The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1907-03-14
North Dakota Colony
Picnics in Los Angeles

Los Angeles Cal, March ITO The
Forum: Last Saturday, March 2, the
day dawned with beauty and splendor
Over 200 North Dakotans met at East
Lake park and held their third annual
Southern California basket picnic. AT
IL o'clock we sat down to tables laden
with good things Our North Dakota
women know how to prepare. After
everybody had satisfied the inner man,
Edward Winterer of Valley City. first
vice president, took the stand and de-
livered a short address, giving his
tory of the organization and welcom-
ling us to Los Angeles Mr.. Winterer
lis now a resident Of Los Angeles. Nj.
II. Kfff was called upon and gave one
of his loyal talks. DIR. w. A. Bentley,
the Missouri slope orator. said many
good things about our beloved state
The following officers were elected
for the ensuing year: President, DIR.
M. w. Scott, Emerado; secretary and
treasurer, A. NJ Gamble, Wahpeton;
vice presidents, NJ. III. Kiff Tower
City; DR.. A. w. Bentley, Bismarck;
N. G. Larimore, Larimore; A. f. APP
pleton, P. B. McCloud. Grafton.
With one unanimous voice we de-
'clared this the best and most delight
full picnic we have ever held. In the
remarks made no one mentioned the
North Dakota blizzard or shortage of
fuel, but sang the praises of our thirty
year development and progress. We
told them of our school houses, our
educational institutes, our wealth, our
crops, our herds and fiocks. Truly,
we could not help enjoying this picnic,
amid such beauties as surrounded us.
With inspiration we breathed the air
from the purple heights of old Balda
Mountain, whose peaks touch the
skies. To the east of u.s. and at the
very apex, could be seen the delight
full white, shimmering snow and all
along down its sides to the valley,
covered with palm, pine and acacia
trees. March has brought to this
southern land sunshine and bloom
Her gardens are all bright with many
Ia flower The air is perfumed with
orange blossoms and scented with
flowers that are all along the wayside.
The grasses are knee deep to flock
in pink and white along the plains
with the notes of the mockingbird and
the peaceful noontide with the song
of the meadowlark. The waving
hands of the old pepper tree, the whis-
pering solicitation from the giant
pines, all bid us to remain amid these
pleasant scenes and surroundings, but
with one voice we all say, let us return
to our adopted state. These scenes
here are only transient. They do not
steal away our love from our old
home and neighbors. We want to get
back where the springtime and gentle
showers give us a panorama not
equaled in the Arabian Nights. where
we can look out and behold a land
teening with verdure covered with
cattle and horses. beautiful farm
homes, showing TO the stranger in our
midst what twenty-five years has ac-
complished by those who dwell on the
plains of North Dakota. ] am proud
z have had a part in this great, grow
ing commonwealth, that I have seen
the last buffalo retire before advanc
ing civilization, and church and school
and all that goes TO make a good,
pure citizenship established on solid
foundation.
/ said to our people, Il am going to
write letter TO The Forum and tell
the people of the state about this
picnic" Many came to me and said,
Mr.. Kiff, tell them l was here; tell
them / am soon coming home" /
cannot possibly mention every one
but / will just give a list of names
from our record and their residences
and speak Of few of my acquaint-
ances. Cass county had delegation
Of about twenty We had Cass
county group picture taken, also q full
group picture Of the 200 or more.
Mr.. Crothers and wife Of Dayen-
port, Pat Cummings and young Mr..
Haggart and Mr.. Olson, George Cook
and family and Mr.. Murphy of Page,
also George Peekham and wife, were
some of these Cas- county tourists.
Grand Forks county was finely repre-
sented, and among them were Mr..