Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1910-06-14
MANY ATTEND PICNIC
RICKREALL ARTISANS ENTER
TAIN THREE THOUSAND GUESTS.
Heavy Showers Interfere With Morn
ing Program, But Sun Shines
Brightly in Afternoon.


ing Program, But Sun Shines
Brightly in Afternoon.
The Artisan picnic held at Rickreall
Saturday, came near resulting in fail
ure because of the heavy downpour OF
rain, which began late Friday evening
and continued without ceasing until
Saturday noon. In the early after
noon, however, the sun broke through
the Clouds and while the ground was
a little too damp for comfort, ideal
outing weather made it possible-sfor
the good people of our neighbor town
to carry out the greater part of the
excellent program prepared for the en-
tertainment of visitors.
Extensive preparations had been
made by the Artisans to make the af-
fair successful, and they had every
reason to believe that it would be the
best picnic of the year in Polk Coun-
ty. Rven with the unfavorable
weather prevailing, the program was
one of the best ever enjoyed by pub
lie gathering in the county. The great
est disappointment of the day was in
the attendance. The crowd was esti-
mated at from $500 to 5000 people,
it is certain that no less than
5000 people would have been present
had the usual sunny June weather
continued thronob tho yuanlr
Despite the dark and gloomy morn
ing, many people took the optimistic
view of the situation. and equipped
with overcoats and umbrellas in true
Oregon style, gathered in the new park
on the bank of the LaCreole River
below town to await whatever was to
occur. The program which was to have
been given was delayed, and the pic
nickers retired to the only sheltered
place of amusement on the grounds,
the y-go-round, and spent their
time and money, while the rain poured
in torrents on the outside Between
showers the Dallas band gave con-
certs, and in this way the time was
1f the dinner hour, the people spread
their snowy table cloths on the wet
grass and enjoyed their luncheon in
rue picnic style.
Good Weather in Afternoon.
Soon after the noon hour, the clouds
,egan rolling away toward the Cas-
,ade mountains and the sun came out
bright and warm. A band concert
lrew the large crowd to the speakers
tand and the program which had been
scheduled for the morning was begun.
Following the band selection, the large
audience arose and listened to the
nging of America" by mixed
Iuartet in most inspiring manner.
Arthur Allen, President of the Day
md one of the most effective workers
or the success of the big picnic, de-
pleasing manner he told of the purpose
# the picnic and traced the growth
md development of the Artisan lodge
1t:1s its humble beginning to the proud
position it occupies in the fraternal
world today. Mr.. Aliens. excellent ad-
Iress follows:
Words of Welcome.
"Fellow Artisans, ladies and gentle
is with pleasure that we
members of the United Artisans and
itizens of Rickreall welcome your
altering with us today on these
rounds and in this beautiful grove of
rees, many of the tallest of which
we're planted where they are now
rowing by one of Oregon's brave he
oes of the past-yColonel j. w. Mes
1ith-a man much loved and highly
onored in his day; man who work.
d hard and faithfully for the good of
ur grand, old State, and whose name
hall ever be written upon the pages
Oregon history He is now sleep |
anks of this quiet river.
"Our chief purpose in giving this
icnic is to attract you from your busi-
ess cares and to afford you day of
ecreation and pleasure, and to pro-
tote the interest of the Order of I'm
ed Artisans-one of the strongest fra
arnal orders in the land today Being |
as it was, 1 5 years ago in
he City of Portland. 1t is the product
( Francis I. and c. L. McKenna, two
rominent business men of Oregon's |
letropolis.
1T is an order run on safe and con-
ervative business lines, and has al
-ays had at its head some of the |
hrewdest business men to be found on
he Pacific Coast, among whom we
lay mention Judge Ballinger, now
ecretary of the Interior of our Ma
onal Government.
THE order was started in the midst
Z hard times, the first meeting being
eld November 1, 1894, and for several
ears after that date the American 1
eople experienced the hardest times
nown since the foundation of the |
But today, after Is years
Z existence, It has over 100000 of
ssets. 1t has paid out over three /
uarters of a million dollars to the 1
of deceased members. 1t 1
as the largest reserve fund per capita /
( any order in the United States. 1t
as lodges all over the Pacific Coast
nd a few in the Eastern States.
Since time immemmorial, it has
cen the custom of the higher classes
T societies and fraternal orders TO as
smble with their hosts and the invit- /
D public for a day Of recreation and I
leasure on some well-selected ground: 4
n the banks Of some flowing stream I
r river. or in some park adorned by
he beauties Of nature and placed in
igh state Of perfection by the hand Of
ian. In this day and age. we should 1
OF be prone 10 neglect this duty we
we TO ourselves and 70 our fellow
Itizens. for such gatherings as this in
pire us 70 higher citizenship. -Tis true
he cares Of the business world seem 10
lvolve themselves more stringently
pon US as time rolls on. but by COM
airing the statistics Of today with
hose taken from time 70 time in the
avs q our forefathers. We find we are
wing in a day Of far greater prosper
y than they
since the beginning of time. a great
ANY men in ali vocations OF life have