Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-05-20
WILL NOT
Ths Movement for the Observance 81
e4Celebration on the Fourth of
July Abandoned.

Ne VIII have no F0uTtn OF guy cele-
bration, at least that is the verdict OF the
mass meeting held in the Firemens hall
| Friday night last for the purpose OF perfect
ing plans for a grand celebration Of the
| day commemorative OF the signing Of the
Declaration OF independence Of our great
and glorious country,and which day Is dear
TO the hearts OF every patriotic citizen. The
blame of the dis~continuanceo the project
falls directly upon the shoulders OF the
merchants and retail dealers OF the city,
who would derive most OF the benefit from
an Old time celebration.
Nov the people Of the town and county
will 20 TO some other town, where a big
celebration will be held. and spend their
money. Thus hundreds OF dollars will be
carried out of the county. and Martinsburg
will be deserted, and will be as a little
country village, while our neighboring
towns are celebrating the glorious day.
That SONY the view from the financial
standpoint. but every patriotic citizen
should look at It from a patriotic stand
point. What viii our neighboring towns
taink Of us when they learn that the peo-
pie who should be foremost IN such an un-
dertaking, have failed TO take the least bit
OF interest in it and the bottom has been
allowed to fall out Of the project 1t is
true that the merchants have consented to
have floats and help make the parade a
success, and also advertise their " BUSH
ness; but why don't some Of them COM
forward and lead the subscription list with
a big sum towards having a big fire works
display at night, and to defray the other
expenses that will incur?
The meeting was called to order
a few minutes after 8 O'Clock by the
President. The minutes Of the last meet
ing were read by the Secretary, after
which a letter from Mr.. Lee M. Bender,
resigning his position as chairman Of the
business mems committee, was read and
laid aside.
MIR. Kinsey Creque, of the finance COM
mittee, then appeared before the meeting
and stated that he had consulted with all
the saloon keepers and almost all he had
seen had refused TO contribute a cent to-
ward the celebration, because on that day,
they said, the members of the Anti-Saloon
League would be looking around to see if
they could not see something that the
saloon keepers were doing wrong, so that
they could bring a charge against them.
He said Messrs. Paul Strausner and Wal
ter ]. Lambert signifed their willingness
of contributing a few dollars. He said if
all the saloon keepers had decided TO con-
tribute something he would fall in line,
but as they had refused, he did not feel
like contributing anything.
The report of the committee of the
Daughters of America, who had been APP
pointed to solicit the business men and
take the names of all who decided to take
part in the celebration with a trades dis
play, was read and received. The commit
tee reported some thirty merchants who
would take part in the parade.
A general discussion OF the success of
the undertaking then took place and the
following resolution which gives a full
view of the situation, was then read and
adopted:
WHEREAS. The movement for
an "old time Fourth of July
celebration" seemed to meet with
the hearty approval of the retail
ers and business men of the city
who would naturally be 0
benefited and
WHEREAS, A few citizens met
together in the Firemen's hall on
friday April IS, and formed the
nucleus of an organization for the
carrying out of the object desired
and
WHEREAS, Committees under
took the work of soliciting, ably
assisted by committees from the
Daughters of America and the
Daughters of the Confederacy,
and
WHEREAS, Subsequent meet
ings were held on May 5, and
May IL, (which developed such an
utter apathy on the part of the
retail merchants, who had favor
ed no meeting with their pres
ence or a representative, and
WHEREAS, Such an adverse
report was received from the
committee appointed to see the
liquor dealers who were posi-
lively opposed to the movement,
be it therefore
ReSOlved.. That it is the
of this meeting that the mer-
chants and citizens of Martins
burg do not favor the proposed
celebration and be it further
ResokVea, That the move
ment be abandoned and the
committees be discharged, with
special thanks to the ladies who
so kindly offered and assisted