The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-04
A SAFE AND SANE
FOURTH OF JULY
How Camden, New Jersey, Gel
THE INDEPENDENCE DAY
Adopts Method That Other Cities In
the Country Might Follow to Ad-
vantage and to the Benefit
of the Public
THE INDEPENDENCE DAY
BY FREDERICK A. FINKELDER.
City Council, Camden.

/ (Exclusive servic The Survey Press
Bureau)
(The annual slaughter of the Fourth
is always followed by good resolutions
for a change of ogramme-resolutions
usually forgotten until the following July.
Camden is one of the few cities that has
substituted a practical plan of celebration
In place of the old time powder and pis-
toll methods)
In the ward of the city of Camden, N ].
In which I live, situated on the outskirts
of the city, there Is a population of not
more than 1000 For the past four or five
years we have had so-called Patriotic
association. the object of which has
been to raise funds for the celebration
Of the Fourth of July
All the school children In the 18th ward
are invited and they come in thousands
for the fun which starts in the morning
with simple games and plays and COM
petition with prizes where the children
are old enough. Following the games
there is singing led by the city director
of music Then the mayor or a prominent
citizen makes a speech followed by
monster parade consisting Of all the
school children and the patriotic associa-
tons. In the evening we still have fire.
works, set off in front of the woods
where no harm can result and the dealer
who supplies the eonbustibles has also
the contract for setting them off The
result is that thousands of people are
drawn from all parts of Camden to see
the display and the street car lines are
compelled to put on extra cars and run
them In ha rtlbp rhq IN do 70
the thousands who come to witness the
celebration.
For the past few years from $3.50 to $500
each year has been contributed from the
citizens residing in the 18th ward and
1T is comparatively easy 20 procure the
money. The city does not do anything
toward the celebration except supply adj
ditional policeman. This convinces me
that it is not nearly as hard as some may
think to get the American public to con-
tribute to the celebration of our national
birthday and to substitute something
worth while for the individual firecrack-
er celebration.
The 18th ward of Camden shows that
this can be done even In a small COM
munity. The collectors do not go for
money outside of that ward, and there
are poor people living in that section too
men working In carshops who do not
earn more than the average working
man. The money Is not contributed in
large amounts. but IN small contributions
of % and 50 cents; and very poor families
/ are not asked.
Another example of how well satisfied
the public is with these rational methods
/ is the way in which the city OF Philadel-
phia celebrated Founders week last fall.
A historical pageant passed through
Broad street. 7 believe 1t was estimated
by the police department that 600,000 peo-
pie took part. This pageant portrayed
the settlement, rise, and upbuilding OF
Philadelphia and of course the various
nationalites took part in the celebration.
I marched in the parade, every foot of
which was uphill, for y miles and l do
not tn" that one person dropped out.
Over 60A people travelled to the suburbs
to see the spectacle The Germantown
avenue along which It passed for five
or six miles was a very narrow street
and the procession marched on both
sides of the street. The spectators had
kitchen tables. davenports. and sofas on
the sidewalks on which the audience
sat and stood.
It seems as though some corresponding
efforts could be made in many cities that
now perhaps would not undertake such
celebrations through fear of inability to
raise the necessary funds or from the
feeling that the public would not sup
port such a movement