The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-01
Prohibits Use of Firearms, Dyna
mite, Cannon Crackers. Loose
Powder or Bombs.
ALL OTHER KINDS ALLOWED.
Chief Campbell Anticipates
Trouble-Mayor Expects the PO-
lice to Enforce the Order-He
Explains His Position.

| After hesltating for five days between two
| decisions on the fireworks question as ap-
! Piled to the celebration of the Fourth of
! July in this city next Wednesday. Mayor
| Ziegenhein yesterday issued a proclamation
prohibiting the use of firearms. dynamite,
| cannon crackers loose powder or bombs All
other kinds Of fireworks. therefore. may be
used without limitation or restriction on the
nations birthday.
Chief of Police Campbell expressed keen
disappointment that the Mayor did not ad-
here TO his original determination TO pro-
| hibit fireworks of every description. He an
| ticipates trouble on the Fourth.
In making his final decision In this mat
| ter, the Mayor changed his mind twice:
First as TO the nature OF the proclamation.
| for he stated TO the press several days ago
| that he would issue a proclamation absolute
| ly prohibiting the use of any kind of fire
works in this city on the Fourth Of July: sec
ond. 10y issuing the proclamation on yester-
day. he having repeatedly stated to the rep
rescntatives of both afternoon and morning
papers that he would not issue any procla-
nation before Monday.
In defense o! his change of base the Mayor
said yesterday that the appeals made TO
him by the citizens and children of ST. Louis
were too strong 10 be resisted. that he had
been Of the opinion all along that the
proclamation he first intended to issue was
not necessitated by the conditions, and that
ne had reached decision TO issue IL merely
because he thought the people were In favor
OF such proclamation. but that when he
discovered that a large proportion of the
citizens of 81. Louis were vigorously OPP
posed TO il he recons;dered his former de-
terin.na ton and decided TO issue the
proclamation now In force.
The Mayor also made reference to alleged
partment TO the effect that a proclamation
would not prevent children from using FIRE
works in alleys. outhouses and barns. and
that the danger of disastrous fires would be
greatly increased.
i did not want to make iaw-breakers out
OF little children" said the Mayor. and
proclama ton first intended TO issue. That
settled the matter so far as l was con-
Depends on the Police.N
The Mayor stated that in his opinion the
police will have no difficulty in distinguish
Ing between the sounds made by the dis
charge OF those things prohibited from nse
on the Fourth and the more harmless kinds
of fireworks which ne has agreed shall be
used
Il was wrong when decided to prohibit
the use OF all kinds OF fireworks. said he.
That is all there IS to IL. The proclama-
ton have issued Will work both ways, 1t
properly enforced by the police. and at ths
same time IT Will enable the people TO
celebrate the Fourth to their hearts con-
tent My idea in drawing up the proclama
ton was TO prohibit everything which
makes great noise and endangers life and
limb, and to permit TO be used everything
which is simply for display.
Inc petitions which were presented TO
me were signed by fully I25 600 person. II
was great piece OF work. the getting UP
believe that IL there had been another week
they would have gotten 10000 signatures.
There was one other consideration which
mo N 81 o. last
That was the effect sluch a proclama lion as
! intended TO issue would have on people
in other cities. 1t would show ;neri that
we were still In state Of war in ST. Louis
and that the lives and property OF citizens
are still In jeopardy. That is not the case
abroad"
Following IL the proclamation:
? l Executive Rapartmsn,: Mayors ofacs, St.
viii meet with the ready and hearty c.,ncurrencs
II Ss al a Fo Sde citizens Of 81 Louis and condens
Of order and quiet T. the nnd.rs.-aet Ma, or OF
y the stat:es 81 The the Iss ,at. "
sy of ana oa me sag bsT1 and Of the
tina, no firearms Of any si1d ar dss
whether guns; reviewers or pistols. shall be fred
St Louis on ws,inesday, he fourth daS Il k,,1
1870 nor shall any dynamite or cannon crackers.
fet or within said limits on said day All per-
proclamation under the severest penalties o: the
nolle ior ,he nearly cooperation az all Of
nSels ana citiznns in making tnis Iroclam ation
effective. and n thereby dispensing viii that
long list of unfortunate acci Tents generally at
brats
In Testimony whereof have hercunto set my
hand and caused these presents TO be att,ste,, by
the City Register. with the corporate seal OF the
city OF ST Louis hereto affixed. this thirtieth day
OF June. 1900. HENRY ZIf,fiENHE.IN.
Mayor Of the City Of 81. Louis
Manager Baumhoff announced last night
that he was sorry the Mayor had not pro-
hibited all kinds of fireworks He said tha,
the cars would be run as usual on the !
Fourth.