The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1910-02-28

GO. development ASSN
| PERMANENTLY ORGANIZED
Continued from First Page.]
Township; Ben Anderson, Spruce
Grove Township; Nels Sorenson,
Jones Township; E. O. Espe, Shotley.
Delegates from thirty counties, of North
ern Minnesota. in Convention assembled
at the City of Bemidji, February II and
Is, 1910. composing the Northern Mime
sofa Development Association, realizing
that in northern Minnesota lie the great
est opportunities for future development
of natural resources and advantages such
as no other land possesses and to the end
that this development may be speedily
accomplished, do hereby adopt the follow
ing resolutions:
Whereas, the representation of the
northern half of the State in the State
Legislature is conceded to be wholly
inequitable and unjust in view of the rapid
growth in population of that part of the
state as compared with other portions, and
Whereas, this condition is contrary both
to the letter and spirit of the Constitution
Of the State of Minnesota and to every
principal of right and justice, (.
Be it resolved, that this Association
demands imperatively that reappor-
tionment be made at the coming session
of the Legislature that shall remedy this
condition on basis which will give to all
parts of the state equal representation
both in the Senate and the House accord
ing to the population as shown by the
United States census of 1910.
Be it further resolved, that to this end,
we recommend that all candidates for the
Senate and for the House of Representa-
tives from the counties included in this
organization be required to pledge them
selves to work and vote for such a law
regardless of their personal or political
interests and that those who fail to make
such pledge be refused support at the
polls without regard to party.
Be it further resolved, that all political
parties be requested to insert in their
platforms plank pledging the early pass
age of just reapportionment law.
2. Whereas, No extensive colonization
of the unoccupied lands of Northern
Minnesota can be accomplished until roads
and bridges are constructed, and it is
absolutely essential to the highest develop.
ment of the agricultural sections of this
State that the best possible roads be
provided,
Be it therefore resolved, that it il
expedient, proper and absolutely necessary
that the Legislature submit to the people
for adoption Constitutional Amendment
providing for the general property tax of
mill for road purposes, the fund thereby
created to be distributed by the State
Highway Commission among the several
counties of the State of Minnesota.
8. There having been lack of moneys
from time to time in the funds from
which loans are made by the State BOARD
of Investment,
Be it resolved, that it the wish and will
of this Association that Minnesota
through its Board of Investment, dispose
of, at the earliest possible opportunity
enough of the bonds of other states hello
by this State, necessary to secure anc
loan to our own people the money essentia
to State development, and especially fol-
roads, drainage and schools.
Whereas, during the last few years
drainage projects of enormous magnitude
have been prosecuted whereby vast areas
of wet and low lands have been reclaimed
and transformed into some of the richest
and most fertile farm lands in the State
of Minnesota, and,
Whereas, there are two million acres
yet remaining unsettled for lack of drain.
age and the same are susceptible of drain
age.
Therefo1e, be it resolved that we are
heartily in accord with the drainage move
ment commenced by the different coun-
ties, the State Drainage Commission and
the United States Government, and we
recommend that all northern Minnesota
counties do all in their power to further
the cause of drainage: that the Federal
Government be urged to reclaim the
millions of acres held by them in trust
for the Chippewa Indians, and further
that the next State Legislature submit a
constitutional amendment to the end that
appropriation of funds can be made
for the Strengthening and the deepening
of the rivers and channels which are the
natural outlets of our drainage projects
and to generally assist in this most
important work. "
| We urge that all matters pending in the
several departments at Washington relat-
ing to our Indian Reservations be immedi-
ately considered, thereby aiding us in our
work of development and improvement of
northern Minnesota.
Resolved that the Association hereby
heartily endorses the campaign of the
Minnesota Federation of Commercial Clubs
for State Appropriation of $100,000.OO
nor x,oor for etoto aduorticind under tho