The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1916-12-22

oubLC / WI.
without food, clothing or fuel. 1t
was a cold night and the advance no
tees issued by the weather mar were
not encouraging. Possessed OF the
Christmas spirit they looked over
the list of the needy that had been
reported, and saw to it that the hand
full of families were we'll provided
with the necessities of life, and the
provisions furnished were sufficient
to last a long time.
To cut a long story short it was
out of this one little gathering that
there has grown up in Butte an COR
ganiZation' without officers and
without charter, which has made it
its business to see that no n in the
great copper camp is without food
n ~sustenance during the Christmas
season. In the past IL years it has
given aid and succor to thousands.
The name of this organization is
the "Joshers' Club" The name is
not appropriate, because it's work is
serious and sincere. Some of the
newspaper boys hung the name to
it and the name stuck. But the
"club," if it can be SO called, is no
GOSH"
Those who are active in the hand
ling Of this annual charity are un-
selfish. Names of donors are never
mentioned, except in outstanding in
stances. The men who give their
time and money generously are never
listed in the press, but their names
..,.4 -,,n,1, T., -%@~ ou,, -, %1,o
big book above, with that of Abou
Ben Adhem, of those who love their
fellow men.
The Unique Character.
There is one however, whose name
is featured every year as the moving
spirit of the Joshers' club. He is
known as plain BILLY" Gemmell.
Gemmell has done the hard work.
He has kept the "%Joshers' alive. He
purchases the immense quantity of
foodstuffs annually delivered to the
needy, and has, through his wonder
full personality, made possible all that
has been accomplished by the Or
g%aniZation.
One has TO know Gemmell to ap-
preciate him.
Billy Gemmell is a most unique
character. He made a success and a
moderate fortune out of the racing
game. There is nc "a in Montana
of consequence who does not call him
by his first name. He is a bon Wv
ant and a good fellow who has lived
his own life and never bothered with
the ideas of anyone else, and has seen
to it that many CT the unfortunate
have not suffered from a lack of the
milk of human kindness. He has
been the soul of the "Joshers' club.
and when he passes the organization
will pass also. His dynamic energy
crytalizes in this annual effort, and
it is doubtful if another man could
be found in Butte to take up his work
and carry it to a successful conclu-
sion.
A Brief History.
The history of the Joshers may be
briefly told.
The organization cares for hun
dreds of families every holiday sea-
son. Even with great prosperity,
such as Butte usually enjoys, there
is much abject poverty. Wives lose
husbands, sickness prevents en-
ployment, and a thousand things
help to swell the multitude of the
needy. The Joshers this year will. pre-
vide not only Christmas cheer for one
day, but provisions, clothing and 9th
er necessities of life sufficient to last
for a couple of weeks. Every family
in need is amply provided for.
This year the Joshers are in great
er need than ever. While the sup.
port financially will be as great as
before, it must be remembered thai
the prices of provisions and meat are
literally sky high. This means thai
more strenuous efforts must be made
to "deliver the goods" This is why
BILLY" Gemmell is the busiest char
ity worker in Montana this year.
This is the story of Billy Gemmell
bon vivant, and his "Joshers'" club. L
is a real charity, the kind that warns
the cookies of the heart. 1t has
grown into an institution, and the
warm hearted people of the grea'
mining town are proud of it, and o,
the man who made it..