The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-08-13
KNOCKING THE N

The Eighth Annual BOzeman Roundup and the big
Bagdad Shrine Ceremonial, held here last week, not only
proved successful but bid fair to bring to Bozeman and
the Gallatin valley substantial benefits in the months to
come.
The Roundup and the Ceremonial were put on in a most
~creditable manner. The Sweet Pea city's visitors were
received and welcomed with good, oldfashioned hospitality,
their stay made pleasant and enjoyable, and they carried
away with them favorable impressions. There was no
confusion or disorder, and only a few minor accidents.
Taken all in all, the celebration was an outstanding one and
eminently satisfactory to those who participated in it.
In view of these patent facts, the comment of the
Belgrade Journal, made in it's issue of August 5 under the
headline Roundup a Fake" struck a quite uncaled-fOr
Earring note. After stating that the 'big Shrine convention
was opened with a monster parade this Thursday morn
ing" which was not correct, the Journal proceeded to
KNOCK" the Roundup in this gratuitOus fashion:
GAS far as the Roundup parade was concerned, it proved
a disappointment to the thousands who were there to see
something Of what the association had to offer in the way
of entertainment for lovers of western sports. The Round
up featured a workhOrse parade, and the only ones to show
class in horses were the Indians = = = None of the famous
riders promised for the event were present. : = = In the
words of one prominent farmer, It's not a roundup; it's
a hOldup.'"
Even if this were true, which it emphatically is not, it
would i'll become the Journal, which derives a good part
of its advertising revenue from the merchants Of this city,
to attack so viciOusly the Roundup, which has come to be,
looked upon as an annual BOzeman and Galatin valley
institution. People here read the Journals article with
E~O@ - $1,000 ~- 9~0 49,
have since been condemningi it with energy. Even Belgrade
folk have expressed disapproval of this uncaledfOr and
totally erroneous criticism.
Neither the Journal nor Belgrade will gain anything by
such tactics, for the prosperity Of Galatin county cities,
towns, and communities is a mutual affair, and an attack
upon the motives and good faith of one is an injury to all.
We feel certain that in its camer moments the Journal has
regretted this hasty and indiscreet action.
The only real ground for criticism of the threeday cee-
bratiOn might be found in the fact that it was somewhat
"overpress-agented" by its friends. People had been led
to believe that there would be in Bozeman 'three times as
many visitors as there is population" or more than 10000,
and that belief was rudely shattered. The attendance
during the celebration was very good, indeed, but everyone
knows it did not even approach that figure. Nevertheless,
there were sufficient people here to make the affair a
mighty good one, to stimulate business to a marked degree,
and to spread far and wide the fame of the hospitality,
resources, and opportunities Of the Gallatin valley.
Many BOzeman peOple-busness and professional men
and folk from all walks of Hfe-worked very hard to make
the Roundup and the Ceremonial a worthwhile celebration,
and their efforts bore fruit of a most c0mmendable char
acter. Their sacrifices of time and Of money, and the
splendid public spirit they displayed make them deserving
Of the thanks of not only their own community, but Of every
town and hamlet ia the valley. If benefits come from their
industry, they won't come to Bozeman alone, and unjustfied
knocking Of the Roundup OF any other feature Of the
celebration is deplorable Ia that it tends to nul1fg the results
gained by hard, mselfsh work