The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1917-02-16
MEET And DISCUSS
U.S.. RELATIONS TO
GERMANY; VIEWS
ARE FREELY AIRED
Rev. B. D. Hanscom, Methodist Pas
tor, Presides; Strong for q. S.;
is Congratulated.
KAPLAN SOUNDS KEYNOTE;
SAYS "BURY THE EGO"
Commissioner Hayes Explains Vote
On Resolution; Broadmindedness
Dominates Discussions.


One of the most interesting meet
ings held in Bemidji was that Of last
night at Kaplan hall when a large
number of citizens of Bemidji met
to discuss the situation which con-
fronts the United States in relation
to Germany in the present crisis.
= Those who took the floor did so in
Nthe spirit of giving expression to
their views freely and frankly. Speak
ers of one opinion were opposed by
others of Numerically opposite
views. yet there was not the slightest
feeling evidenced nor bias injected
and no matter what opinions one held
there was no one but who could hon
estly feel that he had CLEANED much
of value and add to his store of learn
ing.
Hanscom Congratulated.
Rev. B. D. Hanscom, pastor of the
Methodist church, presided. It so
happened that the pastor possesses
views on the attitude of the United
States in her present situation. AS
the meeting progressed and views
were given, Rev. Mr.. Hanscom was
prompted to express himself which
he did, setting forth admirably his
reasons as he sees and believes. And
at the conclusion of the meeting,
many of those who had expressed
themselves entirely different con-
graduated him for what he said and
the manner in which he said it. In
short, that spirit dominated the
meeting.
Kaplan Sounds Keynote.
Socialists, members of the Indus
trial Workers of the World and those
Fwho hold no brief for either organi-
zation participated, and If there were
any lines to denote who was who they
were not discernable. It was just
naturally a gathering of citizens to
discuss a great problem and the man
ner in which it was done prompted
Morrin Kaplan, prominent as stu
dent Of economic problems, to remark
that If more such discussions were
held there would be q greater cohesion
of interests and a better understand
ing of conditions on the part of all
concerned. One of the keynotes
sounded by Mr.. Kaplan was to bury
the ego and forget the IT," and the
more one cogitates on that the larger
it seems to grow.
Hayes Explains Vote.
Fred Hayes, one of the county
commissioners and a lprominent So
>cialist, was also one of the speakers.
He gave his hearers his reasons for
voting against the resolution passed
by the county board upholding Presi-
dent Wilson in his stand. He stated
that he was wholly for peace, had
nothing against Germany and didn't
, believe any one else had.
Archie Sinclair, secretary of the
YBemidji branch of Local 400, I. w.
W., also spoke, as did Walter N.
Weber, and the latter held the crowd
with interest.
The first few remarks of Mr.. Kap-
!, Ian made such a hit with DR.. G. J.
Larson, that the doctor again re-
ouested Mr. Kaplan to address the
meeting and Mr.. Kaplan unloosened
a hit and made what might aptly be
termed a regular "stem winder" OF an
address. In the course of what he
had to say he expressed himself as
not favoring the armory proposition
and then got close to his hearers by
telling them the inside of the cause
in the rise of food prices, and Mr..
-Kaplan spoke from the point Of one
-'in the know" for he is an extensive
and dealer.
All Well Pleased.
There were several others who
spoke briefly or gave brief utterance,
and at the close of the meeting ev-
,erybody seemed pleased to have had
the opportunity Of expressing them
selves and hearing what "the other
fellow" thought about it.