The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-03-20
BIG QUESTIONS
ARE PRESENTED
Convention Formally Open
ed in Grand Forks Today
Well Attended.
RAILROAD RATES
MAY BE PROBED
That is Important Feature-Lander
Urges More Power for Omcers-
Various Delegates Report Work Be,
ing Done by Their Clubs.

ing Done by Their Clubs.
The annual meeting Of the North
Dakota Federation Of Commercial
clubs was placed under way this
preliminaries having been
cared for at a conference held last
evening when delegates met and dis-
cussed several questions informally.
Many Of the prominent commercial
clubs Of the state are represented.
important suggestions covering the
work for the coming year were con-
tained In the annual address Of Presi-
dent E. ]. Lander. He urged that the
teoeratfon was In a position to bring
about splendid results through CO.
operative effort; that it was not for
the federation to engage actively In
the furtherance Of publicity cam
pa1gn or good roads campaign, but
to secure the interest Of the local
commercial clubs in those works. He
discouraged plan that had been pro-
posed for creating $4,000 publicity
fund for North Dakota.
Greater Power for Officers.
Greater powers for the officers
through amendments to the bylaws
were urged also, President Lander
contending that under the present
manner of organization the hands of
the officials are tied. making 1t impos-
sible to carry on some activities that
have been deemed wise.
Most important work. he contended.
could be done in the bringing about
of new commercial clubs and in in-
jecting new life into old clubs. He
suggested the election of a paid Sec
retary with the president residing in
the same city.
Langdon Docs Good Work,
A. .. Wold Of Langdon reported
that the Langdon Commercial club
Ing the past year, showing that the
club had secured the affiliation of
other bodies in the construction Of
main roads leading in various direc-
tions out of the city. This work, he
said, would be carried out on a larger
scale next year.
]. Dexter Pierce Of Larimore, for
merly president of the federation,
urged upon the federation the import
ance OF securing the cooperation Of
farmers showing that local clubs can
gain the confidence and support OF
farmers by inviting them to become
members.
Seek Approval OF Work.
A. I. Hunter of Grand Forks. rep
resenting the State Good Roads assoc
citation, and j. P. Hardy of Fargo. al
SO speaking for that organization. en-
dorsed the work being done by that
body. and urged that the federation
approve the plans that have been
adopted under which it is proposed to
make the automobiles carry the bur-
den of road improvement.
Prof. ]. NJ. Gillette of the state uni
versity made the only set speech OF
the morning session. devoting his at
tention to the question Of commercial
club work, showing how important
such clubs are in the development OF
community improvement. He also
showed wherein they could be Of great
assistance in the building up Of social
center work. both in the cities and in
the rural districts.
The resolutions committee, appoint
ed last week. held a meeting this
noon. considering several questions
that have been submitted by the vari-
Gus delegates. These include more
the question of probing
new, membership, new commercial
clubs. and the reorganization Of the
as to the method Of elect
ing officers. etc.
Welcomed by Mayor.
The convention was welcomed to.
Grand Forks by Mayor NJ. F. Murphy
and by F. L. Goodman. president OF
the Grand Forks Commercial club.
both of whom spoke in laudatory
terms Of the general work Of CONNER
cial clubs. They were confident that
the meeting in this city would prove
beneficial and they were hopeful Of
about general good.
Holbein Makes Response.
w. E. Holbein of Lansford. repre-.
senting the Commercial club Of that
city, and which club was the first to
Join the federation last year, respond
ed to the welcome. and he made big
hit with the convention.
1T goes without saying that We
thoroughly appreciate the opportunity
that has brought us together in such
4 perfectly appointed set of club
rooms devoted to the upbuilding of
the great city Of Grand Forks" said
Mr.. Holbein. 1T Is indeed an in
spiration to me to visit this city as
DO several times during the year. for
upon each occasion ! carry back to
the peerless Mouse River Loop and
my home city many new ideas as to
how to make our city more up-to-date,
and the country surrounding more
thickly settled. believe that we all
realize that in order to have dense-
" populated. and wealthy rural region
hat We must make our cities and
towns centers of the best that enters
nto a complete civilization. We must
make our towns and cities attractive:
We must bring home to the business
men that it takes more than one busi-
ness man in each town to make that
:own a good trading point; We must ;
realize that We are Dakotans, and that
We have our future destiny to work
,ut collectively. There is no more
rue and trite saying than the Inn
mortal one. In Union There 10
Strength" The North Dakota Fed
grafton of Commercial clubs Is a re-
suit of this saying. and will in future
years assist materially in bringing tho
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