The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-12-06
CITIZENS OF
CITY SUPPORT
LIGNITE FIGHT
Adopt Resolution Protesting
Against Proposed Increase
in Freight Rates
SITUATION is TOLD
Governor NestOs, Former
Governor Hanna and Ma.
j0r Washburn Speak at
>s Meeting

Meeting
Resolutions calling upon the rail-
roads serving North Dakota to with
draw the proposed increased tariffs
on ignite coal, thanking President
Coolidge for his action in ordering
the Interstate Commerce Commission
to Immediately inquire into the sit
uation, and for assurances that he
will see that the Northwest is given
square deal, were adopted at the
conclusion of remarkable mass
meeting of Bismarck citizens at the
city Auditorium last night. More
than 1000 citizens assembled in the
Auditorium for the annual meeting
Of the Bismarck Association of Com
mcyEc, and to hear addresses by
Governor Nestos, former Governor
l.. B. Hanna of Fargo and Major
Stanley Washburn of Lakewood, New
Jersey.
The meeting was called as a dem
unstratiOn of renewed determination
Of local citizens to advance the civic
welfare of their community after one
year of activity Of the Association
of Commerce. A part of the meeting
had been rendered the North Dakota
Lignite Coal Operators Association
and Major Washburn, president of
the organization. explained the lig-
mite coal situation to the audience.
w. Fl. Webb. president of the A. Of
c. opened the meeting and intro
duced Judge A. M. Christianson, who
presided. After dwelling upon the
civic virtues Of the city and the re-
,jnonsibility Of its citizens Judge
Christianson in turn introduced
Governor Ncstos. Mr.. Hanna and
Major Washburn. Musical numbers
were furnished by the high school
orchestra and Juvenile band saxa-
phone quartet.
Presidnnt Calvin Coolidge is in
ueepest sympathy with the North
west, Major Stanley Washburn, war
correspondent, publicist, and lecturer
Of Lakewood. N. j., and president
of the North Dakota Lignite Coal
Operators Association, told members
of the Bismarck Association of Com
mercc in annual meeting last night.
"When the President tells you in
his message that the salvation of the
Northwest is in diversification, he
does not mean that this is merely
an invitation to plant corn instead
of wheat or tomatoes instead of flax,
but he does mean that the future of
this state and other states is bound
cd only by their capacity to develop
all their resources, agricultural, min
cral and Industrial, and to realize
ON these within their natural re-
sources" Mr.. Washburn said. "As
you may know, l have just come from
Washington, and I cannot of course
quote the President, yet, l can as
sure you quite categorically and
without fear of correction, that the
President intends within his capa-
city as chief executive of the United
States to see that the people of the
Northwest get square deal.'
~.u Character Proven
"A crisis exists in the Northwest,
Major Washburn declared, but added
that "the future Of the Northwest
farmer is potentially solved because
he has already demonstrated his
character and his determination to
stick. The faith of the Northwest in
its soil, in itself, and the character
of the people, has already been pro-
ven, and with these assets the clouds
which have hovered over the North
west will inevitably clear within an
appreeiably short time."
A war is won when people un-
derstands its cause is just and de-
termines to conquer, Major Wash
burn said.
"Thus, I repeat, have you in North
Dakota already insured your future
and your prosperity because the
farmers have made it evident to the
nation that their morale in disaster
is unbreakable and that their faith
in the future is unassailable."
Seek To Hit Industry
Presenting the cause of the Ignite
coal industry, which he said was fac
ed by crisis in the railroads re-
quest for an increase of 46 tc IS
percent in freight rates, Major Wash
burn declared that Ignite coal con-
stitutes a permanent safeguard to
the people of the Northwest against
undue high prices for eastern coal.
if given an opportunity to live and
develop. He charged that the pro-
posed rate increase was intended to
give the lake dock interests an op-
portunity to increase the price of
bituminous coal. Of which he said q
surplus existed.
& Give Them Chance
Major Washburn, however, asked
that railroads serving North Dakota
be not condemned in the Ignite rate
fight.
Though We are now annoyed, ir-
ritated and exasperated, still our ac-
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