Laurel outlook., 1949-08-31

Eugene Spildie, Wesley Henley
Vernon Garlock and Lowell And
erson, all seniors this fall in Lau
rel high school.
The Western Montana Colleg,
!, Of Education at Dillon again be
came the site for Montana Boys
State, held Aug. IA through 90
During the Today session, the 32C
boys in attendance reenacted the
governmental authorities of city
county and state governments, and
lived together, learning and exer-
cising the democracy that some
day will be governed by them.
Boys State, 1949, was inaugu-
rated Sunday, Aug. ID, with regis
tration in the afternoon and a
getting-acquainted hour in the
evening. The next day, Monday,
the city governments were organ
lied, and the two political parties
elected a chairman, who appointed
committees. The city government
started functioning the first day,
with the chief of police and his
assistants Immediately making
themselves mockingly unpopular
to those citizens who delighted in
not abiding by the city law.
County and state governments
started taking shape as soon as
the city powers began functioning,
and popularity contests became
the determining factors in electing
the candidates for office. The cleo
ton fever for state offices was
very intense, accompanied by mud
Singing and intensive campaign
ing, which made the general cleo
tions very close. Political parties
then took upon themselves the
role of machines, which aroused a
good deal of comment. Platforms
were adopted, only to be sharply
criticized by the opposing party.
Amidst all this confusion and
babble, the individual campaigns
for office developed into a race,
with each candidate drawing at
tention by using every campaign
device available, such as erecting
painted posters spanning the width
or the auditorium, adjoining side
walks, walls, shrubbery and trees
with myriads of signs, hiring a
public address system, and pro-
jecting material over a motion
picture machine. Then the heat
ed political rallies climaxed a
hectic campaign on behalf of the
candidates.
In contrast to the inflated spir-
its of campaigning was the solemn
event of flag raising and lower
ing. Every day the boys were
regimented into city formations
and gave due honor to Old Glory.
After the din of state elections,
the Boy-Staters heard several dis
tinguished speakers, including the
Hon. John Bonner, governor of
Arnold Olson and Hugh
of the supreme court, who
swore in the state officials. To
the speeches, three mu-
steal assemblies ere presented re-
;pectively by Dillon, Montana
State college, and Montana Uni
versity, talent. The F.B.I. also
gave an interesting demonstration
IN firearms, and the Montana
state highway patrol made a road
est for the Boy-Staters. !
Films were also shown and a
vide variety was presented, rang
ng from fighting forest fires 10
minated cartoons. {
The days schedule was very ac-i
i've beginning with a bemoaned
hour of 7. To supplement
he governmental activities, the !
ecreational program was very
popular, as also were the meals I
which drew many a satisfying pat {
f the stomach. Saturday and Sun l
evenings meant downtown
dillon to the campus-confined lads, '
nd most boys availed themselves !
I the opportunity to spend their \
eisure time in Dillon. ,
A 50-car caravan carried the J
oy-Staters to Virginia City, the
radle of Montana governments.
he town was thoroughly explored
among points of interest was
he Bale of Hay Saloon, the mu- C
cum, the brewery, and the bust r
ess enterprises. In general, ]
irginia City received very thor d
ugh attention, as minds wander ?
d back to the booming days of I
he gold rush. r
Boys State was climaxed by the c
,us, as pranksters delighted in C
mischief such as short f
heeting the beds, and hiding the
eds in broom closets at the far c
.ds of the dormitory. Another h
ervice greatly overdone was that o
{ making as many calls as pos C
BILE for the mail, just to visit u
aggregate the postmistress. F
Boys'State was climaxed by the C
.vernor's ball and was officially t
djourned Tuesday, Aug. %. n
Tho hove who attended, Do,,y