The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-04-21
HOW MUCH FOR THE
"SANER FOURTH"
Less Powder and More
Pleasure for All
An Opportunity to Show That You
Are Patriotic.

read as follows:
ITO see If the town will vote to
raise a sum of money for more pa
triotic and less hazardous observ-
ance of Our National Fourth of July,
and pass all votes respecting the
same"
The meeting voted to pass over
the article
With no one speaking word in
behalf OF favorable action on this ar
tjcle in the warrant, it was to be ex-
pected that it would be passed over
by a meeting always careful not to
appropriate cent needlessly or fool
lshly. 1t is to be regretted that none
took it upon themselves to convince
the meeting of the wisdom of raising
sum of money for the purpose writ
ten in the article.
1t is hardly necessary to mention
the dangers of our usual method of
observing the Fourth" With explo-
sives on every hand and system or
order nowhere, it Is to be wondered
that any of us are alive to prepare
for another celebration. 1t is fact
that more lives have been sacrificed
to the celebration OF the act of July
Fourth, 1875, than were lost in the
subsequent war. How much care
lessness and criminal negligence
this betokens on the part of Ameri-
can people!' Last year hundreds of
children were killed, injured and
o. iohf
ports of tabulated statistics; there
were doubtless other hundreds of ac-
cidents never reported.
Is it, after all, anything short of
criminal to place explosives, power
full enough to MAIN and kill, in the
hands of boys-and girls as well? In
deed, the small boys is fit to be tied
II ever he was, on July Fourth.
1t certainly cannot be said that
Skowhegan is lacking in patriotism;
her record of spirit in war and peace
alike quickly disproves any charge
of Indifference that might be set
against her. If 1t should be fifty
demonstrated that it is possible to
celebrate the Anniversary of the Dec
laraton of Independence without
dangerous amusements, adding en-
there can be little doubt but that an
other annual town meeting would ap-
propriate a sum sufficient for the pur-
pose; without such a demonstration
1t may be years before a sum of mon
ey is so appropriated and Skowhe-
gan will come about suddenly to the
realization of her backwardness in
receiving a great national reform-a
patriotic and humane national re-
form.
Springfield, where the safe and
sane" idea had its practical inception
seven years ago, will again hold an
orderly and instructive observance.
In Boston the safeguarding regula-
ton will be more binding than ever
and parades, a choral festival, sports
and fireworks displays are planned
New Haven, Conn, Newport, R. L.,
Pawtucket, r. l., Montpelier, Vt,
Melrose, Haverhill and Fitchburg,
also have been won over to the re-
form. In several other New England
cities the councils have nearly COM
pleted the restrictive actions. And
in many cities outside New England
the reform is being received. Is
Skowhegan to be the last to awaken
to her duty?
In common with every sane per-
son in Skowhegan the Independent
Reporter desires that no child or
grown person shall this year receive
injuries OH the Fourth" and that the
observance Of our greatest holiday be
for the first time truly patriotic. To
this end the plan outlined below is
proposed:
That a fund amounting to $500, or
approaching as nearly as possible
that figure, be raised by popular sub
scription;
That, in case the fund is raised, the
town officers make restrictions con-
corning the use of explosives, etc;
That a committee of five make
plans for the observance of the day
and the best expenditure of the fund
and that said committee confer with
the town officers
That above committee be chosen In
the following manner: Every sub
scription to the fund shall be ac-
companied by the votes of the sub
scriber for the five members of said
committee, and the five persons re-
ceiying the highest number of votes
shall constitute the committee. the
greatest number of votes to deter
mine the chairman.
1t is expected that every father
Will do his share toward raising the
1und; both by subscribing himself
and persuading others to do so. 1t is
better to give ten dollars to the fund
TO help your boy and all others to
nave an enjoyable time than to give
ten dollars to your boy to buy pow
oer with which to blow off his head
or part of it. If you are not a
father or mother, just imagine how
twelve inch cannon cracker might
ieel on the back of your own neck
or under your feet; and you cannot
prove that you will not get the SEN
satlon next Fourth . IL the old
fashioned celebration comes back
again. 1t is hoped that all clubs, So
cleties, and various organizations
ABOUT town will contribute largely to
The fund, and in every possible way
encourage the reform and the fund
winch is to be the means of it,
Address all subscriptions for the
iund and all communications bear
ing upon this proposition to The Sane
oelebration Fund, care Independent
Reporter, Skowhegan.
Inc names of subscribers will be
pupilshed each week unless request
10 made not to do so.
everybody boost for the best