Rock Island Argus., 1914-09-03
THE PRICE WE PAY.


The account of the American public
for the Fourth OF July has been bal
anced for another year. and the price,
as usual. is heavy. Three little boys
died from lockiaw as a result of Fourth
Of July injuries; 1G persons, mostly
little girls and small children, were
burned to death from fireworks: five
persons were killed by firearms, six
by explosion OF gun powder, guns or
tOrpedoes, four by cannon, and FIVE
died from blood poison resulting from
Injuries. caused by fireworks. The to-
tai number OF deaths resulting from
Fourth OF July injuries. according TO
the 18th annual report on this subject
compiled by the Journal OF the Ameri-
can Medical Association, Is 40, and the
number injured Is 1.4G6. making a to-
tai Of 1906 accidents resulting from
the Fourth OF July celebrations.
Among those injured but not killed,
50 were totally blinded. 13 lost one eye
each, 1G lost legs, arms or hands. and
CO lost one or more fingers. This rec
ord. which reads like a report OF
European battlefield. IS unfortunately
not as good as that OF last year or the
year before. In 1913 only 32 persons
were killed and 1,I31 injured, and in
1912, while Il persons were killed,
only 947 were injured-the smallest
number reported in the past 12 years.
Pennsylvania still leads all the other
states. having had 4s7 Fourth OF July
injuries TO her credit this year, or
over % per cent OF those in the en-
tire country. OF which PAL, or about
one-half. occurred in Philadelphia.
New York had 25O accidents, almost
double the number reported last year
Illinois reported % injuries. or more
than twice as many as last year. while
Massachusetts and Connecticut had
respectively 81 and II cases--the larg-
est number since 1910. In Missouri.
Nebraska, Ohio and Washington the
number has decreased to a marked
extent
During the IL years in which these
statistics have been collected, 42.7S6
persons-nearly 43 regiments-have
been injured through Fourth OF July
accidents.
The responsibility for these condi-
tions rests clearly with the city gov
ernment. since the sale OF fireworks
is largely subject TO municipal regu-
latiOn. In the "a largest cities in the
country, IS persons were killed and
GSl persons injured, the other acct
dents occurring in small towns and
rural communities. Many of the cit
les in the past five years have adopt
ed prohibitive ordinances. The ra-
suits are shown by their comparative
immunity from Fourth OF July acct
dents. Such ordinances are now be
ing enforced in Baltimore, Boston.
Chicago. Cleveland, Minneapolis, New
ark, st. Paul. Toledo. Trenton and
Restrictive, but not pro-
hibitive measures are enforced in New
York. St. Louis, Pittsburgh and Buff
falo. For the last four years, Phila-
delphia mas been the only large city
having more than 100 injuries. In
the report the Journal OF
the American Medical Association
says: '''In spite OF the slightly re-
iuced number OF tetanus 1ockjaw)
.sses this year, the returns are some
what discouraging. The increased
number Of killed and injured indicates
4 relaxation in the enforcement OF the
'orced two years ago. Instead OF re-
axation OF restrictive measures. the
Ise of fireworks in the celebration OF
fourth of July should be strictly pro-
libited To Kill outright 30 persons 4
md 10 wound and main .4G6 others /
= not a very fitting token OF our I
for the declaration OF in
dependence signed over a hundred /
ears ago. Is it not rather an
that in this country
owdyism cannot be restrained. or that
he only way We can show our pa
riotism is by rot and murder? The
esults OF two years ago show plainly
hat these evils can be entirely done
way with. II IS hoped that the oity
nicials viii continue their prohibitiye
measures until tho desirable end is
ttained."