Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1914-07-10
LITTLE GIRLS FETED
AT BIG FARM RALLY
WALKED TO FOURTH
CELEBRATION.
Read the Line on the Picnic
Program Bill of the West
Central Celebration, which
Said BE There if You Have
to Walk to Get There"

Under a Wheaton date line, the
Minneapolis Journal tells the story of
the big West Central celebration
held at Wilson's Grove on Lake Ira
verse last Saturday, as follows =
Nina and Dena Benno, aged and
II wears respectively, celebrated the
Fourth by trudging six miles along a
hot, dusty road, determined to take
part in the West Central Minnesota
picnic at Wilson's grove, Lake Ira
verse. When still nine miles from
their destination, they were taken in
by passing automobilists. Arriving
at the scene of festivities, the chill
dren were taken in charge by women
of the entertainment committee, who,
after giving them refreshments. de-
livered them over to President F. w.
Murphy, who introduced them from
the platform, explaining what they
had done and asserting they typiied
the real West Central Minnesota
spirit. Incidentally the girls became
3 part Of the movies that will
tell the people of the northwest about
this great celebration.
When the children's parents ques-
toned them sharply about how they
had dared to come without permission,
Dena promptly showed her mother the
closing line on the picnic program
bills which read: "Be there if you
have to walk to get there" This
ended the questioning and seedlings
were omitted.
OVER s, 5,OO0 ON GROUNDS.
Evidently most of the other resi-
dents of Traverse county read the
same advertising line. Over 5000
men, women and children rode and
drove and walked to Wilson's grove.
They came early. and at midnight 500
we're still there. The day was per-
feet. The program. including ball
game. dancing. music. fireworks and
speeches which entertained. instructed
and inpsired, was attractive for all.
1t had been well advertised and the
get-acquainted and do-something spirit
of West central Minnesota was never
more strikingly demonstrated.
FLAG INCIDENT SPECTACULAR.
Probably the most impressive fes-
ture of the day was the unfurling of
the flag of west central Minnesota.
The theory of the officers of the West
Central Minnesota Development asso-
citation is that local and national pat
riotism are necessary and should be
encouraged. Acting on this they
raised their official flag and gave it a
place of honor second only to the stars
and stripes.
After the reading and the unanim.
GUS adoption by thousands of earnest
folk of west central's declaration of
independence from bad farming.
President Murphy explained the signi-
fCance of the movement in these
fifteen counties. and upon signal, there
was spread beautiful banner in corn
and alfalfa colors, bearing fifteen
stars and the seal of the association
with the motto, 'better business,
better living, better farming The
great crowd stood with barred heads
while the new flag foated out on the
gentle breeze and the band played
"The Star Spangled Banner. !" Wher
the music ceased the patriotic enthusi'
asm broke forth in prolonged cheers.
UNIQUE. SAYS CRANE.
''There never was a celebration like
it. !" declared F. r. Crane, agricul
tural expert of the Great Northern.
"It marked just one more step in the
remarkable development of the sec
tion. Everyone was there. The pro.
gram was handled with the delIcat'
touch that has SO much to do will
making this development association I
meetings so unusual. The folks wen
home with new friends, new visions
and they will be better for il.