Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-02-27
New Association
Plans to Turn
Tide of Travel
Northwestern States to Unite TO Get
the Immigrants Into Their
Territory.

GREAT FALLS, Mont. Feb. 2s-tSpe-
ciaL Ll-GeOrge Matthews. president Of the
Montana state Association Of Commercial
Clubs Secretaries. has issued a call for
meeting Of the members in Great Fails on
Friday. March a to take the first steps in
organizing the Northwestern Development
league which win be formally launched
at a meeting in Helena IN April
The Northwestern development league
is 10 consist Of commercial and promoting
bodies of seven states Minnesota, North
Dakota. South Dakota Montana, Idaho.
Washington and Oregon. II Is the out
growth OF the Omaha Exposition Of West
ern Lands Products. and one OF the chief
promoters of the new league is Sam W.
Teagarden OF this city, aided by Oliver
NJ Holmes, secretary OF the local Board
Of Commerce. and other members Of the
board
The purpose OF the new league. as told
by Mr.. Tea garden himself is TO change
the stream Of immigration from It's pres
ent channels. with Omaha as it's chief
gateway to the west. and Kansas city
as a minor roadway. and bring 1t farther
north. passing Il through Minneapolis and
st. Paul and then sending Il TO the west.
That the new league may start with
proper prestige and ceremony. II is pro
posed, and It is claimed the plan has the
sanction Of the governor himself that
Governor Norris Of this state shall invite
the governors Of the other six states TO
be included 70 attend in person. II possi-
bic. and II not able TO come. then to
name some person to represent them Off
cially. The governor will issue these in
vtations. it is understood, shortly after
the meeting in this city March 3.
The new league had its primary inceD-
ton at dinner in ST. Paul the week fol-
lowing tho Omaha show. Mr.. Teagarden
attended dinner given by some members
OF the Commercial club Of that city and
it was there planned to float the new
proposition.
The plan calls for all the states to join
in this confederacy for the purpose OF in
ducing settlers to seek homes in these
seven states and II does not shear any state
Of its privilege OF going into any state IL
may choose. even into one Of it's associates s
borders. and soliciting settlers. It does
plan to do some mutual advertising and
promoting the homestead interests through
the eastern states and all the time call at
tention TO the advantage OF settlers seeking
the west through St. Paul and Minneapolis.
Minnesota has given the plan enthusiastic
and whole-hearted support and the Dakotas
have manifested willingness to get into
line Oregon, through the Portland Com
mercial association and commercial bodies
Of some of the larger cities of the state.
seems TO be soIldly in favor Of the plan.
Washington cities are getting into line All
Montana favors H.
The leaders IN the movement claim that
immigration tends 70 follow definite parai-
lels and that with the stream following the
channel through Omaha that the states OF
Colorado and Wyoming. Utah and Cali
fornia gain a great advantage over the
states in the new league and that IL will
be impossible 20 overcome this in any other
way than 10 change the channel Of traffic
by the homeseekers.
The Montana Association OF Commercial
Clubs will take care OF inviting commercial
bodies from other states and none OF them
viii be left out The proposition. II is
claimed. has assurance OF liberal financing
and there will be no occasion for doing the
thing by halves