The Mankato free press., 1913-03-14

from wednesdays Oaiiy.
Resolutions presented to the con-
vention will be found on another
page.
Greater Enthusiasm" has been
the message of the convention of the
Southern Minnesota Better Develop
ment league, which closed a two
days session in the city this after
noon. The delegates who have been
in attendance at the meetings have
emphatically urged the arousal of
greater enthusiasm, and they them
selves are leaving the gathering with
more determined ideas about the
success of the league and through
the league. the development of South
ern Minnesota's great possibilities.
Following the addresses of yester-
day afternoon there was general
discussion of the financial condition
of the organization, in which the
secretary announced that during the
past year only 1925 had been turned
into the organizations treasury from
all of the thirty-one counties in the
league. At the meeting last Febru-
airy the counties decided to pay S25
each and up to the present time
nine counties have done so. That
money has covered a very small part
of the expense of the work and the
officers have in many cases paid
their own expenses, of postage, trav-
cling and such other things as
came up.
Must Have Expense Money.
The general opinion was that if
the people were interested, and that
if the league had some definite work
in view the money would be forth
coming. Attorney Gissilson of Min
neota, Lyon county, urged that the
league work through county auxil-
iaries and strongly advocated the or
ganization of such auxiliaries in each
county.
Editor Herman Roe of The North
field News explained, as a member
of the committee which decided that
each county should pay $25 that
was only temporary arrange
ment and that whatever financial sup
port was found necessary would be
arranged for later. He also suggest
ed that the league now raise enough
money so that a man could be hired
as secretary who would also be an
organizer and devote his entire time
TO the work, and should enthuse the
various counties. He believes that
the counties of Southeastern Mime
sofa are sadly in need of stirring up.
A number of others present, in
Guiding Miss Jessie Miller of Pipe
stone, Hans Mo of Sleepy Eye. H.
NJ. Green, c. Z. Ball and others
spoke.
Left to a Committee.
The matter of finances was finally
left to committee of five who re-
ported this afternoon, at the motion
of T.. F. Soaring of this city. Presi-
dent Bonnalie named as members of
that committee II. f. Setter of
Tracy, Herman Roe of Mortified,
Hans Mo of Sleepy Eye. Eugene
ger of Window.
Judge Comstock then spoke briefly
of the lack of definite object in the
organization. He said "The whole
trouble with the organization is that
it has not yet any definite purpose.
When it has a purpose the money
will be raised for it's work"
At the close of the afternoon meet
ing C. W. Glotfelter invited the
league to hold their next meeting
at Waterville and showed some of
the interesting things of that town
and it's adjacent lakes for meeting
of that kind. J. J. Furlong then
extended an invitation to come to
Austin. There was considerable good
natured banter over the invitations
and Mr.. Furlong as a special in
ducement to come to Austin, offered
to sing song at the convention
there AS far as Mr.. Glotfelter was
concerned, that settled the matter,
he said, he had heard Mr.. Furlong
sing.
The Evening Meeting.
The Mankato Commercial club en-
tertained all of the delegates at
dinner at the Elks cafe at $50 last
night. After the very excellent meal
Judge Comstock, acting as toastmas-
ter, called upon number OF the
distinguished guests and townspeOple
for speeches.
J. J. Furlong, president of the Min.
nesota State Fair association, was
the first speaker and was introduced
as the gentleman farmer. In the
Judges Introductory remarks he al
luded to a prize for potatoes which
Mr. Furlong had two or three years
ago, safely won for Minnesota, and
that remark led to number of
contradictory explanations of the
means of securing that prize. Mr..
Furlong. however, did not dwell on
the potato affair, extensively, but re-
ferred to his association with Judge
Comstock in the state legislature, to
the judges evident CONSERVATION.
Mr. Furlong said: "We are gather
ed here for a worthy purpose and
our efforts will bring forth good
fruit. You are living in part of the
country which is second to none as
an agricultural section-its soil, nat |
ural advantages and climate. are all
haf ha IL,