The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-03-04

Los Angeles, Cal, March 2.-If you
want to get some idea of the manner
in which the populations of the middle
west states have been drawn upon to
build up the state of California, and
especially the southern part Of Cali
fornia, you should attend the state
picnics' which are a feature at Just
about this season of the year. An
nuaily, these former residents Of the
states get together in one of the parks
or groves about here and exchange re-
miniscences Of the old days. before they
came out to- California. They are loyal
sons and daughters, too, and their love
for the old states is expressed not only
by their enthusiasm in promoting these
picnics, but in their words on these
occasions. In the past few days Iowa,
Montana, Utah, Michigan and North
Dakota have held their annual reun-
ions, and although the weather has
been unusually cool and windy for Cal
~ifornia, the attendance and enthusiasm
were by no means diminished.
/ think Iowa has contributed more
people to the population of Los Angeles
and its environs than any other of the
states. At a picnic of the Iowa So
ciety held a few days ago there were
more than 80, 900 former Iowans in at
tendance, and it is stated there are
over $4,000 people in this vicinity who
we're former residents of the Hawkeye
state. The Iowa people maintain a
permanent organization here with an
Office and a secretary. Michigan also
numbers q great colony of former set
tiers and they held their picnic on the
same day as the North Dakota reun-
ion. Mrs. Rose Hartwick Thorpe, who
wrote Curfew Shall Not Ring Tonight,
a blessed reminder of old rhetorical
day" in school, was present at the
Michigan reunion and read parts of this
rather, celebrated poem. And North
Dakota, not to be outdone by Michigan,
had a poet to offer as well, and the
laureate OF the fickertail state read
the Letter Home and another char
~acteristic verse, and the attention and
enthusiasm indicated that Michigan
had nothing on North Dakota. The
North Dakota society is EVE or eight
years old and has grown from a few
struggling visitors to California TO a
society Of 200 or 500, which is full OF
enthusiasm for California, and whole
some and kindly recollection OF old days
in the Dakotas.
The North Dakota reunion was held
Saturday in Sycamore Grove, which is
out on the line to South Pasadena,
Sycamore Grove. is a tract OF several
acres grown up to immense ~sycanlores,
eucalyptus. and other trees, and is pros
vided with benches, speaking platform
and the other conveniences necessary
for such an occasion. Although tbs
day was windy and cold--the usual
weather-there were 500 to 600 visitors
who brought their basket dinners, ate
them at long tables provided for thai
purpose. exchanged greetings and
recollections, and afterward listened tc
addresses and ratified the selection Of
officers for the ensuing year. Major
r.. r. Kennedy, formerly OF Dickey
county and at one time head Of the
Whitestone hills battlefield commission
was president of the society for tbs
past year. The major has been en-
thusiastic in enlarging the North Da-
kota association, and has worked un-
der the handicap OF i'll health, from
which he has suffered for tho past sew
en- or eight months, but from which
am happy to say he IL recovering. a
M. Gamble, Of the Leach q Gamble SO
of Wahpeton, now at 74s Hartford Y
nue.. Los Angeles, is secretary OF fhs
association, and he was in charge 81
the details Tor the annual meeting. 4
register by counties was provided Y
which the North Dakotans inscribed
their names, with their present hennes
ia California and their former homes y
North Dakota. Practically all Of IN
counties in the state were represents
at the meeting. I shall get the coM'
pIete list when it ID transcribed hy fA'
secretary. and send 1t on to show wAeF'
the North Dakota population Of Caii'
fornia came from. It will BE- q pretty
long list, too, and interesting. because
there are many out hsre of whose pres
nee / did not know until the day 2