The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-06-10
OLD SETTLERS PICNIC
Mt. Vernon Picnic Draws Il Lars,
Crowd for This Annual Affair
Gov. Nc>sey Gave Address

Gov. Wesley Gave Address
Wednesday morning dawned duh
and cloudy for the Old Settlers picnic
at Mt. Vernon but by 10 O'Clock the
sun came out bright and clear and
soon the farmers rigs began coming
TO own and with the crowd that
wea over from Mitchell which filed
Two coaches the town began to fin
r2l, Inc str ct spieters unpacked
taeir wares and put up their little
Dooths. the aroma of me d@oe-sand-
wiches fioated upon the air ana the
wheel OF the games Of chance made
the occasion eel festive indeed.
At 10:3o the Mitchell band opened
the exercises of the day With a short
concert after which they led the
crowd to the canvas-covered auditor
ium where the program was rem
dered. e. O. Mcl1wen presiding, the
exercises We're commenced with a vo-
cal solo by Miss Ovelmeir. Follow
ing the prayer the address of well
come was given by Roscoe Sherman,
who paid a tribute to the early set
tiers who had blazed the way in the
pioneer days and extended to them
the freedom of the city. The short
address Of Mr.. Sherman was we'll de-
livered, permeated as it was with
the feeling that this was the day of
good cheer for the visitors and one
in which they should all mingle to-
gether in a ~neighborly way.
This was followed with a violin
solo by Michael Koolish who played
in such a manner hat the audience
was not satisfied with one number
and demanded an encore. a child
ren's May pole song and drill was
given and we'll enjoyed. Miss Dwell
meir sang again n the program
proper closed with a piano duet by
Misses Orrins and Baker.
In Introducing Governor Vessey.
the speaker of the day, Chairman Nc
Even referred to the governors pio-
neer days and the part he played as
a merchant in the HARD times of that
period of the states development.
The governor began his address by
saying that he was not a speaker but
he DOR established a bond of SYM
pathy between himself and the audi
ence that counted for much. He
took for the theme of his address the
individual citizen, his part in the
the life OF the state and nation. The
settlers who have come into this
country and built it up in spite of
hardship and adversely he believed
greatest sort of a monument and one
that would last for all time. The
governor believed that the great
fault that might undermine the ma
ton was seltishness, and said that if
we, as a people. rid ourselves of it
We would not lave the set of men
in public life who are now quarrell-
Ing Yer the tariff at Washington. We
would not then have officials who
would be dominated by private in
terests but would work for the good
OF the people. Speaking of selfish
ness, the governor facetiously said
that in his short political career he
had ever found men in this state
who believed that If they were not
appointed to Office he would make a
grave mistake. In this connection
he said that the greatest compliment
he ever received was when one man
said: "Vessey is making a grave
mistake he is trying to be gentla
mistake; he is trying to be a gentle
a politician don't mix"
The speaker pleaded for the integ-
rity OF the home as an integral part
of the community, the foundation of
the nation. He said that when once
the child in the home is taught the
significance Of the square deal' in
his relations with his parents the
country would take care of itself and
the reformers would be out of a Job.
In closing. Governor yessey dwelt
upon a subject that is very perth
nent to the people of South Dakota.
He urged a closer unity between the
people in the country and in town.
He condemned strongly the farmer
who moves TO town. pays as little pos
! sible taxes, lives on the butter and
eggs ne sells and votes against bonds