The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-08-18

sof your convictions: i was ~convinc-
led years ago that Billings had q great
many natural resources and suflcient
to build up 9 large city, and I have
stool BY these convictions early and
] late, In and out Of season, and they
have steadilyagrown up on me-.
~ amSglad to have this honor to-
day because It came to me unsolicited
and leads me to believe that the boys
look upon me as their friend.
Conservative Montana. Unions.
ri am satisfied after careful ~investi-
cation that unions in Montana are
composed on an average Of men Of
more intelligence and good Judgment
than any state in the union. Those
who have made a careful estimate Of
the natural resources of this great
state have found that only i've per
cent have been put in q. producing
shape. Just stop to think for a mo-
ment what it means to make Mon
tana produce 20 times what Is produc-
ing today.
To-day you represent the largest
number of men organized and united
for the purpose Of upbuilding and bet.
tering conditions. Since representing
as you do the largest part OF the cit.
izenship Of this great state to my
-; 4 q ~ - inn,,nohnr+ ,,ccn 80, ~ in}.
tiate some new ideas for the better
ment of the union and the advance
ment Of the state / have felt for
several years that If a closer bond Of
|sympathy could be brought about be
tween legitimate capital and union Ia
Dor, 1t would result in great good to
both, and to the general good. / would
like to be. an honorary member, in fact,
and be permitted to council with you
for the betterment OF your cause. Good
things come as a rule from long think
ing, council and cooperation.
you have come into q city and val
ley in which very few men had any
money when they came here and this
city has been built up on account Of
its special location, immense natural
resources, and the faith Of its people
in putting their money into improve
ments al fast as they made II.
Billings Buttons for Delegates.
Great fields OF. waving grain are
nodding their heads In welcome to
you; the limbs on the fruit trees are
bowing low laden with fruit to vel
come you; the native cottonwoods in
our city are shedding their cotton to
lgive warmth to the welcome, and !
present to you q souvenir of small IN
trinsic value, representing a live grow.
ing beet. which BY expert analysis has
been found to contain more sugar and
a greater per cent Of purity than any
other beet grown upon American soil,
50 please keep It as a memento Of
the pure, whole-hearted, welcome from
citizens Of the Sugar City"
Mr.. George closed his address by
presenting to the delegates a Billings
booster button. It was OF unique de
sign and became quite popular with
the delegates. The button was made
of gun metal, cast to represent a sugar
beet on the face Of which was embos-
ed "a Live One From Billings"
Delegates Respond to Welcome.
Acting President Donoghue respond
ed to the address of welcome by Mr..
George and expressed the apprecia-
Ition of the federation for the friendly
greeting extended by the former may
or and the excellent program Of en-
tertainment outlined by the local com
mittee. q. 5
Thomas. Gibson, president Of the
UNITED Mine Workers, District 20. and
William Rodgers, member Of the ma
tional executive board, United Mine
Workers, from Iowa, also responded
to the address Of welcome and made
short talks. Rev. =. J. Dunkin, OF
Butte. g. Armstrong of the Butte Car.
penters' union and j.. M. Cahill Of the
Butte Clerks union, also made adj
dresses. 85a
Acting President Donoghue announc'
ed that owing to the sickness Of Pres
ident Fairgrieves it devolved upon him
to name the regular committees Of the
convention, but that he would not dc
SO until Tuesday morning, as he desir'
mittee as to the personnel OF each com:
mittee as to the personal OF each com.
mittee before deciding. AS q result ad'
journment was taken until this morn
ing at 9 o'clock. i
Reports Of OFFICERS To-day.
The convention expects to get down
to routine business this 'morning. The
first order Of business will be the ap'
pointment of committees and the re
ceiying of reports Of the declarations
Officers. The report Of President Fair
,grieves, which will be read by the sec
retary, the report Of the vice president
the secretary, the treasurer and the
executive committee are all lengthy
documents and 1t raj announced be
i fore adjournment Yesterday afternoon