Los Angeles herald., 1909-07-07
SANE FOURTH

OF the FOuTIn OF July nave bSSh
fortified in their position by reports
from all over the country which show
that cities which adopted prudent
measures for the protection of life,
limb and property escaped all the un-
pleasant and distressing features asso-
ciated with the day, while communities
that were moro careless suffered the
consequences in sacrifices of human life
and losses of property. Such positive
results and undeniable truths are Illus
trated by the Fourth of July figures
that any community which hereafter
ignores them may be held culpably re-
sponsible for all trouble that may en-
sue. A fireworks Fourth means death,
disaster. distress. A sane Fourth means
patriotism and happiness.
The disaster roll of Independence day
is incomplete, but so far forty-four
deaths have been reported, 1851 cases
Of injury and the known property loss
amounts to upwards of $725,000 worth.
When the complete official returns are
in, it will be found the penalty paid
for the national folly which persists in
Chinese methods of observing an
American day-in fact, THE American
Day of days-has been very great. Bos-
ton reports two dead. sixty-five in
jured; Detroit, two dead, eighty-four
injured; New York, five dead, 1853 in
jured; Philadelphia, three dead, BAT in
jured
While the list of killed and wounded
represents pain, heartache, mourning
and has added to the sum of human
sorrow the property loss represents Il
great deal of suffering, inasmuch as
many of the losers could not afford
their loss.
Hundreds of little homes, represent
ing the small savings of years and
representing a great deal more-all the
associations of perhaps a lifetime
were sacrificed to the fireworks craze.
One little northern city was almost en-
tirely destroyed and serious losses are
reported from many others.
Almost without end. instances of
avoidable human distress and suffering
caused by the insane method OF cele-
brating Independence day could be re-
lated. The evidence in support Of a
sane Fourth is overwhelming.
The cities which regulated the cele-
bration of Independence day and for
bade the use of dangerous explosives
are to be congratulated. Cleveland
has an absolutely perfect record for
Ct
dent was reported in that city, which
took measures to protect Its citi-
zens and their property from the con-
sequences of a reckless use of fireworks
and firearms. Last year ten citizens of
Cleveland were killed and sixty-two In
jured on the Fourth of July. Cleve-
land appreciates the meaning Of the ex-
preston "a sane Fourth" Never again
will there be an insane Fourth in
Cleveland. The people know better and
will not revert to barbarism. In Wash
ington last year forty-one people were
injured, This year no one was hurt
and no one killed in Washington, where
there was a sane, patriotic celebration.
In Chicago last year twelve people
were killed and ia injured. This year
one citizen was killed, forty-seyen were
injured. The "sane" leaven has begun
to work, and Chicago, this year on the
semi-sane list, next year will be alto
gether "sane" and probably will have
a record as good as Cleveland's is
To come nearer home, at Hollywood,
where there was a sane Fourth, no one
was hurt; while at Colegrove where
Independence day was orientalzed,
serious fire was narrowly averted. A
girl was burned badly and her life
saved by the heroic action Of a man
who had to be taken to the hospital,
suffering intensely from burns.
On account of the agitation in favor
of a sane celebration considerable i'm
provement was shown in Los Angeles.
Still, the record of "only" nine injured
was a record of nine too many. It is
clearly the duty of the city council to
prohibit the indiscriminate use of fire.
works in Los Angeles. If at any time
of the year a fireworks display should
seem desirable, 1t should be given by
skilled pyrotechnists.
Proverbially, playing with fire has
always been a foolish and reprehensible
practice; yet in many cities of great
progressive, and, generally speaking,
sane nation people utterly unskilled in
the proper use or control of fireworks
are allowed to play with fire. The Los
Angeles city council should pass an
ordinance forbidding all the year round
the sale or use of fireworks, cannon,
firearms, gunpowder. torpedoes, toy pis-
tolls, bomb canes or any other noisy ex-
plosives. The Municipal league, the
City club and the various women's
clubs and societies would be comforting
a benefit on Los Angeles if they would
take up this matter and by the use Of
an initiative petition set the machinery
in motion for the much needed leglsla-
ton forbidding within the city limits
the sale or use of explosives.
nTTp TAnEDCHTD