Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1919-01-08
GIVES MESSAGE
TO LEGISLATORS
Governor Burnquist Covers Varied
Subjects and Makes Many
Recommendations.
MUCH WORK IS AHEAD
Must Strive to Secure Equal Oppor.
tunities for Every Citizen, So Or
der, Individual Freedom and
Justice Will Prevail.

der, Individual Freedom and
Justice Will Prevail.
St. Paul-The text of Governor
Burnquist's message to the legislature
follows:
Gentlemen of the Senate and House of
Representatives.:
Since the last Legislative Session
our Commonwealth has shared in the
worlds baptism of blood. We have
seen the eyes of our people, although
fred with a righteous determination
to win, dimmed with tears of sorrow
and pride as their boys have marched
away to do and to die. During the
past two years many of Minnesota s
sons and daughters have lost their
lives in their country's service. Others
injured upon fields of battle will re-
main crippled and manned for life.
Nobly and heroically they have played
their. part in the great war tragedy
which has required the sacrifice of mil
lions of lives and unspeakable agony
that the ambitious, arrogant and mer-
CHESS military leaders, bent upon
world dominion, might be overcome.
In a soil so stained with blod and
tears there must now be planted the
seed of better world, or the sacrifices
of those who have so suffered and
died will, in a large measure, have
been of no avail. The issues for which
they fought have, through a glorious
victory, been transferred from the
scenes of war to a council of peace,
where adequate means should be de-
yised for the just punishment of those
responsible for this, the most monu-
mental crime of history, and where
such international measures should be
adopted as will forever hereafter pre-
vent the shameless and barbaric viola
ton of human rights by few mill
tarists, who ought never to be clothed
with the power to declare war.
Our nation entered the conflict with
the high purpose of assisting in put
ting an end to the horrible European
slaughter and if possible to all future
wars of similar nature. Now that
the war is won we should not lose
sight of this purpose, but should adj
vOcate and actively favor the adop-
ton of some practical plan intended
to make international struggles be-
tween civilized and orderly govern
ments hereafter impossible. We of
this generation owe it to the count
less dead, to the peoples now living,
to our children and children's chill
dren not to let the present situation
go by without attempting in good faith
to establish among those nations that
will tolerate neither Kaiserism nor Boil
shevism such a form of international
court and police power as will have
for it's purpose the ringing out of an
age of war and the ringing In of an
age of peace.
In the name, therefore, of present
and future civilizations, this Legisla'
ture and every Legislature throughout
the land ought,vat the earliest possible
moment, to go on record, in a me.
mortal to Congress, demanding in un-
mistakable terms that all men in posi-
tons of responsibility should encour:
age the American representatives at
the worlds peace table to do every
thing within their power to secure the
establishment Of an international tri.
bunal Of justice and the elimination to
the greatest extent possible of the
causes for and the danger of future
wars.
Activities During the War.
Before making certain legislative
recommendations, I wish to give you
ties of the Minnesota Commissioned
Public Safety, which was created by
the last Legislature. The members OF
this Commission have been in session
one hundred days since it was organ
lied. 1t has adopted forty-nine orders
pertaining to many different subjects,
and appointed directors in all the coun'
ties of the state. Each county has
been organized under such directors
with representatives in each township
Nearly 1000 such appointees repre-
sented the Commission in the different
sections and localities of the state.
Women's Department..
There was also organized, under
said Commission, a Women's Depart.
ment with approximately 1900 mem
bers. This last named organization
has done a vast amount Of important
work in arousing the interest of wo-
men in their war duties. Under the
efficient leadership of it's director
many lines of activity have been fol.
lowed through the cooperation of
numerous women's organizations
throughout the state. The Commits.
sion has also assisted in procuring a
survey of the number of women In
our different industries and the kinds
of employment in which they are now
engaged.
Publicity.
Soon after its organization the Com
mission saw the need of the mobiliza
ton of public opinion. 1t made ar
rangements for a weekly publication
to give its directors throughout the
state and citizens generally informa
ton with respect to needed activities
in connection with the war. Much
patriotic and informative literature
published in many different languages
has been circulated throughout the
state. A speakers bureau was early
established to assist in the assignment
of speakers to various localities.
Home Guard.
Under the order adopted April %
1917, with comparatively little expense
to the state, there has been maintained
home guard of 334 officers and 1877:
enlisted men. The compensation
after five days service, was made
$1.00 day for the men and $500 q
day for the officers. Loyal citizens
from every section Of the state have
Joined this organization. They have
shown their willingness to serve in sc
many ways and have done 50 much