"George Drumheller, managing director of the Pow-wow, said last night that he was not yet in a position to say how successful the Pow-wow had been financially, but that he hoped to at least break even, and possibly clear a little for the benefit of the fair association.
"'It's play with us.' he said. 'The boys like it and it gives them something to talk about during the winter. The people supported the show well, and I hope something of the kind can he arranged again next year.'"
We therefore take from the columns of the Walla Walla Union the report, as follows:
"These pioneer meetings are significant events; they afford opportunity for meeting old friends. They are occasions for retrospection and reminiscence. We live over again in memory, 'the brave days of old.' We recount the courage, the lofty purpose, the sacrifices of the early settlers, not only of those still living, but of those who have crossed the Great Divide."
These words, taken from the speech of ex-Governor Miles C. Moore, delivered at the Pioneers' barbecue meeting at the fair grounds yesterday noon, explain the significance of the Pioneer Pow-wow to the early settlers of this country, to whose memory the big fall celebration is dedicated. That the sturdy old plainsmen appreciated the honor was evident by their numbers and the hearty manner in which they participated in this event. Hundreds of them were present and all pronounced the juicy beefsteaks served by the Royal Chef Harry Kidwell, to be near-perfect.
The pioneers' program was short but filled with interest and the social time that followed was hugely enjoyed. Judge E. C. Mills made a short address and vocal solos were rendered by Mrs. F. B. Thompson and A. R. Slimmons and a reading by Mrs. Thomas Duff. Mrs. A. G. Baumeister was chairman of the committees in charge.
Ex-Governor Moore's address, coming from one of the most prominent northwest pioneers, was the feature of the program, and was most interesting to the early settlers. It is given in full as follows:
"Walla Walla is proud to act as host today to the pioneers and feels she is entertaining old friends.
"Many of you came here long years ago and saw the city in its earliest beginnings; saw it when it was only a frontier trading post—an outfitting point for miners bound to the mines of Pierce City, Orofino and Florence in Northern Idaho and to Boise in Southern Idaho—all new camps. A little later Kootenai in British Columbia, and the mining camps of Western Montana became the Mecca of the gold seeker.