University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1915-12-12
MUCH HISTORY TOLD
At ANNUAL BANQUET
State Society, Hears Vivid
Stories of Early Missouri
Happenings.
1o1sNOT OVERLOOKED
Present Problems, Including
Mexican Question, Also
Brought Up.
1o1sNOT OVERLOOKED

Missouri historians narrated tales
of yesteryear at the annual banquet OF
the State Historical Society Friday
night at Harris. The present was not
entirely neglected. however. for oc-
casionally speakers veered from
stories of pioneer and Civil War days
to discussions Of the state constitution
and the Mexican problem
After an invocation BY the Rev. W.
w. EIwang. President R. N. White in
troduced Boyd Dudley. the toastmaster
The first address of the evening was
by Walter B. Stevens of st. Louis,
on Lincoln and Missouri" Mr..
Stevens stated that from 1856 until
his death Lincoln was in close touch
with affairs in Missouri Lincoln. he
said. watched events in this state mar
rowly to keep his border states policy
suited to conditions.
How Jackson County Was Settled.
I've been too busy making a living
to study a great deal of history. but
I'll tell you what 1 know of Inde-
pendence," began William Southern,
Jr., of the Independence Examiner.
Then he described the first settle
ment in Jackson County in 1908.
"A committee later located Inde-
pendence, the county seat, three miles
from the northern boundary" ex-
planned Mr.. Southern. because 1t was
in the heart of the valley of the Mis-
souri, and the settlers considered the
prairie worthless. Now this prairie
land brings as high as $3.50 an acre"
The first railroad, he said. was
built in Jackson County. from indie
pendence to the river. It failed be-
cause the pioneers did not understand
brakes. When a mule-drawn car went
downhill toward the river. it knocked
the mules down. After praising the
courage and hardihood of the pioneers.
Mr.. Southern described their intense
interest in politics, and decried its
aeglect by youth today.
81 believe two-thirds of the young
men in Columbia today don't know
which party they belong to. Most Of
them, I think, don't even value the
suffrage seriously" He closed by ex-
pressing his belief that the state need
ed a new constitution.
Wants Present Boundaries Kept
Judge John T. Sturgis Of the Spring
field Court of Appeals made plea
for limitation of the United States to
its present boundaries, because. he
said, in a hundred years the great
growth of population may make it
difficult to hold the union together.
1T would be catastrophe to annex
Mexico, inhabited as it is by foreign
ers," exclaimed Judge Sturgis. The
constitution came up again when the
speaker announced it properly pro-
tected the liberties of the people and
needed no change.
Rollin ]. Britton of Kansas City
gave a humorous and semi-poetic ac-
count of the history of Gallatin. He
touched a sad note when he told how
Governor Hadley slighted "the" cab.
"the" pride of Gallatin, in which
notables had ridden for half CEN
tury.
Lieutenant Governor w. r. Painter
of Carrollton defended the present
state constitution.
Dean Walter Williams in closing
welcomed the visitors to Columbia Il
am sure both our visitors and Colum-
bia will profit educationalIy by their
stay here" he said.
Those present we're: President A.
Ross Hill; Rollin J. Britton, Kansas
City; John T. Sturgis. judge Spring
field Court Of Appeals; William
Southern, Jr.. of the Independence
Ex6mlutE, W8ltct D. osCvc2AoB Sss
Louis; r. M. White. Mexico; Boyd
Dudley, Gallatin; Thomas s. Barclay.
St Louis; d. B. Carpenter. Hallsville;
e. p. Puckett, dean OF Central Col
lege, Fayette; G. C. Dobson. Balboa
Heights. Canal Zone: and the follow
ing from Columbia: Dean Walter Will
1iams, Dean Isidor Loeb. the Rev. w.
w. Elwang. C. B. Rollins. r. B. Price.
F. F. Stephens, ". G. Brown. J. e.
Wrench, Mr.. and Mrs. H. H. Kinyon.
Mr.. and Mrs. Jonas viles. w. ]. Shep-
ard, A. T. Olmstead. Fred A. Price. H.
s. Jacks, r. w. Jones. J. o. Rankin.
Henry o. Severance. H. M. Belden. N.
T. Gentry, Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Shoe
maker.
Court Orders Road Vacated
0vl- Couuxv Conrf Aocidod the