Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-03-07
ANNUAL GATHERING OF FORMER
RESIDENTS OF HAwkEyE STATE
At Los ANGELES.
MINIATURE IOWA MAPPED
OUT ON PICNIC GROUNDS
Hawkeys Patriarehss and lowans Of
Tender Years Meet in Celebration -
Mayor Alexander Delivers Address
and Former. Prominent iowans Par.
tieipats in Program.
[Los Angeles Times, March 81

Forty thousand former Iowans, who
believe their native state would be the
finest place in the world to live in II
God had neglected to create California
invaded Eastlake park yesterday with
lunch baskets on their arms. 1t was
Iowa day and they celebrated with
! their annual picnic. They overfowed
every nook and corner of the popular
playground and the surro unding hills
! echoed and re-echoed merry revelry.
/! Wholesome farmers, their faces
tanned and furrowed by time and toll
strolled about with rosy checked wives
on their arms, meeting friends from
back home" and swapping yarns with
long lost. and newly-fouud acquaint-
ances. Young Hawkeyes, middle-aged
! Hawkeyes and Hawkeyes Of every age
class and calling, from the gurgling
| babe in the go-cart to patriarchs who
| can look back over four score years and
ten, were there, one great, good -natured
gossipy family.-"Hel1o, neighbor, what
part of Iowa are you from?" was the
password.
The gay laughter Of children mingled
| with the squeals of the merry go round
and not far away the Long Beach band,
playing the "Star Spangled Banner,
gave the scene a thoroughly festive ap-
pearance.
Special From Long Beach.
Eighteen special cars were required
to carry the Long Beach delegation to
the picnic grounds. All the drives in
the park and the roadways and side
streets we're lined with automobiles and
as the afternoon drew on the crowd in
creased until it was with difficulty that
one was able to make his way about
There were college headquarters,
lunch counters conducted by the
Daughters of the Revolution where
doughnuts, pie, sandwiches and hot
coffee were served Picnic lunches
were spread on the lawn, and Hawkeye
families sat around and enjoyed them
selves as if there had not been bliz-
card in Iowa in the morning.
From Main street to the lake-a city
block of beautiful, broad lawn min
iature Iowa was mapped out. Tables
names of the different counties, where
the Iowans registered and waited for
back home neighbOrs to appear.
like an every day history lesson. Names
Of great men and Indians names, all
suggestive of war struggle and hard
ships, Blaclshawk, Winneshiek, Della
ware, Dubuque, and Jefferson. Davis,
Van Buren, and Buchanan and many
more stood out in prominent relief
against the gorgeous gre.nery. flowers
and gay holiday attire of the picnickers.
ma CT Tor
of a bitter past and they made the
pant toward the serious, hard working
Iowans
Prominent Iowans Present.
Many men prominent in affairs of
this city registered at the various
tables. Mayor Alexander asserted his
pride in Iowa and welcomed fellow
1owans. He told them that while he is
glad he is an Iowan, he is also proud
that so many Of his own people have
shown the good judgment to come to
California to live. He declared Cali
fornia is the only place on earth for
him and he hopes to remain here the
rest of his life.
G. Ray Horton proved himself the
best kind Of an Iowan. Horton dra-
matically declared he is glad he was
born In the grand old state; that once
an Iowan. always an Iowan-until
California is discovered. Then-well, it
always makes a difference. Horton de-
Tended his statespeople against the
names which were applied to them in
recent magazine article. declaring
that no matter whether they are COM
mon people or not. God has shown them
particular favor in making it possible
for SO many Of them to come to Cali
fornia and make their homes.
Plea for Pleasure.
Col. A. B. Shaw deplored the ten
dency of Iowans to give too much of
their time and attention to work and
not enough to play. He urged every
one to take lesson from the Don't
Worry Club" which gathers at the
Plaza and which he said typiaes the
California spirit. He urged them to
learn to live, that they may be able to
renew the good times of earlier days
and get more Of pleasure than Of wealth |
out of life.
Mrs. Fletcher Howard, secretary of
the Des Moines Club; DIR. o. E. Mason,
Of Long Beach. and number Of others
made brief addresses. Judge Wilbur
and DR.. II. E. McGraw did not appear
among the speakers as scheduled.
The veteran of the day Judge J. f. !