The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-01-20

In a statement issued from the Of
fees of the Northwest Development
league, James J.. Hill, chairman OF the
board Of the Great Northern railroad,
advocates the strengthening Of the or
ganization, cooperation of the north
west states and establishment of a
central colonization or immigration
bureau to aid in the development and
settling of the American northwest.
The statement from Mr.. Hill is a pow
erful endorsement OF the movement
started in Helena. Mont, last May,
when the Northwest Development
league was organized.
THE states of this league spend
enough separately on immigration
projects to bring in several times as
many people each as they gain: but a
considerable portion Of it is devoted to
enticing settlers from one of them to
another" says Mr.. Hill. The states in
the league are Minnesota, North Da-
kota, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho,
Washington, Oregon and the territory
Of Alaska.
Mr.. Hill goes or to say: "a most
desirable result of this confederation
would be the establishment of a com
mo- immigration agency, with re-
sources sufficient for a comprehensive
canvass Of possible settlers, but abb
solutely impartial as to their location
anywhere within this zone between the
! Mississippi and the Pacific. Substf-
tute n central colonization bureau
for seven and every dollar expended
VIII do the work that five do now.
This association of seven states and
our n great u~ndeveIoped territory
comes into existence in an interesting
way. The Northwest Development
league is no the creation OF the pro-
moter's art. 1t is not a product Of
either ambition or jealousy. 1t is a
grouping of business entities having
work in common which can be accom-
pltsf1ed better united than divided.
The conduct Of business in the long
run is not a mere scramble for the
best place at the trough. AS science
discloses the broad general principles
by which the world of nature works,
so the study Of human association
for the increase of wealth and the
growth of commerce reveals similar
broad general principle underlying
and governing the lives of men and
commemorative in that intimate inter-
course which is the distinguishing
mark of modern times.
The phase of growth which more
particularly engages the best minds of
today Is combination within proper,
just and reasonable limits. We found
out long ago that individuals, com
munities, corporations and every in
~strumentality having to do with the
common life of men can accomplish
more results, both as to quality and
quantity, when working together free
from hostile suspicion. Our own and
many other countries have been ex-
perlmenting for a generation with thls
law. Almost every business in the
United States today uses the method
OF associated enterprise in handling
interests having a common focus. Our
highest court has only recently laid
down h equitable rule by which the
coordination Of business interests
without hurtful monopoly may be dt-
rected and limited in the future. We
are witnessing a rapid evolution of
the commercial side of human part
nership.
Al citizens and pioneers and up-
builders of the country we should fol-
low the lead and adopt the best dis
coveries Of commercial experience. It
is only natural that a number Of states.
closely related by location, by natural
advantages, by similarity Of interests,
should combine to promote the growth
of all these interests. This is the fact
and this the idea behind the organiza-
ton of the Northwest Development
league. 1t furnishes the machinery by
which these states Of the northern tier
may better and more quickly achieve
their rightful destiny, as part Of a
better and more homogeneous develop
ment Of the whole nation than could
take place otherwise.
THE word northwest has no longer
definite significance. Once it meant
Pennsylvania. Later, one understood
by it Indiana and Illinois. Minnesota
and the Dakotas, Washington and Ore
gon in their turn, have come within
its hospitable definition. Perhaps we
can find no term more aptly charac-
t~eristic OF the territory represented
here-Minnesota, North Dakota, South
Dakota, Montana, Idaho, washington,
Oregon and the territory of Alaska
than the zone of plenty. II we take
this line of states, standing at friend
~ attention along the 1000 miles OF
our Canadian border, with 400 miles
Of eastern frontage and over 500 miles
Of coast line on the Pacific, we have a
territory so identical in interests. of
so splendid a past, OF a future So
abounding in promise. Of q neighbor-
Iiness already SO thoroughly establish
OF such ample capacity in the pro-
duction Of wealth that it may fifty be