The Daily Missoulian., 1917-07-21
Missoula County Calmly
Sees Chance Determine
Mems Destinies.
SPIRIT OF AMERICA
RULES HUGE CROWD
Love of Play Outweighs
Anxieties of Youngsters
Awaiting Call.

'"i's lhonSithd young men, the
physical flower of Missoula county.
coolly watched chance determine their
fates In the nations stupendous war
lottery yesterday.
blindfodcd stirring OF tiny cap
s'lles IN n crystal globe 1000 miles
away, an unsoeing decision. the click
OF Il telegraph recorder and the des-
tiny of some Missoula man was de-
termincd.
Issue Accepted Calmly.
II was Il gigantic gamble, with lives
ana careers for stakes, yet its issue
was taken smilingly. No man whose
name was drawn complained In the
great crowd which waited about The
Missoulian office all day. love of coun-
Try and appetite for the adventure Of
fcrcd In exchange for the croupicrs
demands ontweighcd whatever regrets
the fateful shuttle may have caused.
All Ready to Go.
I'm ready to go if my country wants
me- said the men whose numbers
were selected early in the day. There
were many, of course who said that
inevitably supplemented the claim with
this reservation:
Unless Uncle sam says 'No."
The American spirit, able to match
with Destiny for beers" ruled In the
army of Missoula young men and
seemed happily served by "a selection
process which was probably the great
est gamble the world has ever seen.
Keen love of chaney play marked the
crowd. though nine of every 10 mcm-
bors of it We're participants, not on
| lockers.
Greatest Event City Ever Knew.
No single event in the history of
| Missoula has aroused such interest as
was shown In the drawing yesterday
! And small wonder. Missoula, more
than most cities. has predominating
numbers of young men. And the draw
Ing of numbers In far-away Washing
ton was felt In every other home In
, the county.
Crowd Gathers Early.
! Early in the morning boys and young
men. all wearing the same mask of
| brave nonchalance over their natural
| excitement, began to visit The Mis-
soulian building to inquire about the
| drawing, At o'clock. when the first
flash came over the wires. a huge mob
| had gathered outside the building
Joking, laughing. wondering, the crowd
, hung there until noon. when an extra
addition carried out the names of the
first $50 Missoula county men sum
| h,st hat Il II
the flag.
Roman Man Leads List.
| The name of Arthur Aurare Bou
chard of Roman led the list Under II
came the name of Albert Andy Trout
wine. Missoula.
Three of the four first names wer,
of Roman men, and the rcserva tior
district gave most Of the % men lead
Ing the list. But presently Missoulaa !
turn came. and significant number
steadily came to the ears of the wait
Ing mob. to be received with quie,
manful little demonstrations:
Put 'er there, old man."
Good work. son!"
I'm drawn, fellows, we're Off"
No Joking; Only Determination.
| There was little joking as question
ing tension became relieved by an
swers. Drawn men took the news so
berly. with quiet smiles or grim tight
ening of jaws. There were no com
plants, thoush-not in public, at an
rate.
Somebody's got to go; If Tin calle,
i I'm willing'-that was the attitude
= the youngsters who must presently dc
: their country's khaki and march ava
to do their "bit" to preserve the de.
tiny of their people and make real Il
ideals of their fathers.
The keen interest was reflecte
)" everywhere. On downtown corners,
cigar stores, restaurants---in ever
IF place where men could sather-th
= drawing was the one topic of CONVEX
3, sation. The terse, fateful lists wer
IS conned again and again for names Z
: friends and relatives.
% The pathos Of call to arms wa
J~af vyhD1lx- S,,ppc,SScd hnVvovor II