The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1911-03-31
MEETING UNDER AUSPICES OF
NEloHBoRAooo CLUB is
ENTHUSIASTIC.
SYSTEM IS ExPOUNDED
Frank n. Woody, Jr., Walter M. Bick.
ford and Theodore lentx Go into De-
tails OF New Sort Of Municipal Gov.
ernment and Are Warmly Applauded
Session at Masonic Temple.

The commission form of govern
meht-do we want 1t In Mlssouia?"
Yes, we want It and were going to
have IT,"
Such was the question aud the en-
phatic answer unanimously expressed
at the meeting of tho Nelghborhood
club at the Masonic stemple--one of
the best public meetings of the kind
ever held In Missoula. The study of
the commission plan was taken up by
the Neighborhood club early in the
game. Before the bill which makes
the plan possible for the cities Of Mon.
tana was drafted and enacted into n
law by the last state Legislature, this
club called a meeting for Its discussion
and then went on record In favor Of
the plan. Its members exertcd a great
deal OF influence In the passage of
the measure and last night the or
ganization again was behind the meet
Ing that called forth n unanimous ex-
preston from q representative gather
ing, favorng the adoption of the plan
IN the immediate future by the Garden
city. The meeting was called for a
Tree and open discussion of the duos-
tion and az there promised to be pre-
sented arguments both for and against
the measure, there were present more
than zoo citizens from all walks OF life,
eager 10 hear and 10 be enlightened on
some points that they had not been
able to fully determine for themselves
Gratifying Result.
to all and especially TO those who are
earnest In their belief that the plan Is
the thing for Missoula under the pre-
yailing conditions. The spirit OF the
meeting was wholly free from personal
or political motives or references. The
subject In every instance. was treated
from sound business basis. The
attack made against Missoula's present
government was not carried TO the
mayor or the aldermen. They were
held in the highest regard and no
finger OF suspicion or criticism was
pointed In their direction. II was
agreed that the present administration
did not come into "A heritage that was
rich In anything but knotty problems
and financial difficulties. and, in the
comparison made by one of the speak
ers concerning the dispatch by which
business of all kinds connected with
city administration would be handled
under the two forms OF government, Il
was admitted that ANDY Logan has
been on the job all the time" al
though only reeompensed for his sery-
Ices at the rate of So per month.
1t was the system and not the men
that was considered last night. The
discussion Waxed warm at times and
went into almost every detail that sur
rounds the plan and its workings.
The climax OF the argument came
when Ernst .Firchau, well known
socialist leader-thc party from whose
ranks came a man to make the only
open attack on the plan since 1t has
been proposed for MIssoula-was
forced to change his views on the sub
ject and openly announced himself as
unrcseryedly In favor of the plan. The
trend of the whole meeting was "A great
boost In favor of the commission gov
crnment being tried In Missoula.
Van Dyke Not Present.
AS was announced In The Missoullan
several days ago, the Neighborhood
club invited w. S. Van Dyke. the So
clalist who caused several communi-
cations unfayorable to the plan and in
ytng open debate on the subject TO
bo printed, TO be present and present
CONTINUED on Page Five