Evening journal., 1908-10-09
PLAN OBSERVANCE
OF HALLOWEEN
Mercantile Association Acts
FaVOrabIy Upon Plan for
a Big Celebration

That the citizens Of this city will be
treated TO a celebration which will be
OF no small significance on the eve Of
halloween Is now practically assured
for az a meeting OF the Mercantile AS
sociation last evening a committee OF
five was appointed TO have fun charge
of arrangements and make any special
plans that would tend TO draw people
down town that they saw fit. The
day celebration that was FIRST discussed
has now been given up; but there will
be a parade in the evening and two
or more bands will furnish all the
music that viii be necessary for an
occasion OF this kind.
Al the meeting last night this matter
was the most important that was dis
cussed. President J. +. O'Neal drew
the attention OF the members to the
subject at the outset and thought that
some kind OF "a celebration should be
necessary 10 enliven the public mind
TO the fact that the merchants were
progressive. energetic and inclined to
have much civic pride I'm the city as
"A mercantile and business center.
Although Mr.. O'Neal feared that hall
lowe'en might be an inopportune time
for such a celebration because Of the
political activity and the impending
elections. there ought to be some time
set, he said, when n demonstration not
unlike that which Philadelphia Is hav-
ing at present should be given.
After much discussion, tho conclu-
sion was reached that even though
there viii be considerable political ac-
tivity around halloween time. that that
time was really the only occasion which
would allow Of a practical reason for
holding a celebration Several Of the
members said that as halloween was
regarded by the citizens Of the city
and state as a time for general jollin-
cation, the import OF a grand civic
observance under the auspices OF the
Mercantile Association would be the
more easily associated In the public
mind as an occasion at which it was
necessary for them to take a part and
for that reason there was every indi-
cation that throngs would flock to the
city
Committee to Act.
II was then voted that a committee
of five be appointed TO have full power
TO act IN the matter The committee
is comprised OF the following: ID. w.
Lynch b. w Bader. Oscar l.. Purdy,
IT, w. Mettler and S. O. Grimth
The question Of funds 10 finance the
celebration was then discussed IL
was said that probably City Council
would not see 1T to appropriate any
money. As the celebration Is to be
held in the evening. II at all. It will not
be necessary TO have very great
amount OF money as the only expense
practically viii be for the bands Of
music.
Mr. Lynch said that there was a
fund left over from the celebration OF
last year that would probably be suf-
ficient 20 bear the expense. He said
he was not IN favor Of asking City
Council for any large sum, and that
probably II would be possible TO have
at least $3.50 or 5000 appropriated which
with what was on hand. would enable
the association TO carry out an excel
/ lent program.
I viii Arrange Plans.
( The committee as appointed will be-
gin at once 70 arrange It's plans and
invitations win probably be sent 20
Mayor Wilson and 20 the members Of
| Council 70 participate in the ceebra-
| tion. The many societies of the city
will also be asked and the parade
I ought TO De made very interesting
one and draw the attention of the
people. The committee will make every
effort to have the occasion a success
/ ful one and II no unforeseen circum-
stance arises there Is no reasen why
the proposed celebration will not be as
successful as any that has been held
| IN the past
During the last six months, the coll
/ lecting agency which the Association
has maintained, has been even more
successful than was Thought probable
when II was inaugurated Mr.. Mettler,
who has charge of il, reported that out
/ Of S1.Ss6.s0 Of outstanding bills, S9lS
had been collected on account Ac-
counts were also being paid, he said,
on the balance. The agency was es-
tablished last May.