Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-07-30
GUNPOWDER SANITY
Another Suggestion Offered for
use of That FIying-Machine
Money.
(By C. Edmonde LaVigne.)

10Y y. EuuuOhuC l6hC'J
The Commissioners of the District
Of Columbia started preparations this
week for proper celebration of Fourth
of July, 1909. Directly in line with
constantly growing sentiment through
out the country, suggested by a big
list of accidents and deaths incident
to every Independence Day, there is
desired more rational observance in
the future.
The plan for next year is to forbid
storage and sale of fireworks in the
city and cause the police to enforce a
law against the general shooting OF
pistols and promiscuous use of eXplo-
sives. All citizens will be asked to
put their fireworks money in COM
mon fund for big aerial display
under competent management, in
Guiding special illumination of some
principal street. Pennsylvania Ave.
was thus Illuminated this year as a
trial, and that great thoroughfare
| IlCNol plCSChUCu luOlO dll
attractive picture in all it's history Of
varied spectacles. Practically the en-
tire population marched up and down
from Treasury building to Capitol
building attesting the popularity of
this new feature.
Why not put that Grand Rapids air
ship money at interest for a year and
then give street illumination trial
in your own way? None would be dis
appointed in such novel treat and
all could surely depend on seeing
their contributions surely "go up"
Washington intends to set the ex-
ample to the country of observing the
Fourth of July without manning or
possibly killing it's citizens. 1t is be-
lieved here that the day can be cele-
brated with as much patriotism and
more sanity if the wanton use of gun
powder is condemned.
y
"Colored people who have been busy
attempting to enlist the race to vote
substantially as unit against Taft
are now out of an occupation" said
Ralph Tyler, auditor for the Navy
Department., in a brief conversation
with me last evening while at the
Marine Band concert in the White
House grounds. IF anything more
were needed" he continued, ito
settle the controversy respecting this
vote, the published interview with
Mr.. Byran yesterday introduced a
climax"
Mr.. Bryan is reported to have in
sisted, among other statements, that
he would not discuss any issue not
found in his platform, nor could he
give consideration to any questions
not suggested therein, The colored
man is not mentioned in the demo-
cratic platform. There is no plank
upon which he can rest or even base a
hope. This message from the nomi-
nee himself is therefore plain ultim-
alum that cOlOred folks have no rea-
son to expect any more consideration
from the democratic administration if
Byran were elected than they have re-
ceived from that party in the past.
Hence there will be no general defec-
ton of colored voters from the ranks
of good constant friend republicanism,
Mr. Tyler is chairman Of commit
tee to have headquarters in Chicago
to take up matters of civic and po-
litical Importance for his people with
Chairman Hitchcock of the national
committee. Mr.. Tyler is optimistic in
believing that the grand old party can
now drop this issue and turn more at
tention to the opposition presented by
officials of organized labor.