The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-05-05
Mass Meeting at Chamber of
Commerce Decides to Merge
Various Organizations.
RLODGETT DELIVERS
INTERESTING TALK
Secretary Lewistown Cham
her of Commerce Talks on
Pulling Cities Together.

Action looking toward temporary
merger of all Missoula civic organi-
zations into a central authority EN-
powered to direct all the energies and
command all the resources of the CON-
munity for national Service was taken
last night at town meeting" in the
chamber Of commerce building. The
meeting, in which all colors Of opinion
Were represented, was the first of an
emergency series, to be continued until
"a community organization of some sort
for war service shall have been COM
pleted.
The meeting also decided:
To call upon congress, in the name
OF the Missoula Chamber of Commerce,
to take action against gambling in
toodstuffs;
To lend the support of the Mssoula
Chamber of Commerce to a patriotic
observance Of Decoration day, instead
of s.sanctioning distractions from the
high purpose of the OCCASION;
To authorize the appointment of a
central committee for the collection of
relief funds.
Little general discussion Of the war
emergency was possible at the meet
ing last night. Nothing more than
an outline of the situation was at
tempted before Louis d. Bodgett sec
retary of the Lewistown Chamber of
Commerce and the principal speaker
on the program, made his interesting
explain alton of ."rhe New Functions of
the Chamber of Commerce"
To Form Local Council.
It was announced, however, that Of
Hcers of all Missoula civic organiza-
tions are to be invited to participate
in a sort of local council of war with
the executive committee of the Mis-
soula Chamber of Commerce. Out of
this council, it was said, a central or
ganization will be evolved to handle
all war matters for this section. Prob
ably the machinery of the chamber of
commerce will be used. At any rate
authority will be so centralized it was
announced, that Missoula's response
to demands by the government will be
prompt and efficient.
This announcement and a brief re-
view of the situation We're made by
a. l.. Stone who, as president of the
chamber of commerce, was chairman
of the meeting. Mr.. Stone told some
thing of the duties which have been
thrust upon the chamber of commerce
in the national emergency and ap-
lol e.,
the city's service is needed.
Missouia QuarreIsonne.
''The trouble with this city is its
.uarrelsome disposition" said Mr..
Stone. 'Throughout the state we are
known as an aggregation of factions.
Let US get together, have our differ
enccs out and put our shoulders to the
Wheel
AS an example Of what CO operation
will do for community Mr. Stone Of
fered the LewistOwn Chamber Of Com
merce, whose secretary Louis d. Blod-
gett. was introduced as the speaker of
the evening.
Iewistown, said Mr.. Blodgett, has
been a regular town "ever since they
quit moving the postoffice." Time
was, the speaker explained, when the
town was divided into factions by rival
candidates for the postmastefship.
Every four years witnessed civil war
which inevitably eliminated in the re-
moval of the postoffice from the losers
to the winners side of the town.
Town Gets Together.
BY getting together Lewstown has
reached the point where the chamber
of commerce. representing united
city of 5000. is able to command an
annual budget of $4,000. With this
budget. said the speaker, the chamber
OF commerce really serves as the COM
munity's nerve center. 1t takes care
of all charity. handles all publicity,
conducts an employment bureau which
last year placed 5000 men. induces
immigration. and serves the farmers
of the Judith Basin in innumerable
practical ways.
This service to the farmers has made
the Lewistown Chamber of Commerce
land. for that matter. the city OF
Lewistown) prosperous and active
Service, said Mr.. Blodgett, has been
rendered in such ways as these:
The institution of Farmers Bull.
letin." carrying valuable home infor.
Continued on Page Six;