Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-07-21
CIRCUS IS GIVEN
KEYS To A CITY
Moline in Public Demonstration
Welcomes First Big Show
to Midst.
is DECLARED A HOLIDAY
Only Disturbing Rumor Is That Pa
rade Might Invade Rock Island,
But This Is Throttled.

Proud Moline was true to its
name today. In spirit of ecstatic
joy rarely witnessed or experience
ed, it rendered the keys of
the city to Barnum & Bailey. The
warmth and enthusiasm of the re-
ception is probably unprecedented
among the cities of this or any other
nation. Barnum & Bailey never saw
such a welcome, such greeting, such
hospitality, if we may call it
so. 1t would not be surprising
to hear later of new additions to the
city and babies and plows being
christened for the founders of the
famed tented enterprise that has con-
ferred such a signal distinction on
our proud municipality at the east
Not Muscatine tomorrow, nor Center
vile the day following, will extend
such welcome.
The circus folk we're made to feel
that they were among admiring
friends and it is to be expected that
there will be affectionate handshak-
ing, with an occasional tear, as the
farewells are said, when the camel
his trunk to other fields during the
night.
Tomorrow it will be but memory:
PardOnabIe Excitement.
There appears to be an excuse for
the demonstration by our proud sis
ter city. 1t does not seem possible
that the circus magnates did not
know that there was such a city as
Moline on the map, but for some I'M
explained reason, until this season
they have never considered it as
location for their shows. These were
presented either in Rock Island or
Davenport. The Barnum & Bailey
and the Ringing enterprises are I'M
der the one management. This OBJ
yiates the disastrous clashes that
characterized the business in the days
when each show was after the scalp
of its competitor. Wise business
counseling has brought about con-
solidation of the larger circus en-
terprises in this country. The result
is a division of territory. Thus Dav-
export had the Ringlings Monday,
and the Illinois side today is given
the Barnum & Bailey circus.
Victory Finally Comes.
The Moline vigilance committee
has been trying for years and years
to land a circus above the magnitude
of the one-ring variety. The mana
gers of the big shows have been well
coined to the city and shown the busy
factory buildings and the other at
fractions there, loaded with litera-
ture boosting the locality, and af
forded other data in an effort to car
ry the point that it had the goods
on Rock Island as a revenue-producer
for the circus owner.
There Is an axiom that the con-
slant dripping of water will wear
away the stone Thus the managers
of Barnum & Bailey finally succumb-
ed to the opportunities of proud Mo-
line.
1t was a splendid victory!
The official announcement that
"the greatest show on earth" was to
visit Moline could not have caused
brought the intelligence that Presi-
dent Taft and Colonel Roosevelt were
to pass the summer at Campbell's
island. The usual circus license fee
was waived by the city; lot was
provided gratis. as well as being
cleared by the owners of trees, etc,
in order that the camels might get
under without brushing their humps.
There were promises that the fac
tory men would be let off at noon in
order that they might with their fami-
lies enjoy the occasion to the fullest
extent.
Reception Committee About Early.
The reception committee met the
first section of the circus train at
the outskirts of the city at
the day dawn to formally
welcome the visitors. There were