Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-06-09
For . Common Sense Fourth.


For a Common Sense Fourth.
A well known and patriotic either
of Augusta writes the editor of thu
Kenuebcc Journal, and we not only
approve his sentiments and susges
lions but recommend them to thu
careful consideration of our readers;
Some time ago l remember reading
in your paper a very able editoria
advocating "A safe and sane Fourth ol
July. l should like very much 10 SET
il carried out. All-Fools day, mis-.
named Fourth of July, the day We
celebrate as we celebrate 1t now is
a drunken debauch-a day set apart
when all sorts of yandalisms are car
ried on under the thin disguise of pa
triotism, and fully two-thirds of the
patriotic eelebrators do not know the
meaning of the word and could not
tell what they are celebrating II
placed under oath. Out of five people
whom the writer interviewed on
Fourth of July last, not one could tell
what the day meant. or why they eel
ebrated July Fourth, instead OF
August fourth. 1t was a case with
them where the boss said there would
be no work on a national holiday ana
they proceeded to create shortage in
the alcoholic supply of this country.
Now please don't misunderstood me;
l do not want TO see the observance
of the day abolished nor do ! want to
see the people gatherswit long faces
and listen TO some spellbinder in shiny
black froek and blighted face read the
Declaration of Independence. l be-
,ieve the day should be observed as
patriotic day, with good healthy,
manly sports, with fireworks if you
wish it, but the sale of the latter
should be restricted, so that our
streets should be as safe for women
and children on July Fourth as they
are on MAY fourth and We should not
allow some over-Zealous patriot with
alcoholic proclivit!es to throw punches
of crackers under women or chill
dren's clothing, or under spirited hors-
es, just to see what damage could be
done to life and property.
Millions of property goes up in
smoke every year. hundreds of lives
are lost, and thousands are MANNED,
some for life. all on account of our
idiotic way Of celebrating the Fourth.
The larger cities have cut it out, only
the smaller cities are taking the risk.
Can Augusta afford it? To some the
sane-and- safe observance of the day
would not appeal. Those clever ways
who delight in putting a giant-crack-
.er into a friends pocket, shatterine
his hip when it goes off. would moi
take to the idea kindly. They always
have and always will indulge in this
funny" practice, and when the pool
sufferer of the little joke, is taken tc
The hospital, they hurry over and with
the expression on their faces like fiat
notes on parlor organ. express deer
sympathy for the poor victim. and or
the way back buy few more giant
crackers and look for more gaping
: pockets to drop them in.
Let's give Augusta a safe-and-san
= Fourth. Change this All-Fools day
into n day of pleasure and recreation
) Let the Mayor permit the sale of fire
. works for July Fourth only, not fol
the second or third. Keep fire-work.
out of the congested business section
!. act the city government designate GER
tain sections of the city, like the STATE
park, or other places and give Younl
America a chance to burn all the pow
der, and fingers if they want TO, bu
keep the fireworks under control ant
not take a million dollar risk for fit
teen cents worth of fun.
4 The Boston Journal very truly point
out that the newspapers of the Unite,
States are responsible for this chang
ing a veritable slaughter Of the limo
cents TO "A comparatively safe indul
genee in enthusiasm. In 1909 the mum
Der killed and injured was more tina
500: last year IL fell just below 90
: Yet at Bunker Hill the total loss o
both sides was but l,474; and Corr
wallis at Yorktown surrendered onl
1900 more men than the total casua
ties exalted by "the glorious Fourth
four years ago. Consider such a ia,
as this. that at the first of the tv
battles which resulted in the surrend
/. Of Burgoyne the total number of An
orleans and British killed, woundt
: and missing. was $40. and the celebr;
ton OF American independence la
year caused the death and injury
ass persona. most OF them childre
The publicity the newspapers gave
fhe appalling facts following each Ju
Fourth, to compilations Of statisti
e,f deaths and mutations have u
sdoubtedly reclaimed a holiday whi'
Fl ii the past has been little short
narbaroues $1,000 4s--As --.A.. --- -