Evening star., 1926-08-01
MONTANA SOCIETY
FORGING TOFRONT
Despite YouthfuIness of Or
ganization, 1t Makes Rapid
Strides to Success.
BY MARGARET b. DOWNING.

BY MARGARET B. DOWNING.
The lustiest infant in the family of
local societies is that of Montana.
which counts only a few months OF
organized existence, but which has al
ready made a record for achievement
and for ambitious projects. Montana
people had been meeting for some
years in a casual way and getting to-
gether whenever any special occasion
demanded, but on February 10, 1875,
at the invitation of I. Emmltt NC
Kenze, the most prominent citlzens
of the Treasure State" met In MS
home. 1435 n street northwest, and
founded their organization. the only
one established in this present year.
Associated with Mr. Mckenzie was
Representative Scott Leavitt, and ow-
ing to the energy and tact OF these
two the society began under the most
prosperous auspices, and already
BANQUET, two balls and literary en-
tertainment have been recorded IN its
annals The other members or the
congressional delegation, Senators
Thomas ]. Walsh and Burton X.
Wheeler and Representative John NJ.
Evans, cordially assisted Representa-
tive Leavitt and Mr.. Mckenzie IN
forming the State society, with the
result that practically every citizen OF
Montana residing in the District OF
Columbia has been enrolled.
will Advertise State.
with the charters of 40 prosperous
state societies to guide them, the Mon
tana leaders have taken the best types
and have combined a closely Knit or
renization with freedom of action
and a diversity Of objectives. FIRST OF
all. the members wish the other resi-
dents of the big Republic TO Know
something of their tremendous re.
sources in the material sense and OF
fine magic beauty of their national
marks as recreation spots. Ihls season
fine programs have been largely to en-
fartain and to attract, but next year
definite policy will present through the
hest sneakers and in an occasional pic
torial lecture some of the reasons
which make the Montana man and
woman so proud of the State ana SO
anxious for others to test claims tor
themselves. .
Montana has a numerous Catholic
population composed of irish ana
Italian settlers, and TO this may be
added as large a German element IN
which Hebrews predominant, ana with
these are the average Americans OF
various Christian sects emfgratlng
from Eastern or Middle states IN me
days OF the gold rush and In the slow
development of the STATE as SILVER
and copper mining center. more
harmonious group of citizenry cannot
he shown by any other Common
wealth than is in these divergent ele-
ments, and in the State society their
devotion to the common cause, the
welfare of the State, is sufficient rea-
son to show why the youngest mem
Der of the State societies is also one
of the most virile.
Third State in Size.
Montana, the third State OF the
Union in size, and which has chosen
the potent words Gold and Silver as
its motto, has many important phases
Of history, and each OF these VIII pe
commemorated in the amenities OF the
local society when it has finally
announced an annual program. The
region East of the great Rocky Noun
tain chain was included in the Louisi-
ana purchase, and it has many intrepid
nioneer missionaries which 1t honors
among it's founders and who were
connected with the French occupation.
Western and central Montana were
carved from Oregon and ldaho, ana
each section has towering ngure IN
its early history who has been honored
as state hero. This rich territory was
admitted into the Union by President
Peniamin Harrison on November .,
1899. and this date, State day, VIII re-
ceive recognition from the Montana
Society annually, now that 1t is Wen
organized and ready for work. In ali
probability this will be the date OF the
first meeting and at which omcefs
will be elected and the program OF the
Winter announced. Another Slgnln-
cant day which will not be overlooked
was April 26, 1880, when the Utah
end Northern Railroad subsequently
merged into the Union Pacific system,
was opened from Butte to Ogden.
Three years later the lines extended
through all of the State, and Montana
fervently commentaries the passing
of the covered wagon and the coming
of the iron horse.
May Have Annual Banquet.
Indian warfare, the peaceful efforts
of missionaries of several sects, and
especially the heroic Belgian, Rev,
Peter J. de Smet, will all in due
course be the subject of lectures and
of literary debates in the monthly
meetings of the Montana Society.
The territorial governors and those
elected after the admission into the
Union will be presented in the his
torical series, and the resources of the
region and the wonderful vegetables
and the succulent grains and fruits
will be explained to the deniZens of
less opulent states and in the most
pleasant guise.
No regular place Of meeting has
yet been assigned by the president
and officers, and it is likely that the
present policy of specifying the point
will continue. Two dances were given
at the Lee House, in May and June.
The banquet on April 26 probably will
be an annual event on this date here
after It was held last April at Hotel
Hamilton. Senator Walsh spoke and
Senator Wheeler also addressed the
guests and Mr.. Mckenzie was toast
master. Every citizen of Montana in
Washington, unless detained by some
imperative reason, was present on this
occasion. From November until June
meetings are to be held hereafter and
during the Summer picnics and al
fresco entertainments at convenient
spots in the District or in Virginia
will keep the Montana folks in mind
OF their distant home. 1t is likely
the society will take up the matter of
absentee voting, since the distance
makes this necessity for a large
number of the suffragists of both
sexes. The State laws offer no i'm
pediment to voting by mail, and even
the preliminaries of the primary may
be arranged from the designated
points in Washington.
The founders and first officers of
hhe Montana State society are: T. En-
mitt Mckenzie. president: Herbert w.
Steiger and Miss jeanette Ezechile,
first and second vice presidents; Miss
Grace Ginzberger, secretary, and WI.
liam P. Don1elly, treasurer. There
are several important standing COM
mittees, the reception committee hav-
ing as It's chairman Henry G. Clio
vennatti. Miss Fannie Neyman is