all, it means advertising the
state, land a most excellent beginning has been
made by the state auditors office in the new
methods of advertising state lands); it means
draining the swamps that they may become
fertile fields; it means making the most possible
out of all our varied agricultural, mining and
forest resources. Minnesota is empire in
ITSELF and yet the whole northern half of the
state rich in all manner of wealth, is yet
undeveloped. Here attention should be first
directed
The communication is follows:-
"From present indications it would seem
that the people, as we'll as the politicians, will
have something to say to who shall be the
next republican nominee for governor. They
(the people, should also have voice in shaping
the issues in the next campaign. Believing
that that privilege is not only the right, but the
duty of every citizen, and also believing that
the people generally think that new questions,
questions affecting their material welfare,
should have al prominent place in the councils
OF the party, make bold not only to voice my
own views but to reflect the sentiments gener
ally expressed.
During the years that have gone wes haye
looked altogether too much to Washington,
ID. c., for our inspiration Federal officers have
written our platforms. National questions have
afforded the absorbing themes. While it is the
duty of every citizen to look beyond the borders
of his state and consider all the questions which
affect national welfare, in growing, vigor-
Gus state like ours, state yet in the morning
of it's Development it seems to many OF us that
those questions which most closely affect u.s.
the home questions. have not received fair or
necessary share of public attention Every
political campaign should be an educational
campaign. The public thought shorld be ai-
rected along lines affecting material and
industrial welfare.
"From the national standpoint, this work
has been we'll done, but done, fear at the ex-
pense of the welfare of the state. The national
government mas yleldeQ up uHtOlu rnlllouS soI
acres of land to aid in the work of state de-
velopment. 1t has bequeathed to the common
schools of the state grand inheritance; but 1T
seems to me our people have not been suficl
emily aroused on the great question which the
government so poby fostered, the question
which affects us all, the question of state devel-
opment. Many of our sister states have shown
more enterprise, and certainly our ne1ghbor on
the north has outstripped That measure OF
development to which we are entitled and
which we can secure if go after it we certain.
ly are not enjoying. Let not allow ourselves
to be beaten in the Let US become thought
full; let us get busy The great repub blcan party
the party of progress, has work to do. That
work lies before it. We have in state an
undeveloped territory almost as large as the
state of Indiana. We need more railroads in this
sparsely settled portion of our state. We need
more manufactures, we need more Work1ngmen
we need industrious, law-ab1 ling farmer on
every unoccupied 16O acres OF land IN the state
"When we have realized all this we will have
more villages, larger cities more manufacturers,
higher price of real estate everywhere. 1t
will mean general benefit to all. We have
plenty of work to do to accomplish all this. Y n
til every piece of undeveloped land is Welding
up a fair measure of profit we should not, and
we will not be satisfied.
"Properly directed effort, healthy public
sentiment, wise laws, with officers able and
willing to do their full duty will finally acoomp-
lish the desired result. 1t is not necessary to
| spend immense sums of money to accomplish
all this. What we think, what we say. and
what do, can and will accomplish it all 1t we
think, say and do right Let US make state de-
| velopment one of the burning issues OF the next
campaign. Let us nominate men of energy,
men of capabilities, men who do things and do
them right. Let us keep ever to the forefront
our grand possibilities, pointing out the
Of