The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-05-15
CALLS CIVIC COUNCIL
TO ORGANIZE RELIEF
Chamber 0 f Commerce
Would Eliminate Promis-
cuous Soliciting.
WAR ADDS TO WOES
Special Funds of All Sorts
Now Sought Without Any
System.

There is much confusion in Mis-
soula in connection with the very
lautiable efforts to raise funds in this
community for the various plans for
relief in the war situation" said A. l..
Stone president of the NiSscula
Chamber of Commerce. last night.
Citizens are daily solicited" cor
tinued Mr.. Stone. for subscriptions TO
many funds which are designed fol
assistance of objects which are worthy
in themselves, but which have become
SO numerous that the continued So
Letting is becoming a serious con-
dition in this city.
The executive committee of the
chamber of commerce is sending out
invitations to the various civic or
CARNATIONS in the city. asking each to
send a delegate to a meeting which
will be held at an early date. 1t VIII
be the purpose of this meeting to see
if some system cannot be adopted by
which all of this relief and other pa
triotic work, involving the raising of
local funds. shall be consolidated 50
as to prevent duplication not only in
soliciting, but in giving.
The chamber of commerce has for
three years sought to prevent pro-
miscuous soliciting in the city. When
our great effort was made to enlarge
our membership and to increase our
revenue. the proposition was made
that the chamber of commerce would
assume, in its annual budget, all char
liable and patriotic donations which
might be sought in the city. While
the desired revenue was not obtained
in that campaign, the organization has
carried out its proposal as far as pos
sible.
Under present conditions. however
il is impossible for the chamber OF
commerce to care for all the expected
subscriptions. There are many objects
which are worthy. but our funds are
limited. We are doing the best We
can, but it is not possible to stretcl
our present revenue to meet all tn,
demands of the present emergency.
There are business men who de
cline to subscribe to these causes OF
the ground that the chamber of com
merce should take care of these mat
ters. This is correct in all instance
where the men are paying their pal
into the treasury of the chamber c
commerce. But there are some citi
zens who decline to subscribe an
who are not paying anything into tn
treasury Of our organization.
Must Be Systematized.
IF the relief work in Mssoula is T.
be effective and efficient, there mus
be some means devised by which du
plication of effort can he prevented
This will put a stop to the annoyanc
of constant solicitation in the bushes
district and it will make it possibl
to extend our work more effectively
But if this desirable end is to y
gained, there must be an increase
through an enlarged membership w
should have four times as many mem
bers as We have now-we must hay
them If the organization is to do wha
Is expected Of it and what it woul
like to do. There are men and WON
en- In Missoula who are reccivin
benefits from the work of the organ
ization but who perhaps through care
iessness, are not listed as MEMBERS
IF all who have interests in Mis-
souia will join us in our effort to cen
trallze the civic activities of the com
munity, We feel certain that there wi
result very considerable saving i
dollars and that there will be a ma
1eria increase in cfficiency