Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-07-04
PRESIDENT SPEAKS
IN PHILADELPHIA
Delivers Independence Day
Grafton to Thousands in
Historic Square.
GREETED BY BIG CROWD
ON REACHING THE CITY
Giant Celebration Attended by Mem
bers of Congress and Representa-
tives Of Original States.

PHILADELPHIA, July 4.-President
Wilson arrived here at 10:35 o'clock to
attend the big national Independence
day celebration arranged by Philadelphia
to commemorate tho 13Sth anniversary
Of the signing Of tho Declaration OF In
dependence. The trip from Washington
was uneventful. After breakfast Mr..
Wilson and his secretary. Mr. Tumulty.
and DR.. Cary T. Grayson, his naval aid,
took a nap. There were no crowds at
any Of the stations along the way.
President Wilson was greeted by a
shrill chorus Of factory whistles from
all parts of Philadelphia as he entered
the square in front of historic Independ-
ence Hail.
In attendance at the giant celebration
were members of Congress and governors
or representatives of the governors of
the original thirteen states and dele
cations from nearly every patriotic or
occupied a chair used by John Hancock
and before him was the table on which
the Declaration of Independence was
signed. A pitcher once used by George
Washington contained his ice water.
Huge Crowd Present.
Lines Of sailors, marines and soldiers
occupied the space in front Of the plat
form, and beyond them stretched huge
crowd drawn from many parts. Of the
nation.
On the Presidents arrival at the Broad
street station he was welcomed by a
delegation of citizens and by the LIST
City Troop Of Philadelphia, which acted
as his guard of honor during the ride to
independence Square, mile distant.
Driving along Broad and Chestnut
and by city police and secret service
men, Mr.. Wilson was enthusiastically
cheered by large holiday crowds. He
was in a happy humor and bowed fire.
quently.
The patriotic exercises in Independence
Square. close to the room where the
Declaration Of Independence was signed,
we're begun before the President arrived
Exercises have been held there every
year on the Fourth Of July. but this year
it was planned to make the celebration
national In scope. So far as the records
70 President Wilson is said to be the
first President of the United States who
has come to the cradle OF liberty on the
nations natal day. The thirteen original
states were represented at the exercises
either by their governors or other repre-
sentatives of the state governments.
President Wilson left here at 1880 pm.
on his return to Washington.
Historic Eight Bells Sounded.
Old Christ Church, located in the section
of Philadelphia that was first settled,
which edifice is closely associated in the
history Of American freedom with Inde-
pendence Hall, sounded today the historic
eight bells that rang with the liberty bell
July 4, 1776. Eight men who are kept In
practice for special celebrations like tnat
of today manned the ropes attached TO
the bells in the church tower. July 4,
1776, there was meeting in Old Christ
Church almost the same hour or the
meeting in Independence Hall, a few
blocks away, where the countrys fathers
were drafting the Declaration Of lnde-
pendence. The meeting in Christ Church
was called to discuss an amendment 70
the prayer book.
Word of the signing of the Declaration,
sounded forth by the liberty bell. was
echoed by the chimes in the church tower
and then the assembly in the church pass
ed a resolution amending the prayers for
the King Of England SO that the people
might pray for the officials OF the ne"
republic.
The old PRAYER book, with the alterations
in the handwriting of Bishop White. was
used at the commemoration service to-
day.
Sunrise Meeting in Park.
NEW YORK, July "A sunrise meeting
in Central Park, at which patriotic ad-
dresses were delivered, marked the open
ing OF the official celebration OF lndepend-
ence day in New York city. Except Tor
the display of flags from almost every
building and house. there was nothing to
distinguish the day from any other noHoay
An occasional pop Of firecracker or
blank cartridge recalled other Fourths be-
fore the ban was placed on powder-pro-
ducing noisemakers.
aims Of the Official celebration commit
tee, Fire Commissioner Adamson early In
the day enlisted the aid Of the police to
make it a fireless holiday as well. Not
a single fireworks permit has been issued
by the fire department, and the sole per-
NIT in existence Is an old one sanction
ing a pyrotchnical exhibition on noat on
North Beach, L. I.
The days program provides for celebra-
tions in every part Of the greater city,
and the degree Of observances covering
speeches, music, dancing and athletic
events. At eighty playground centers
10000 boys and girls were entered in
games. for which n medals eds to the number
awaited distribution.
Tonight the city will be in a blaze Of
light from thousands Of electric bulbs
placed on the towering domes OF Man
haitian ONCE ana DuSlHeS6 uuiiuluSS duu
in the public parks.
Eight airmen entered for mixed aero
plane and fiying-boat race over an ALL
water course above tho Hudson river
and New York bay was the most SEN
sational feature of the days offerings.
The race is said to be the first in this
country in which engines have been
powered above 100 horsepower and with
flying boats competing with the lighter
and presumably swifter land-going ma
chimes.
Elaborate Program in Boston.
BOSTON, July 4.-Today brought as
nearly perfect holiday weather as the
most ardent Independence day celebrator
could desire The might before the
4th," however. was the coldest on rec
ord at the weather bureau for that date,
the official mercury dropping to f1fty-one.
An elaborate program for the day was
arranged by the city
Sane Fourth in Chicago.
CHICAGO, July 4.-This was the most
sane of Chicago's sane Fourths. The
old noises Of explosions, the rumble of
and tho ringing of Eongs
marking the actiI- 80 Of the fire de-
partment were conspicuously missing.
Even oratorical demonstrations were
at a low ebb. although Gov. Dunno
spoEn In the aYIhurh Of Maywood.