Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-02-19

example of this class of falsehoods
and is indeed a mild one. Paper after
paper has dwelt on the hardships sup
posed to have been undergone by citi-!
zens of this locality until residents Of
the middle and eastern states are rap
idly acquiring the idea that western
North Dakota is an untenable and
even dangerous place in which to live
and have property.
Unless contradicted and contradict;
ed firmly and at once, these gross mis-
representations will mean a loss of
thousands of dollars toSthe business
men of this section. Thousands of
prospective settlers have given up
their intentions of coming to this
country and have purchased land in
the southwestern states, which are
Dakota's strongest competitors. -
| These newspaper articles are not
only being used as a matter of news,
but agents for large land companies
who hold tracts in other parts of the
country are reprinting these stories re-
exaggerated and re-embellished as ar
Eguments to turn farmers away from
1.-THE western country and from North
Dakota especially.
This club is in receipt of direct adj
4 vices from the officials Of the Great
4 Northern railroad that nearly so per
Cent Of the landseekers who had an
4 nounced their intentions of coming
west have had their household goods
taken back to the point. Of shipping
and rebilled to other localities.
The situation is serious one and
must be met promptly and forcibly.
i Action must be taken at once and this
action must be concerted. Individual
4 effort will be of little avail at a time
like this and it is only by consolidate
ing the business interests of the entire
western part Of the state that any di-
rect benefit can be produced.
With this in view the Commercial
club Of Minot has taken the liberty Of
| calling convention or mass meeting
I, for the 22d day of February, at 2 .. M,
at their rooms in this city, at which
time the matter will be Thoroughly dis
cussed and steps taken for refuttal.
We are DESTROYS of having at least
i one delegate from your city and ask
your cooperation. If there is no com
mercial club to start the movement,
/ will you ask your mayor to call meet
ing OF the business men of your local
ity who would be interested and have
delegates elected? Have the delegates
thoroughly instructed as to what meth
cd is thought wisest by your citizens
so that these can be formulated and
the most feasible selected. "
We wish to impress firmly upon you
that this is not a scheme to advertise
any one part of the state, but is a
4 movement taken in self-preservation
Let us hear as soon as possible what
4 steps have been taken in this matter
and the number of delegates who will
attend the convention.
Impress the Importance of this
movement upon your citizens and urge
the attendance of at least one dele
gate. .55 :.l3
IN this connection it may be said
j that among the baseless and malicious
i reports that have been sent broadcast
4 and published in eastern newspapers
regarding the existing conditions In
/ North Dakota during the present win
/ ter the one which appeared in the
! Chicago Examiner and American UNI
der date Of February IL, purporting to
come from Bismarck, is the most
acious. The author of the article
referred to is either interested III
lands in other states or dominions or
is Willful and cheerful liar.
There is no question but what Chi
eago papers are permitting persons to
use them at SO much per column to
i divert immigration from North Dakota
to Canada. These methods are adopt
ed by paid agents of the Canadian
government who seek to boom the
sunny Alberta country or BY those
who are interested In lands iii Texas
i and other southern states. These
agents are striving to make capital out
i OF such highly colored and grossly ex.
+ aggerated stories as the one pub.
lished IN the Chicago Examiner and
! American,
In order that readers may have
1 some conception of the alleged Bis.
4 marck correspo ndent's total disregard
for truth the following extract is 4
q sample:
Put Yourself In the place OF 3
y North Dakota emigrant who has gone
b to the end OF railroad line, taken III
farm and, with his family, got d crol
harvested and ready for market
! Think Of him surrounded by SNOW
drifts twenty faet dear, xrritI, 24,,,,I I, !,