The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1917-06-07

me1C1A1 organization secretary IN the
! stats1 5asks a contributor to the Town
Dsyelopment Magazine.
Well It can be done; in fact, it has
been dane.
4 III city which developed this potent
influence over the active men Of an
enttre state was Gastonia, N. G. And
: the. little performance of Gastonia was
one Of the most vivid demonstrations
Of the practicability of community CO.
operation in town, in county and in
state which the south has seen in sew
eral blue moons.
The progress of Gastonia is the result
Of active cooperation on the part of
her citizenship. The citizenship admits
it and the outsidercan see it for himself.
The spirit which has won for Gastonia,
the city, is winning for CASTOR, the
county. Many of the growing smaller
towns about Gastonia have caught the
thought and are profiting. The spread
ing Of the spirit Of cooperation made
possible the formation Of the Greater
CASTOR County association, an associa-
ton which binds together a number
of separated communities through their
commercial organizations, all units OF
the greater county association.
Gastonia was scheduled to entertain
the annual meeting Of the government
farm demonstrators Of the state. This
approaching convention provoked a
bigger thought in the Gastonian mind.
and it was determined to bring togeth-
er in a series Of meetings the men
chiefly responsible for the progress of
the state. That determination involv-
ed the bankers. the business men and
the commercial organization >secreta-
ries. As result Of the invitations and
the urging some 500 men Of these va
rious classes gathered in Gastonia last
month and discussed together the prob
lens and plans of North Carolina.
At the meetings held during the four
days the feasibility of state chamber
of commerce for North Carolina was
discussed. plans were outlined for
publicity campaign for the state. and
some very definite movements were be-
gun for the aid Of the smaller towns
and rural communities Of the state.
The commercial organization secre-
taries were entertained at dinner fol-
lowing decidedly helpful round ta-
BILE conference The bankers from
over the state were entertained at
luncheon by the Gastonia bankers, and
some very timely banking questions
were discussed from the viewpoint Of
an entire state. One day at noon
banquet for all the visitors was spread
in the armory. This banquet was in
charge of the good women of Casio
mia, some 100 of them, and they had
so perfected their arrangements for
the affair that from the viewpoint of
a banquet alone it was pronounced
success.
Throughout the convention days the
farm demonstrators had on display a
really notable exhibition of live stock.
poultry and agricultural products from
farms all over the state. This exhibit
attracted the widest attention and was
the means of giving very definite in
sight into what rural North Carolina
Z is producing.
4, Summing it all up, this unique and
original state meeting held at Gastonia
, was, as was mentioned earlier. a prac-
teal demonstration of cooperation
through city, county and state. It was
tho unoono ~ uoffinO ovnrv section 0f
the state acquainted with every other
section as it had never before been &C
quainted. Those who were there be-
lieve it will prove a very certain step
toward making North Carolina as a
state bigger. better and more prosper,
GUS and giving to North Carolina folk
more of those good things which the
heart of every normal man and WON
an desires.