The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-06-28
N|COLLET COUNTY HAS
ORGANIZED ITS LEAGUE
From Mondays Daily.

from mOnUdyS OdIIy.
Nicollet county was organized as
an auxiliary association of the South
ern Minnesota Better Development
league, at a meeting held at the
court house in st. Peter Saturday
afternoon. Officers were elected,
several short talks made, and col
lection of $1,000 taken up to help
Fay the dues, necessary to join the
league. Delegates from North Man
kato, st. Peter. Belgrade. New Swe-
den, Lake Prairie, Oshawa and Ira
verse townships were present. The
delegation present from North Man
kato were: Professor c. E. Ball, j.
B. Nielsen, Otto Neitge, II. Robel, ST.,
o. w. Walker, w. A. Reeves, l.. Lar
son, and Dennis Donahue, the lat
ter coming late.
Senator H. n. Benson called the
meeting to order at three o'clock.
He reviewed what was done at the
meeting held in Mankato on April 2,
when the league was organized, and
then told those present the necessity
of organizing Nicollet county The
temporary officers were then elect
ed, and Senator Benson was elected
chairman and Lewis Larson of North
Mankato, temporary secretary.
Permanent Organization Effected.
Upon the motion of Commissioner
Al ]. Potts. a permanent organiza-
ton was effected. According to the
model for county associations. the
organization shall consist of presi-
dent one vice president for each COM
missioner district, a secretary-treas-
urer, and a board of directors, con-
sisting of the officers, eX-officio, and
one member from each commercial
club, farmers association or town
ship organization, which joins the
league.
Before nominating any one for posi-
tions, Professor c. E. Ball, who is
also secretary of the Southern Min
nesota Better Development league,
gave a short talk, in which he stated
that the hardest work in the organi
cation was the securing of good COM
mitteemen, ones who were active
and willing and able. So far the
league has not progressed very
much. He has written 900 letters
since April 2, when the league was
organized, and has had his hands
full. Thus, men should be elected
lOT Tie NlcOll6J
who would boost the league.
N. H. Olsen, president of the Citi-
zens State bank of ST. Peter, was
then nominated as president. He
politely declined to accept, but after
H. Robel, ST., and H. C. Miller had
pressed him and after William Mall
gren, who had also been nominated
and who declined, had heartily en-
dorsed Mr. NJ. Olson, the latter was
elected president.
Upon taking the chair NJ. Olson
explained the purpose of the league
and the county association, and the
duties of the various officers. Sen
ator Benson then suggested that the
county commissioners be elected the
vice presidents, and after some dis
cussion in which some of the COM
missioners declined the office, and
others suggested men who would
give more time and thought to their
work, the following vice-presidents
were elected:
AL ]. Potts, first commissioner dis
trict: Joseph Mitchell, second: J. B.
Summers, third; c. A. Swanson
fourth; II. Robel Sr., fifth. Oliver
Duane was elected secretary-treas
urer.
The matter of electing the board
of directors then came up, but ac-
cording to the Interpretation of the
model, this should be left to the
various townships and county club
organizations, as they were the ones
who should have the right to elect
the men they wanted as representa-
tives. These vice-presidents are to
go in the country districts and Or
ganize the country clubs.
A motion was made and carried
that the officials elected are to draw
up some form of constitution and by
laws for adoption.
A collection was then taken and
almost money enough, $1,000, was
raised to pay the membership fee of
SIS to the Southern Minnesota league.
Remarks BY Senator Benson.
Before adjourning Senator Benson
made a few remarks emphasizing the
wish and necessity of having large
representation from the county at
the second meeting of the league,
which will be held at st. Peter,
June 26. Attorney Olsen, who is on
the arrangement committee promised
a good time for all. Senator Benson
then arose and spoke briefly on the
seven-senator bill, and promised that
the speakers who were on the pro-
gram would discuss questions of
this kind very thoroughly
Professor Ball further emphasized
just what good would come to South
ern Minnesota if the seven-senator
bill were passed Now is the time
for all good men and true, he said,
to join hands and secure the passage
of this bill. One good result of
this league, he said, was the killing
of the reapportionment bill.
Mr.. Potts then moved that the or
ganization adopt the following reso-
lutions which were adopted:
"The object of the county asso-
citation shall be to contribute to the