The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-03
Tableuu Costumes, Charlottesville, Va,
"Snne FOURTH 1000.

There are going "safe and sane" on
this yexed Fourth of July question
almost as many communities as have
gone dry on the liquor question. A
nationwide propaganda for the re-
duction OF the red casualty roll OF In
dependence Day is on in dead earnest,
and I have Just come from the ma
tionai headquarters here OF the Amer
ican Civic Association. which is using
its machinery TO awaken the nation
to the necessity Of preventing such a
slaughter OF innocents as occurred on
Independence Day a year ago.
Last Fourth was bIoodier than the
previous one, according to the lately
compiled statistics OF the American
Medical Association. There were only
third more deaths and double the
number OF lockjaw cases due directly
TO explosions and fire used in cele-
brating independence. This CORY rec
ord has spurred to action leaders in
the various civic Improvement move
meuts. A list OF communities that
will have safe and sans'' Fourths
this year has been furnished to me
by Richard B. watrous. secretary of
the American Civic Association.
The dynamite cracker, toy pistol ana
blank cartridge have been put out OF
business in the whole State of Massa-
chusetts by bill lately signed by
Governor Draper, and twenty-one
other Governors have enlisted under
the sane Fourth banner.
Cities Forbiddins Fireworks.
The sale and explosion OF fireworks
of all kinds are forbidden in Wash
!ngton. Cleveland. Minneapolis, Toledo.
Baltimore. Lafayette. Ind, LIE Mars,
Iowa. and St. Petersburg. Fla. Wash
ington. Cleveland and Baltimore
showed the country last year how
great cities may hold an unexplosive
Fourth. and the capital city as re-
suit reduced It's 1o4 hospital cases of
1908 to none, while there were no
deaths which could be attributed to
the celebration. The children denied
the handling OF explosives enjoyed.
instead. a public display of daylight
fireworks" in the Market space in the
morning and in the Mall in the after
noon, a gorgeous automobile parade
later In the afternoon and elaborate
night fireworks on the ellipse behind
the White House. Not cracker was
exploded by any individual citizen
during the day. and not only were
there no Fourth OF July accidents"
but fewer arrests than usual. Cleve-
land on the same day was protected
by an ordinance fixing penalties for
selling or using fireworks. firearms,
explosives or fire balloons up to Sln0
fne and thirty days imprisonment in
the workhouse. And instead of handling
these things themselveA. thei young
sters Witnessed pyrotechnic displays
in the public parks. under the man
agement OF the Board of Public Ser
vice. In this manner the death record
was reduced from twelve in 1908, to
none in 1909. BRlttmore's Mayor re-
fused to use the power vested in him
to, grant permits for the explosion of
fireworks. and as a result there was
only one death and marked reduc-
ton of fatalities.
Restricted, hut Not Prohibited.
One OF Bostons city officials an
nounced Just before last independence
Day. that he wanted the people to
warm up and let the world know
they were alive" Then when the
smoke of carnage cleared away five
were found dead-two sho. down. three
giving up their lives as human torches
and 1877 lay injured. some with eyes
blown out and others with hands.
fingers and ears torn off. So this
year Boston. in addition to receiving
the protection OF the new State law.