Evening star., 1909-07-06

such a success as yesterdays, to the
of former years. No accidents and no
| enjoyment of the day give us a proud
record before the whole country which
ought to have its effect as an example
! and In strengthening the movement
everywhere. Nothing in my official life
has given me more satisfaction than
the establishment of the safe and sane
celebration of independence day. and
| am very grateful to the Board Of Trade
and Chamber Of Commerce. the police
and fire. departments. the contributors
Marine Band, the District Guard Band
and all who took part in the meeting
or as members of the committees When
| in November last l asked the Commits
sioners to take the first step toward the
safe and sane celebration of Independence
day and making the regulation prohibit
ing the sale and private use Of fire.
| works which the Commissioners promptly
approved, there was inevitable opposi-
| tion which has continued but gradually
decreasing, until after yesterdays sue
| cess there can be comparatively little left
When. on behalf of the Commission
ers. / asked the active cooperation of the
Board of Trade and Chamber of Com
| merce in preparing plans for the proper
celebration of the day | had a hearty
| response and the members of the joint
committee appointed to make prepara-
tions did splendid service. Then when We
appealed for funds there was such a gen.
eral and cordial response that we got
more than we asked for and we were
able to give better displays of fireworks
than we had planned.
Proud of the Capital.
Il was never more proud of the Ma
| tional Capital than yesterday, when /;
showed the whole country a model cele-
bration of independence day. l shall ask
now that permanent Independence day
| committee or association be formed
which shall arrange for the celebration
from year to year, adding features to the
program which will interest everybody.
hope there will be a regatta, a program
OF field sports, another automobile parade
and numerous neighborhood celebrations;
and. II practicable, more public firework
exhibitions In different parts of the city.
The letter of President Taft in response
to my letter telling him of our plans for
! the safe and sane celebration of the
Fourth of July will help the movement
through the country.
My dear Mr.. Macfarland-I have your
letter Of July 1 with respect to the cele-
bration of the Fourth of July. l am very
sorry that l shall not be in the city on
that day because of previous engage
ment. but | am heartily in sympathy with
our countrS's natal day of those dis
tressing accidents that might be avoided
and are merely due to a recklessness
against which the public protest can not
be too emphatic. (Signed)
WILLIAM III. TAFT"
Letters Of Congratulation.
Commissioner Macfarland received a
number of letters this morning congratu-
lating him on the success of the safe and
sane celebration. The one that pleased
him most was from the we'll known sur
geon, DR.. T. L. Macdonald, who wrote:
Permit me to say that l regard the
present treatment of the Fourth Of July
as one OF the greatest steps toward the
refinement Of civilization that our city
has ever known! And / trust. sincerely.
that every citizen of the District awak-
ened this morning after a night OF re-
| freshing sleep "a thing never known be-
| fore on this dateD with energy enough to
generate a grateful cerebral impulse.
transmit it down the arm through a steel
pen and thus convert it into an act show
ing in a slight measure his appreciation
of this great reform. Perhaps doctors
alone know what the possibility of a few
hours repose means to the sick and the
suffering-often the difference between IA
tality and recovery-a human life and the
happiness Of whole family. l regard