Convention's Final Session

The windup of the Firemen's convention occurred Friday night, when the coming closing session was held at the council chamber. All the delegates were present, and the mayor and members of the city council, county officials and business men generally accepted the invitation extended through the Argus to attend this meeting.

All the papers read at the convention have been of the highest interest, but the four reserved for the closing session were on topics that were of especial interest to business men and the city officials, and those who attended the meeting gained much valuable information. In addition to this, the occasion gave the public an opportunity to see the convention at work, and the few who supposed that this gathering was a mere junket found that they were wholly mistaken. The subjects discussed were as follows:

Kalispell—"Municipal Co-Operation With Fire Companies."

Butte—"Fire Alarm Systems in Large and Small Towns."

Livingston—"Protection to Firemen From Electric Wires and From Electricity Through Water and Nozzles."

Phillipsburg—"What conditions warrant a volunteer company in asking for the assistance of paid men."

Later on, all the papers will be published in pamphlet form, and will furnish matter for study in the various departments of the state for a long time.

According to the delegates from the outside, the convention just closed, has been one of the most profitable ever held in the state, despite the fact that the attendance was not so large as at many previous gatherings. The delegates gave the convention work the very strictest attention, there being a full attendance at each session. All of them take away pleasant recollections of the Lewistown meeting, and cannot say too much in praise of the open handed hospitality of the Lewistown people.

The New Officers.

The selection of Hamilton as the place for the next meeting gives general satisfaction, and it is expected that the convention next year will be a record breaker in many respects. Hamilton is easily accessible, and has every facility for entertaining a large crowd. The foremen are looking forward to the meeting with great interest.

The complete roster of the newly elected officers is as follows: President, Chief W. E. McMurray, Hamilton; Secretary, Albert Hork, Hamilton; Treasurer, George Lapp, Butte; Directors, Chiefs May, Missoula, Sanger, Butte, and Clark, Big Timber.

The list of vice presidents, represented all the departments in the state, and is as follows: Assistant Chief Jerry Shinnick, Butte; Chief Robert Mentrum, Anaconda; Chief Al. May, Missoula; C. J. Davis, Billings; Charles Lundwahl, Bozeman; Bill Nye, Livingston; Chief J. Frank O'Connell, Helena; W. P. O'Brien, Hamilton; Assistant Chief Alex Van Iderstine, Lewistown; Chief Niel Murray, Walkerville; Wm. McDonald, Kalispell; A. A. Fairbairn, Philipsburg; Chief George Lapp, A. M. Co., Butte; Chief James G. Walker, Virginia City; Thomas J. Ross, Red Lodge; Nels Lindquist, Williamsburg; Chief J. P. Clark, Big Timber; Chief Thomas West, Havre; Chief Joseph Stephens, Washoe Smelter; Chief J. E. DeCarl, Miles City; Chief W. H. Wolf, Whitehall; Chief R. Lee Kelley, Deer Lodge; Assistant Chief F. H. Jones, Great Falls.

A Final Send-off.

The Lewistown boys do not do things by halves. Having entertained their brother fire fighters from all over the state to the best of their ability for a week, they determined not to let them depart for their homes without a final send-off, and the local department assembled Saturday morning shortly after 6 o'clock. With the Lewistown brass band, which tendered its services for the occasion, they escorted the departing delegates to the depot, where the good-byes were said. Bill Nye has taken such a liking to Lewistown that at the last moment he decided to adopt the city, and a squad of firemen was delegated to see that he entered the train. The boys wanted to keep Bill, but realized what the loss would be to Livingston, and in the face of temptation did their duty and shipped Bill away.

The delegates who left for home were a highly pleased lot of men.