The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-01-19
MAYORS OF Twins
LINKED IN DEBATE
They Will Talk Over High
Dam In Mankato
EVENING OF SPEECH
George Leach and Arthur z. Mel.
son Are To Engage In
Verbal Combat

Arrange m.oHts have been perfect
ed to hold the debate or the high
darn power controversy between
Mayor George E. Leach of Mime.
apolis, and Mayor Arthur Z. Nelson
4ef st. Paul at the Mankato Armory
or Wednesday evening, January "a.
at eight o'clock. This debate which
is to be held under the auspices of
the Civic and Commerce association.
vii! be open TO the general public
and no charge will bP made for ad-
mission.
Two debate,, one at Minneapolis
and ono at ST. Paul, have already
beer held, and immense crowds were
present at each. The Mankato debate
will be the first out Of town city
discussion on this important sub
iect. When announcement was made
a short while ago that four of these
mayoralty debates were to be held,
one in Saint Paul, one in Mime
apolis and two in other cities in Min
nesota. the Civic and Commerce as
ISOLATION telegraphed Mayors Nelson
and Leach, inviting them to hold
one OF the debates in Mankato, and
these wires. Mankato' invitation was
the first one received. but many
Minnesota cities have since extend
ed similar invitations.
Are OF Local Interest
While these debates perhaps are
seemingly OF only twin city concern,
the points involved are Of state
wide interest. Congress is NOW Civ
ing consideration 10 the question OF
water power development and to the
control thereof. 1t has been suggest
nH no ~ CHI
he made available to the entire state
rather than exclusively to cities sit
uated near respective dam sites.
Mayor Leach takes the view that
The power developed by the high
dam should serve the state through
The University of Minnesota, and that
the balance OF the developed power
should be divided equally getween
saint Paul and Minneapolis. Mayor
Nelson is of the opinion that the in
terests OF the Twin Cities and of the
State at large would be best served
by industrial development which
would likely result by having the
power utilized by Large Ford Mo-
tor Company plant which tits IN
derstood is TO be established in
Saint Paul near Minneapolis at the
site OF the big dam.
Novelty of Debate
IL Is felt that the novelty OF a de-
bate on so vital an issue conducted
by the mayors OF Minnesota's two
leading cities viii arouse deep in
terest on the part of citizens in not
only Mankato but of Southern Min
uesots. me Civic and Commerce AS
sociation wants il understood that
everybody IS invited to attend and
hear this unusual debate.
Ii is pointed out further that both
of these men are leaders in public
matters in Minnesota, and as they
are both young in years, they will
be great factors in public aaffirs in
time to come, and that citizens in
tCreSted in state matters, political
and economic, will be anxious to at
end the debate so as to get better
understanding and knowledge Of
these two public spirited men. Incl
dentally- OFFICERS OF the Civic and
Commerce Association feel that Man =
kato will obtain some wholesome
publicity from the holding OF this
debate here and that 1t will help TO
show that the people OF Mankato are
ever on the alert to be of service to
Southern Minnesota, and that they
are always ready to assume leader
ship in matters of general interest
and concern.
Colonel W. S. Fulton, commander
of the fifth infantry, Minnesota ma
tional guard, and the local Armory
board, have agreed to furnish the
spacious Armory for this debate at a
nominal charge, just large enough to
cover actual overhead expenses.