The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1921-06-16
Famous Soprano
Sings for R0tarianS

Mile. Sofe Hammer, member of the
Metropolitan Opera Co. of New York
City, who was guest Of Mr.. and
Mrs. Aksel Bratsberg early this week,
was a guest of honor at the Minot
Rotary luncheon at the Association of
Commerce rooms Monday. This was
Ladies' Day at the Rotary and the
wives of the Rotarians together with
a number of their Minot friends en-
joyed the feature program.
Mile. Hammer favored the assem-
blage with three numbers, the first a
French selection, and for encores
sang "Annie Laurie" and delightful
Norwegian child's song. Nile. Ham,
mer possesses an exceptionally beauti-
full clear coloratura soprano voice and
is regarded by musical critics as a
singer of the first magnitude. Minot
lovers Of music can consider them
selves very fortunate to be able to
hear an artist Of Nile. Hammers
ability. She entered right into the
spirit Of Rotary and completely cap
tivated her audience. Mile. Hammer
and Mr.. Bratsberg were college mates
in Norway. The singer left Monday
afternoon to fill an engagement in
Devils Lake and will sing in Winni-
peg the latter part of the month.
This will complete her seasons work
Her home is Tacoma, Wash. Mile.
Hammer was presented with huge
bouquet of roses, little Eleanore
Bratsberg, daughter Of Mr.. and Mrs.
9Bratsberg, making the presentation.
The singer placed one of the roses in
the lapel of Toxic Slocum's coat, the
Japanese youth who addressed the
Rotary that day, and another she
presented to Ed Shirley, composer of
the Rotary song.
The program included an enjoyable
violin solo by Otto Ellison; a vocal
solo by Herbert Cotton and short
talks by DR.. Hardaway, w. M. Smart,
H. M. Wilson and DR.. l.. H. Beeler.
Miss Doris Kemper gave a most en-
joyable and timely reading and for
the American-Japanese question. The
young man is devoting his life's work
TO the solution Of this problem. He
believes that the question will not be
settled by the present generation, but
thinks that education is the solution
for the settlement of this great
economic problem. He would permit
the better class of Japanese to become
American citizens and believes that
in time that may be assimilated. They
are not to be compared with the ne
,groes, which race has contributed
nothing to art. He pointed out that
the Japanese are law abiding, thrifty
people who would learn to love
America as we'll as their own country.
The Japanese problem is not neces-
sarily serious, he said. He believes
that it is merely the expression of the
American people in California for the
action of the Japanese in China. The
United States by holding the Philip
pines is considered by the Japanese
as white menace in Asia. Japan
will lay claim to the island Of Yap as
long as the u. S. remains in posses
sion of the Philippines. There are
only 125,OO0 Japanese in the United
States, or one per cent of our popula-
tion, while of that number $1,000 live
in California, state with a popula-
ton of 3h millions. The Japs have
reclaimed much waste land in that
state, converting it into the most
beautiful vineyards in the world.
Altho a Japanese by birth, Mr..
Slocum is an American citizen and
addressed the assemblage as "Fellow
Citizens