The San Francisco call., 1906-07-05
CHILDREN PLEDGE
Their FEALTY
TO country
Raise Voices in Proclaiming
Lifelong Loyalty to Flag
and the Multitude Cheers
DAYFULL OF EVENTS
Speeches, Music and Athletic
Contests Entertain Crowd
Of People at the Stadium

I pledge allegiance to the flag and
the Republic for which IL stands. One
people, one language. one flag"
Thousands Of children spoke these
words in chorus yesterday at Golden
Gate Park. and as the shriIl treble
gathered strength in a triumphant cli-
max, a vast multitude of men and
women Of San Francisco, assembled TO
celebrate the nations natal day cheered
TIL the hills rang with the expression OF
The sentiment-glowing in every loyal
heart
The spirit Of San Francisco was ex-
pressed in every song Of the children.
every note OF the music and every word
Of the orators The spirit Of a new gen
Grafton that viii take up the labors OF
the old with hope and confidence was
mingled with the determination of the
older 10 face the heavy problems. This
spirit Of determination to meet the
future as the pioneers of the olden days
met the difficulties of a new and un-
settled land was the dominant inspira-
ton Of the greatest concourse of people
ever assembled in the park
From every part Of San Francisco and
from every class OF society came men,
women and children in carriages, cars
and afoot; continuous moving river of
color and gayety that had its sources
y.
numbers and volume as IL advanced, un-
I'll it flooded the spaces about the sta
eiGm at the western end 81 the beauti-
While prominent men and women of
San Francisco officiated at the exer-
cises. the day belonged TO the children
Two thousand school pupils to whom
the city looks for the great things of
tie future. happy-faeed and brightly
garbed, waving a myriad Of small
American Aags, were compactly seated.
a great bank Of moving color that al
ternately sang, applauded and chatted.
LIVING WALL OF PEOPLE.
Beyond this bouquet of children and
around 10 the left Of the grandstand
stretched q circular wall OF men, women
and children that measured five
eighths OF a mile in circumference.
From an early hour in the morning this
circle was forming and at o'clock.
when the field day events began, still
other thousands were increasing its
size AS late as o'clock in the after
noon, the southern driveway Of the park
and the electric cars were filed with
people bound for the stadium.
military parade that formed at the
eastern end OF the park reached the re-
viewing stand at Il o'clock After the
parade the literary exercises occupied
the morning. During noont.me many
Of the people opened lunch baskets. and
parts Of the field resembled a picnic
grounds. In the afternoon an excel
lent athletic programme was provided
under the auspices OF the Olympic club.
while the band music was a delightful
disorder appeared. The policing under
Captain Gleeson was excellent
Oncials of the city, with representa-
tiVes OF the Federal Government as
their guests, accompanied by their
wives. daughters and sWeethearts. filled
the grandstand. which was clothed in
the national colors. From This stand
Mayor Schmitz reviewed the military
and naval parade, speeches were made
and the winners Of the athletic contests
were awarded laurel Wreaths and s-old
and silver trophies
At the opening Of the day's eyer
cises the Golden Gate Park Band m
DER the direction OF PAU Steindorr
gave short concert Of patriotic airs.
The band played during the intermis-
slons between speechmaking and stb-
letic events. Every selection pleased
the spectators and time and again
the band was loudly applauded.
The first number on the literary pro-
gramme was the singing or The star
Spangieo Banner by a great chorus
OF school children under the leader
ship OF Miss Estelle Carpenter. For
several days the children had been re-
hearsing under the young teachers
constant supervision and the excellent
unison and harmony OF the singing
yesterday were so perfect as 70 con-
ceal the arcuous work OF drilling The
great number OF boys and girls.
CHILDREN SING IN CHORUS.
AS the words Of the national aDtbsr,
fell from the lips OF the children tha
hfapra inn 1c4.-
duting the singing every head wss
barred. During the chorus the younp-
sters waved their flags in time "a Tie
music and the animated scene hroueht
forth bursts OF applause from the snec-
tators.
The most Rev. Archbishop Mont
Eomery uttered the invocaffon tn
which he called for blessings upon tbe
President OF the United States ,,non
Congress and officials of the State snd
Nation. He prayed that the nation
might remain at peace at home ana
abroad and that prosperity would con-
tinue 10 fall upon the land
At the conclusion of the fnvocation
the Rev Philip O'Ryan spoke. He re-
ferred TO the recent disaster that had
overwhelmed the city and said that as
victims OF the worlds great catas-
trophe the people had bravely come
forth 10 renew their loyalty to the fap
and TO reassert the independence for
which their forefathers fought. He
said that the gathering proclaimed to
the world that the people OF San Fran
cisco would perform their manifest
duty OF rebuilding the city by the
shore Of the Golden Gate so that Amer
icsn commerce and prosperity in the
West might be preserved.
The speaker complimented the Mayor
and Chairman Joy OF the committee