Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-22
SAFE FOURTH CRUSADE
Executives of All States Asked
to Form Committee.
NATIONWIDE CAMPAIGN
Taft to Be Invited to Assume
Honorary Craftsmanship.
FAVORABLE REPLIES IN HAND
Society for Suppression Of Unneces-
sary Noises Starts Present
Movement.
REPLIES IN HAND

Cooperation OF governors OF all states
and territories in a nationwide campaign
for safe and sane celebration OF Inde
pendence day. July 4, in every hamlet,
town and city throughout the country Is
the object of a movement now inaugu-
rated.
The plan contemplates the formation Of
a national committee on the promotion Of
the safe and sane celebration OF Inde-
pendence day. the appointment as honor
airy chairman OF President Taft. in view OF
his Endorsement OF Washinston's acci-
dentless Fourth, the appointment as men,
bers OF the governor OF every state and
territory in the Union and an active cam
paign by that committee all over the ma
ton for divorcing independence day from
its annual toll of accidents.
The Society for the Suppression Of Tn
necessary Noises. under the direction Of
Mrs. Isaac l.. Rice OF New York city, is
responsible for the present activity, but
the movement Is the outgrowth OF the
signal successes OF safe and sane cele-
brations in many cities during the past
few years. Carrying out the initial steps
OF the movement. the aid of the state
governors has already been sought and
at the societys headquarters in New
York. AS soon as the cooperation OF
large number Of the governors is assured.
1t is understood the movement will be
made independent Of the society and the
campaign will be directed by the COM
mittee of state executives.
Hughes Indorses Project.
To what extent the effort to secure the
aid Of the heads of the state governments
has been successful. SO far. is not known
here.' That Gov. Hughes Of the state Of
New York has signified his intention Of
aiding the movement as much as possible
has already been announced. and Com
missioner West has accepted the appoint
ment as a member OF the committee to
represent the government of the District
of Columbia.
So interested is Mr.. West in the success
of the plan that he has written to several
acquaintances in gubernatorial chairs,
urging acceptance of appointments as
members Of the national committee.
The Endorsement by President aft OF
the safe and sane plan for the celebrating
of the countrys birthday anniversary
has led those hack of the movement to
believe that he will accept the honorary
Craftsmanship of the committee. His po-
sition is expected to have big influence
In bringing success to the movement.
The President gave his Endorsement
in connection with Washingtons first safe
and sane" celebration this year. In
letter to Commissioner Macfarland, chair
IIlou VI the JOINT COmHlIIeo OF the board
OF Trade and Chamber of Commerce ON
the Washington observance. he said:
Il have your letter OF July l, with
respect to the celebration of the Fourth
or July. l am very sorry that l shall not
be in the city on that day, because of
a previous engagement, but am heartily
In sympathy with the movement to rid
the celebration OF our country's natal
day OF those distressing accidents that
might be avoided and are merely due to
fnct II Nirt, tln ,IN1sN
protest cannot be too emphatic"
Statistics From Other Cities.
Success Of safe and sane celebrations
in the National Capital and In other
large cities this year has created an
even wider interest in the movement.
1t Is believed by those back Of the pres
ent plan these successes can be cited
effectually in bringing about a national
reform of Independence day.
In the days following independence day
this year Endorsements poured In upon
the District officials and members of the
prominent officials Of the government.
from we'll known citizens Of the city and
from citizens associations
The record Of the day was summed up
in this statement:
Not a single accident Of any kind due
to the celebration OF Independence day
has been reported to the police depart
ment from any place within the District
of Columbia.
"Of two fires which occurred only one of
them resulted from the celebration"
Interested In the record in other cities,
Commissioner West wrote to the mayors
of several cities for their statistics of ac-
cidents.
''Cleveland's experience in celebrating
the Fourth of July without fireworks was.
as l am pleased to learn was the case in
your city, decided success" Mayor Tom
johnson replied to the Commissioner
The people and the press are a unit in
expressions OF pleasure and satisfaction
with the new departure in this celebra-
tion.''
A record for five years was presented by
Mayor Brand Whitlock of Toledo.
In the past five years. he wrote, II
think there has not been even slight in
jury from the use Of fireworks In Toledo.
nor has there been a fire. On one of the
Fourths in that time the department did
not make a run. So we think we have q
sane Fourth established in Toledo
The acting chief of police Of Chicago.
who reported for that city. presented
comparative statistics for 1908 and 1909
In 1903, when there was no safe and sane
celebration. there were two fatal and
forty non-fatal accidents: In 1903. under
the sane plan. there were no fatal ac-
cideuts and only fourteen non-fatal acci.
dents.
Thus you will see,'' concluded the
writer there has been a decrease OF 100
per cent in the number of fatalities and
66zs per cent In the number Of non-fatal
accidents"
TALK BY WEST ON BILLBoARDS