Iditarod pioneer., 1914-07-11


 festivities in Iditarod last Saturday, and from the opening ceremonies until the last strains of the dance music rang out at the A. B. hall as Old Sol was making his scheduled appearance above the horizon on the morning of July }, there was not dull moment The lengthy program of events was carried out without hitch, and not single accident occurred to mar the days pleasure The lurid announcements of the days doings were more than tul- filed and happier, more good -natured crowd of merry makers was not to be found anywhere under the Stars and Stripes than those who celebrated the birthday of the nation in I,t,tarod. There have been more pretentious Fourth of July celebrations in Iditarod, in which more money was eX- pended and more people participated, but 1t is safe to say that no more enJoyable event of the kind was ever held here than the one of 1914.
 It is seldom that public celebration of this nature IS carried out without someone being dissatisfied and disgruntled, but If there were any such last Saturday they kept in the background, and nothing but words of praise and appreciation were heard for the celebration and the efficient commit tees who evolved and managed it. The only regrettable feature was that there were not more people here to enjoy it.
 The program opened at 30 with eXer- cises at stand erected at the corner Of First and Richmond streets. After the speaking the athletic contests were held on First street, and many of the events were closely contested and some most amusing features developed that kept the people in- terested until late in the afternoon.
 At 7 o'clock in the evening the river sports commenced, and these proved to be most interesting The docks and buildings on the river front were black with people, who remained until the last contest was decided and the moving picture show was 1 announced at A. B. hall. This also was keenly enjoyed by large number of peo- ple who were kept amused and entertained until time for the grand ball. Both the picture show and the ball were provided by the committee, and no admission was charged to either.
 The ball was we'll attended, and proved to be one of the most delightful ever held here. The hall was decorated with patrl- otic emblems and with the beautiful gowns NOIu DS lIlt lIiCSClllN'i q AllOHt SA>t III ing picture The music was excellent, and was provided by Mrs Percy Charles, Mrs. Robert Soutar and Mir. Button Many of those who participated had just returned from the Outside, and the occasion was somewhat in the nature of a reunion. Dancing was continued until late hour.
 Opening Of the Celebration
 The opening exercises commenced at l 30 o'clock, when, with fair crowd assembled in front of the speakers stand A. E. Maltby made the welcoming address on behalf Of the city. He extended a cordial and hearty welcome to the visitors from the nearby creeks and distant parts of Alaska, and in trodrced Mrs. Ray Clark to read the Dee laration of Independence. The reading of the historic document by Mrs. Clark was received with profound attention. At its conclusion Mir Maltbv introduced Judge Frederick E. Fuller of the United States district court for the Fourth division of Alaska.
 Judqe Fuller Talks
 Judge Fuller said that he felt that he needed no introduction to the people ot Iditarod In a few well-chosen and timely remarks he referred to the custom in vogue since revolutionary days of celebrating the national holiday, and said that although Alaska occupied an isolated position with reference to the rest of the country Ao where would be found a stronger spirit of patriotism than here. Nowhere in the United States. he said, was there q com nunitv which had contributed so liberally toward patriotic celebration, and it should be a matter of pride and qualification to the people of Idtarod. He referred to the Declaration of Independence which had just been read as having the same meaning and significance as in 1776. That great mani festo carried with it obligations as well as ccnferring privileges. It meant civil and religious liberty the right to worship God according to the dictates of ones conscience and to cast vote according to ones own judgment These privileges, which meant so much in those days, are taken for granted now. and we are apt to forget the obLga- ticns which go with citizenship. He com pared conditions existing in Mexico with those in the United States and warned hls hearers that liberty should not be stretched to license. 1t was fitting that we should consider Cn occasions such as the present one the means by which the greatness and prosperity of the nation had been arrived at. He introduced G. E. Gardner, assistant United States district attorney, the orator of the day, as "a man who had come from North Carolina to make his home here"
 Speech of MT. Gardner
 MT. Gardner, in beginning his remarks, said that he had no idea why he had been selected to deliver the address on this oc- casion, but there was an expression used In his home state about ''everyone to his own notion, as the old woman said when she kissed the cow" He desired his hearers to understand that he was with them. Your interests are my interests" he said "l have come to Alaska to make my home" He referred to the fact that in his own little mountain village, 5000 miles away, the people were just now returning home from similar celebration following for differ ence in timel and it was inspiring to re fleet that everywhere in this broad land the people were celebrating what he con- sdered the greatest of all holidays except CbriS+n1ac He considered that the Declara-