The Mankato free press., 1912-04-05

Of the Minnesota Federation of Com
mercial clubs and handled his sub
ject in business-like manner.
"The best assets that Minnesota
can have are its men,. its soil, boys
and girls. We should know why
we are doing these things. AS
understand it the object of our meet
ing here is to better our conditions
"The bettering of the roads would
add to the betterment Of the socia
conditions on the farm. The farm
ers would be able to live and live
better than heretofore If they were
connected by good roads.
zone OF the great drawbacks with
us Is the congested population and
many are turning their attention to
increasing the population of the
country rather than the cities.
$50 many farmers have tried to
get higher prices for smaller crops
rather than average prices for fair
crops, and this is wrong. The
true principle is to raise larger crops
and sell at fair prices rather than
small crops at big prices, thus sell
ing to the consumer at a lower
price.
"But in regard to the Southern
Minnesota Development association,
I agree with Senator Haycraft in
that we should improve the rural
conditions and educate the farmers
and their children. There are per
haps more mechanics and good farm
ers spoiled in the higher institutions
of learning than are being turned
out from practical work. We should
educate our children along vocation.
al lines. That is the first thing
that this organization should work
for. And with this comes almost all
the other things-good roads, etc.
Another thing that the farmer
should be educated to is the proper
marketing of the crops" .... ..
Mr.. Neill gave the Duluth Com
mercial club boost when he said
that that organization was one of
the best of its kind in the state.
This club kept an agricultural secre.
tary right along among the farmers.
"The reason we have not progress,
ed as we should is because we, OF
Southern Minnesota have believed
that we have been too well off.
Thus I believe in these things:
Better roads, more improvement of
industries-which Is an actual I'M
provement in the producing power
and we want this to go hand in
hanc with our rural Industries.
Must Have a Square Deal.
"The first thing we have to do
IS 10 impress upon these people
that they are not getting a square
deal. And it is up to us to make the
railroads change their plans of do
ing business. The people will not
stand for this discrimination of
rates. There is some equitable
rate and this will be arrived at
sooner or later.
an all my experience have found
that the small manufacturing insti-
tutions are worth more to you than
all the big factories you can bring
forth. Then in getting new indus.
tries, Try to have them succeed and
develope natural resources that you
have at your command.
cgarding the advertising of this
organization the great difficulty is
the placing of it. Two good methods
of advertising is through the immi-
grafton commission and another,
through the same old railroads we
advertise. We must attract people
here but not sell them on the ad.
vertisement. The advertisements
are to attract people and then when
they do come here it is up to you
to get them located.
zone good method Of advertising
is the publication of a booklet ad-
vertising the whole county and then
have a person in each community to
answer all communications and re-
quests for information that come to
them. ...r..
A committee has been organized
to take up legislation for develop,
ment of Minnesota. Already several
committees have been appointed by
various clubs and federation of clubs
for this purpose" Mr.. Neill sug'
gested that this association appoint
a committee of two at the next
meeting to cooperate with the other
committees. ....-.
emf Extended Congratulations.
Mr.. Neill then extended congratu'
lations from the Federated clubs to
this association.
Senator Thomas E. eastman OF
Owatonna agreed with Mr.. Neill's
remarks and suggested that the
people take up the matter of freight
rate discrimination with the rail
roads. The cities of Southern Min
nesota have not grown because oi
freight rate discrimination. He dis
cussed freight rates and distance
tariffs much as he did in NORTH
Mankato at the commercial club 9
week ago and on account of which
appeared in The Free Press.
!"The thing for us to do is to pro
test as Albert Lea, Redwing ant
Winona have done. The latter two
have done so with success. 1t would
be foolish to do anything in thu