The Mankato free press., 1912-06-28
MEETING HELD TODAY,
ST. PETER IS THE HOST
Continued from Page One.
Continued from Page One.


and important and result in benefit,
not only to the particular city or
town, but to the country and the
people of the country tributary to
that city or town. 1t is therefore
important that We have good CITIES
and towns, not only for the individ-
ual benefit and convenience that
may result to ourselves, but be-
cause of the effect that they will
have in bringing to our doors more
of those people and of those things
that will tend to the betterment and
advancement of what we have and
which we are anxious to enhance.
Towns That Have Advanced.
1T is true that there are, scat
tered here and there throughout
Southern Minnesota cities and towns
that have taken advanced steps in
the doing of things that materially
promote the well-being and prospect
ty of the particular city or town,
but it is well recognized fact that
there has been general apathy
in Southern Minnesota. that the
spirit of progress has been dormant
for nearly twenty years, and not un-
til recently have the people of this
part of the state thrown off the
lethargy and aroused themselves
from slumber, and from their easy
going peaceful ways, to recognize
and fully realize what has been
going on around and about them.
During that time, Southern Minneso-
ia has been content to accept such
favors as naturally came to her
without effort on her part, to accept
whatever conditions have been i'm
posed upon her without protest or
complaint She has not sought, as
other parts of the state and other
parts of the country have sought,
to develope her magnificent re-
sources or to prevent impositions;
she has drifted along. while those
around and about her have enriched
themselves at her expense. 1t is
for that reason, and because this
condition of affairs has existed. that
Southern Minnesota is today. to a
great extent, what she is, instead
of being richer and more prosperous,
and accounts for the fact that her
people are lacking many things that
would add to their individual en-
joyment. comfort and prosperity:
been realized that this league,-a
body of men who have observed
this condition and recognized its
effect,-was organized and is now
endeavoring to remedy the condition.
This league has realized that, to
obtain the desired results, it is
necessary that uniform methods and
united action must be taken; that
the single effort, be it of the indi-
vidual or the~-single town or COM
munity, working, but without har-
monious effort and to common
purpose, comes to naught; that 1t
requires to be accomplished. and to
obtain the many things which should
be obtained. and to bring about con-
ditions that should prevail, strong
and united body, and that that body
should work along common and har-
monious lines, according to modern
methods, in order to accomplish
the greatest good. -
"It is not for me to touch upon
the many things that are contem-
plated being taken up by the league.
Others will speak upon specific sub
iects. These meetings are held to
bring together the men of this part
of the state, who, have studied this
subject. and from their observation
and study of the methods that have
been pursued in those counties and
parts Of the state where develop
ment has been made and where
prosperity has. resulted by reason
of development. and united effort,
to give the benefit of their observa-
tions.
Value of Organization.
The value of strong organizations
cannot be over estimated. Northern
Minnesota. North Dakota and other
parts of the country. have organized
associations that have accomplished
for their particular part of the
state untold good, and that in a
short period of time, developing
those parts of the country from
nothingness into thriving and pros
percus communities, and they have
accomplished it by united action
and effort: being strong bodies,
they have been able to secure for
themselves needed legislation. legis-
lation that has been beneficial, and
that has resulted in the development
of their communities; and, they
have likewise been able to prevent
legislation that would be detrimental.
They have, by their united effort
and the strength of their organized
bodies, given great publicity to-
their particular part of the state.
and publicity today is one of the
greatest factors in the development
of the community. 1t is as great in
the development of the community
as it is in the development of the
individual So I would impress up
on your minds the need and neces-
sity of strong, organizations and of
united effort, for the reason that
the surroundings which 60 to make
town and country attractive and in
viting are today secured only through
intelligent effort along the lines OIL
community development In the
PAST. towns and country grew with
out help from organized effort, but
times have changed with the evolu-
tion of industrial and commercial
enterprises, SO that today the com
munity that forges ahead is the
one that maintains we'll organized
and energetic commercial organiza |
tion. The large cities of the coun-
try discovered this some time ago,
and the more active cities and
towns in the country have likewise
discovered it, and have come to rec
oguize their beneficial effects. To
note the result YOU have only to |