The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1918-03-05
.I'-s- . 3 s,.s N =
.Bemidji, Mimi, ,
~. March a, 1918.


Gentlemen of the Council: tt is
great pleasure for me to address
you for the third time as chief mag
istrate of this city. =. 5.,..
Iwould not be luman if ] did not
feel proud of the splendid endorse
ment the people of the city have
given me in electing me to the high
est office in the city for the third
time, and / would be ungrateful if
/ did not thank them for the conf
dence thus reposed in me, and as
sure you and them that SO far as 1T
lies within my power the confidence
so reposed in me, will never be
abused. That I will, during this
term, as during my former terms,
as mayor of this city use my best ef-
forts. for the welfare of the city and
the prosperity and happiness of it's
Inhabitants. !.
Since, my last address to you, our
country has become engaged in the
greatest war of all time, and is CIV
ing willingly and ungrudgingly Of
it's wealth and resources, of it's best
and bravest, that the curse of kaiser
ism and all it stands for might be
banished from the earth forever.
That democracy, not autocracy, shall
survive, that, in the language of Alb
raham Lincoln, Government of the
people, for the people and by the
people shall not perish from the
earth"
Our people are enduring without
murmur what under other circum-
stances might be considered hard
ships and they are prepared and
willing to endure other and greater
hardships and privations to that end.
In all this, Bemidji has been and
will continue to be in the forefront.
No city in the country has sent more
of its boys to the front, or contrib
uted more to the different funds for
the successful prosecution Of the
! war, for their comfort in the camps
| and for their care when sick aQd
wounded, in proportion to popula-
tion than has Bemidji. During the
past year we were threatened with
labor troubles and unprincipled and
| unpatriotic agitators sought to make
their headquarters here, from whence
| to deciminate their economic and Sc.
| ditious poison, but thanks to the 10y
atty and patriotism Of the great ma
| jority of our citizens, the matter
was handled in such manner as to
bring the highest praise from state
and governmental authorities, ant
our remedy so applied has been ant
is being copied and followed by {
great many other municipalities
throughout the state and nation.
The public examiners report Of
the financial condition of our city
compliments us on the economical
manner in which the affairs Of the
city have been conducted during the
past few years, and it is up to you
gentlemen by practice of the most
rigid economy this year, and as lone
as the war lasts to merit further
praise from the department as well
as the commendation of our citi'
! zens. Our country demands and ex.
poets that we practice economy in.
| dividually. "Save the waste and
win the war" and the people demand
and have a right to demand that you
as their representative practice
municipal economy, otherwise we
would simply be Saving at the
spigot and wasting at the bung."
| Municipalities, like individuals,
must get along without luxuries, and
even what might be called necessi-
ties until the war is won.
For this reason I am not going to
make any recommendations for pub
| lie improvements this year.
Our permanent improvement fund
| can safely be allowed to accumulate
for a few years until the price OF
| material and labor becomes normal
at which time we can again take up
| the work of public improvements on