The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-10-19

If ever anything was entitled to be
termed great success 1t is the open
ing of the Western Montana Apple
Show, for the first evening of the first
exhibit Of its kind in Missoula
brought a great thrnng to III" tent on
pattee street and showed dtplay
that was just as interesting as its
members were Interested. Senator
Robert NJ La Toilette formally opened
the show. speaking briefly but earnest
~ to people who appreciated his open
eyed amaZement when he first saw
the fruits of a state that he had been
wont 10 regard as a mining camp and
"A cattle range The display was as
magnificent as the surprise of the
senator from Wisconsin Vas complete.
His introduction.
Senator Joseph NJ. Dixon introduced
Senator La Toilette. telling of the GUS
tom of holding county fairs as IL feat
ure of civilization and calling attention
to the fact that. for he first time the
counties of Ravalli. Sanders ana Mis-
soula had united tn hold "A great ap-
pie show. to replace the fairs that had
been held in former years. In four
or five years." said Mr.. Dixon. west
crn Montana will be one great red
apple orchard. The Bitter Root valley
alone. cut up into five and l0-acrc
orchards, would support ii population
Of 10000 people. | an. not here t.
make a speech" he went on. but II
present to you one Of the distinguished
men of the nation. great man, Nho
has graciously consented to chrsten
our apple show"
Senator la Toilette.
Il have been in Montana nearly a
week and | believe rve caught some
thing of the spirit of Montana" Mr.
la Toilette began. after he had ad
dressed his audience as fellow hnost-
ers." Born in one of the states of
the old northwest. just after it had
crossed the threshold of statehood
naturally | take IA good deal nf in
terest in the uphulding of common
wealth in this part nj our country.
This isn't my first trip to Montana.
but I'm free to confess that, when
on the extreme eastern edge IF your
state | received ii telegram suggest
ing that | open an apple show at
against one af those 'hap-cat' games. if
Joe Dixon We're not playing joke
on me. | was inclined To be skep-
teal about the possibility of my open
ing an apple show here. | am as
founded. When | first entered this
enclosure | wondered ii you hadn't
imported some nf this fruit from.
Wisconsin and Michigan. but some
good fellows. whose faces are proof
OF their honesty. have already as
sured me that it MAS all grown. here"
\ discussion of the natural adran-
tages nf western Montana followed
and, after predicting n glorious future .
for the state. Mr.. La Toilette swung
into a comparison of mineral wealth
as compared 10 agriculture. After
stating that 500 000. 200 was produced
in Wisconsin from dairy
products alone. he said. Mineral !
wealth WILL after time. leave but
holes in the ground: when you enter
upon diversified farming you will
grow richer and richer. Look. above
all things. in the future to the eulti-
walton Of diversified farming"
With plea for the nnhrinsing of .
honest men and women. Senator Ii
Toilette ended his brief address ana
the apple show MAS formally open +
In the Big Tent.
The monster canvas that houses the !
show Is sweet with the bouquet Of ap-
pies, pears. plums. grapes. cherries
the best exhibit af the best products .
of Western Montana. Supplemented j
by an elaborate exhibit of vegetables
ami grains is the display of fruit. the .
whole making as representative Il
af the agricultural and hortf- /