Arizona republican., 1912-06-21
The Electrical Fourth

pendence day was something of hor- TOT to the firemen and the police.
 Hearken now to the tale of decreased property loss. AS result of the adoption of the "safe Fourth" in New York two years ago the days loss by fire has decreased more than 80 per cent and the accidents which formerly marred the days fun have been almost completely eliminated. Sacrifices in Mother Columbia's worship have be- come rational with the passing of the years.
 Time to Say "Stop!"
 Certainly 1t was time to call a halt. Reliable statistics inform us that in 1903 there were 466 dead and 3,983 wounded. a total of 4,449 left lying on the battlefield of Independence day. In 1905 the total had risen to 5,176. al- though the fatalities had dropped to 1S2. In 1906 the fatalities were the same in number, but the injured were sufficient to bring the grand total to 5,466.
 In 1908 the high water mark of injury and death was recorded. The total was 5.623, of whom 163 persons. mostly l children, were killed. In 1909 the total l was only little lower. being 5,307, but | there are fifty-two more graves to the discredit of that years "old fashioned Fourth" That year the figures att tracted widespread attention, and the crusade for safer Independence day, | already having many followers, re- | ceived a great stimulus. Next year the melancholy roll call of dead and wounded was only half as long. Last year saw a further decrease, the num- h<,- of ,Jxr t6n 1 lowest number of which there is au- l thentic record, and the injured were | only 1,546, total of 1903.
 It is that "only' that the safe and sane" people are after. They argue
 that there is no need for the sacrifice
 of even a single life or eye or limb in 1 the sacred name of patriotism. apart.
 of course, from the battlefield whereon
 one fights for his country.
 Put the Blame on John Adams. The blame for putting America on | the wrong track in the matter of In
 dependence day celebrations is laid by
 these investigators at the door of old
 John Adams, second president of the | United States signer of the Declara
 tion of Independence and a good, all | round patriot He told his wife in a letter that has been widely quoted that
 July will be celebrated by succeed
 ing generations as the great anniver-
 sary festival. It ought to be solemn
 ized with pomp and parade, with
 shows, games, sports, GUNS. bells. BONFTRES and illuminations from
 one end of this continent to the other.'
 To all of which the present day re-
 formers breathe a hearty and earnest
 Amen" save to the words distinguish
 ed by capital letters. Guns and bon
 fires have been tried as means of cele-
 bration and have been found guilty.
 And if the reformers have their way,
 as seems likely, there will be no recall
 of this decision.
 These intelligent busybodies, who
 save undertakers' fees and doctors bills for parents. tell us that one need not live in a large city to have a "safe
 and sane" Fourth. They even go so far as to put the seal of approval on fireworks if the displays are safeguard ed properly. There is no need of fore going entirely the delights of gunpow-
 der if care be taken to see that they are properly confined. But these safe and saners lay stress on such things as , patriotic music, always effective in stirring up love for the fatherland. speeches. games, parades. drills, tableaux. concerts, athletic contests and pageantry.