The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1888-08-31
SOCIETY OF MONTANA PIONEERS.
The Recent Meeting and q Proposition.

The regular Annual Meeting Of the Society
House, Helena, Friday evening, August
18th. A number of new member were
added to the rolls. W. F. Sanders was
elected President and Cornelius Hedges
Corresponding and Recording Secretary for
the ensuing year, a salary Of $3.50 per annum
being fixed for the latter. S. T. Hauser was
elected Treasurer, A. NJ. Hotter and S. H.
Crounse were added to the executive COM
mittee. .r
The following Vice Presidents were elect
ed from the counties named:
Beaverhead-Joseph A. Brown.
Cascade-T. E. Rollins.
Fergus-Granville Stuart.
Gallatin-Vard Cockrell.
Jefferson-John S. Hall.
Lewis & Clarke-A. NJ. Hotter.
M~adison-John s. Locke.
Missoula-W. j. Mccormick.
Silver Bow-George W. Irwin.
Park-T. C. Burns.
A resolution was adopted extending the
thanks of the Association to Mrs. Thomas
Francis Meagher for the oil portrait of the
General presented by her to the Society. The
Society adjourned until 10 a. m. the Wednes-
day of x Fair week
The attendance was not large this year.
The Society at its last annual meeting had
fixed a date for this years meeting, and
President Woody, not recalling it, had fixed
another. Neither were generally advertised,
Mr.. J. U. Sanders, Secretary, being in the
East, and the matter apparently not having
/ horn hv0,,~1 80 49, No.
The Pioneer Society started off we'll, but
has languished somewhat. 1t should be re-
| vivified. It is one of the convocations we
believe it would be better to put on wheels.
We believe also it would be better to hold
the annual meetings on the anniversary day
of the admission of Montana as a Territory
May 18th. Reunions in the old pioneer set
Elements now accessible by rail would enable
many to attend who cannot we'll go to the
capital; they would come at a pleasant season
when there are few assemblies and business
is not generally urgent, and they would be
the gala days Of the year in the locations
where they would be held. Ruby, Jefferson,
Gallatin, Silver Bow, Deer Lodge, Missoula,
Bitter Root and other valleys where, or in
easy access of which, numbers of the pio-
neers reside, would be successfully desirable
places to meet. After a time, perhaps, it
would be we'll to establish the meetings per-
manently at Helena, but for a few years it
seems to us it would be beneficial to meet on
Territorial Day, giving it a significance, in
terest and identity of its own, and changing
the shifting scene to other old camping
grounds than Last Chance. There are too
many other attractions at Helena Fair week.
This year the occasion was almost forgotten
and the attendance was painfully meagre. 1t
isn't any of our business. save for the kindly
regard we have for the pioneers, but we urge
that even now the executive committee re-
consider the question of time and place of
meeting and call the next meeting for May
18th, 1889. at such place as may be deemed
best after notice shall have been given that
the change will be made. Under such cir.
cumstances we are satisfied that Deer Lodge
will be among the towns that will extend a
cordial invitation, and if favored with ac-
ceptance make Pioneers Day one that will
be happily remembered by all. Railroad
companies will undoubtedly give the Gus
tomary half rates; County Pioneer Associa-
tons will be organized beforehand wherever
Vno "ooIAnR u w W uotO Auu ploVl0e u va
riety of pleasant entertainment, and these
patriarchs, visiting year after year their old
camping grounds and receiving honors from
those who have since builded their homes
where they lit the early camp fires, will feel
there is something more than a name in
their Association, and look to Pioneers Day
as the gladdest of all the year.
Mr.. President aud gentlemen Of the exec
utive committee, are our suggestions in
order? Pioneers of Montana, do you think
them good? Gentlemen Of the Press, if they
meet their and your approval, will you make
it manifest?