Omaha daily bee., 1914-07-05
FTRELESS FOURTH IN GOTHAM
Celebration Opens with Sunrise
Meeting in Central Park.
SPORTS ON ALL FAIRGROUNDS
Only Permit Issued for FirevarISs
is One for PyrOtecbnic Display
from Float Off Long
Island.

NEW YORK, Ju y A sunrise meet
ing in Central park, at which patriotic
addresses were delivered marked the
opening of the official celebration of In
dependence day in New York City. Ex-
cept for the display of flags from almost
every building and house there was moth
ing to distinguish the day from any
other holiday. An occasional pop of fire.
cracker or blank cartridge recalled other
Fourths before the ban was placed on
noise-making powder products With
safety and sanity as the chief aims of the
official celebration committee, Fire Com
missioner Adamson early in the day en-
listed the aid of the police to make II a
fireless holiday as well. Not a single fire
works permit has been issued by the fire
department and the sole permit in exist
ence is an old one sanctioning a pyro-
technical exhibition on a float off North
Beach, Long Island.
The days program provides for cele-
brations in every part of the greater city
and the degree of observance covering
speeches, music, dancing and athletic
events. At eighty playground centers $1,000
boys and girls were entered in games for
which medals to the number of 10000 and
100000 American flags waited distribution.
Eight airmen entered for a mixed aero
plane and .flying.hoat race over an all
water course above the Hudson river and
New York bay, was the most sensational
feature of the days offerings The race
is said to be the first in this country in
which engines have been powered above
1OO-horsepower, and with flying boats
competing with lighter and presumably
swifter land going machines.
SaIutes at Washington,
WASHINGTON, July 4.-Firecrackers
were to sputter and big guns of the fleet
were to boom out in salute today as part
of the celebration of Independence day by
men of the American army and navy in
distant Vera Cruz. On ship and ashore
the jackies, marines and soldiers had ar
ranged a holiday.
At noon each ship was to fire a salute
of twenty guns and as the Stars and
Stripes broke out ashore, the land bat
teries were to join in the noisy demon
stration Foreign ships in the harbor, fol-
lowing international custom, were ex-
pected to unlimber their guns in salute
Ashore there were to be patriotic exer-
cises and speeches and bands OF the fleet
were to play in the citys plazas.
The wheels of the government prac-
LlCduy were dN u bldiiuSNA NoNoS "AAiN
the national capital Joined in with other
cities and hamlets of the nation in cele-
bration of Independence day. There
were no sessions Of congress, the White
House virtually was deserted, the execu-
tive departments were closed and Presi-
dent Wilson and other officials of the
government laid aside official duties to
participate in patriotic celebrations here
or elsewhere.
The itinerary Of the various officials
took President Wilson to Philadelphia
for an address; Speaker Clark to Chase
City and Farmville, Va for an address;
Secretary Bryan to North Carolina for a
speech; Secretary Daniels to Charlottes-
vile, Va. for a speech before the Uni
versity Of Virginia; Representative I'm
derwood of Alabama, democratic leader
of the house. and Representative Fttz-
gerald of New York to Brooklyn for
speeches.
Vice President Marshall put aside the
cares of his office to go picnicking with
his family; other members of the cabinet
spent the day in the quiet Of their homes
or at nearby resorts, at work or on week
END trips.
Many members of both houses Of con-
gress took advantage of adjournment TO
spend the holidays at summer resorts or
went to their homes, while other spoke
at celebrations in Washington OF at other
places.
The closing Of the governmental depart
ments enabled thousands of officials and
| employees TO spend the day on excursions
or to participate in exercises or sports.
Living Flag in -. Louis.
ST. LOUIS, July A peace pageant" +"
a diving flag tableau and masque
! called Patriotism" all presented by
school children under the guidance of
teachers and mothers clubs in the public
parks were the characteristic methods Of
celebrating Independence day in st, Louis.