The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-01-06
STAMPEDE NEEnNC SOON
General Meeting Of Members
Of Chamber Of Commerce
toIBe Held January II.

A general meeting OF the members OF
the chamber of commerce will be held
Oh January IL. for the purpose Of dis.
cussing a Stampede for Missoula in
1917. The executive committee Of the
chamber, after hearing the report Of
the special Stampede committee. decid-
ed upon having general meeting 30
as to learn what the people Of Missoula
want done in regard to Stampede
celebration during this year.
Every side Of the finding of the
Stampede committee win be placed be-
fore the people of Missoula on January
| l2, and their decision in the matter will
be final The committee has gone into
the various phases of the question
thoroughly and as q part Of the report
states that it is not believed that it
would be feasible to combine the STAN
pede and the Western Montana fair.
and hold them at the same time, as has
been proposed.
The Report.
| The full report OF the committee. F.
A. Schlick. F. A. Silcox, w. G. Fergu-
son and w. L. Murphy. follows:
| Your committee. to which was re-
ferred the matter of a Stampede for
Missoula for 1917, begs leave to report
| that after having had under consider
alton the matter of combining the
Stampede with the county fair. which
has often been suggested. finds that
such plan. in our opinion. is not
feasible for the following reasons:
"First-That it would be impossible
to get competent men or outfits to
take part in the Stampede, were it
| to be held in the fall, because at
| that time all of the best contestants
are busy elsewhere.
"Second-That the question has been
raised regarding the practicability OF
continuing the county fair unless there
is some method Of financing county
fairs or certain concession granted to
them by the present legislature.
"Third-As the Stampede was pro-
duced for the explicit purpose Of pro-
there is much objection to postponing
| the Fourth of July celebration
until some time in October. or at least
| late in the fall, at the time of the
county fair.
"Fourth-Considering this fact, that
the Stampede was built up on the
Fourth of July, a self-advertising day,
| 1t is doubted whether such a celebra-
ton or exposition could serve the
purpose Of reviving the county fair.
"Fifth-Steps should be taken to
revive the county fair separately.
However,, as it has been brought
to the attention Of your committee that
at least 30 per cent of the business
men of Missoula seem to favor a
Stampede, or at least some sort Of a
| celebration on July 4, and 1t is be-
| lieved that the expressed wish of the
business men should have serious at
tention from every member of the
Missoula Chamber of Commerce;
Therefore. your committee be-
lieves that If a Stampede is not want
ed, something should be substituted
to take it's place.
your committee has heard many
objections to a stampede for Missoula
and several written protests have been
| received. 1t would appear that a
certain percentage of the membership
of the chamber Of commerce is OPP
posed to a Stampede in Missoula dur
ing 1917.
Therefore, your committee. after
having had under consideration the
expressions of the business men in ia
vor of a Stampede and the objections
to Stampede, filed by other mem
beers of the chamber of commerce, begs
leave to make it known that your
committee is not especially. committed
to a Stampede in Missoula for 1917,
but that as we are unable at this time
to find any satisfactory substitute to
take the place Of a Stampede, we
therefore recommend that the general
membership of the chamber OF COM
merce, or If possible a general mass
meeting Of all the citizens of Mtssoula
be called and that at this session
suggestions for some show or EXPOSE
ton, suitable as a feature for the
Fourth of July, be made to the cham
Der Of commerce. We believe that one
whole evening should be given over
to the free and general discussion OF
this matter and that at this meeting
If not the Stampede. some substitute
should be decided upon definitely.
I'VE further recommend that this
report be published and all citizens OF
Missoula be urged to send to the Sec
rotary of the chamber Of commerce
suggestions they have to make Tor
some attraction to replace the STAN
pede. provided the Stampede does not
meet with favor. We suggest the
general meeting be set for January IL.
IN conclusion, your committee
wishes to call your attention to the
!. fact that a Stampede does not cost
the chamber of commerce cent. while
parades, shows and similar attractions
run into large sums OF money quickly
hliohEe 70 SuccEEn ROOT?