The Harrison times., 1914-05-30
Thro Mountain and Valley
For Fiue Hundred Miles
Annual Excursion of the
Arkansas Press Association
May 2I-23, 1914
(By Clio Harper, Editor W. n. ID
May 2l-23, 1914

(By Clio Harper, Editor w. N. U)
"0h happy day, oh happy day,
When we came down Strawberry Way,
They taught us how to eat and say
We want strawberries six times day.
Oh happy day, oh happy day,
When we came down Strawberry Way"
Three days Of unalloyed pleasure.
through a land Of unstinted prosper
fly, one continuous round Of entertain
ments and receptions, breakfasts, and
dinners and suppers, automobile
drives and balls. speechmaking and
festivities, among the most graclously
hospitable people on earth-thGt was
the record Of the annual excursion Of
the Arkansas Press Association
through Northeast Arkan0as the three
days following the forty.second an
nual convention, May q, 22 and 23,
From the rugged picturesquencss Of
North Arkansas, up near the Missouri
line to the st. Francis valley with its
fertility surprising that Of the Nile,
the excursionists went their trium'
phant way.
By all 1t was admitted to be the
most successful excursion ever taken
by the press gang-,he country
through which 1t passed was more
varied and interesting, the reception
everywhere the most enthusiastic, the
entertainment most generous and free
handed Each community seemed to
vie with the preceding in the liberal
fly OF It's entertainment, and the only
danger was that the recipients Of all
these honors and bounties might per.
ish OF oyer.feasting.
There were ia members OF me eX'
cursion party, including the wiyee and
children and sweethearts and invited
guests, among whom were Mayor and
Mrs. Charles B. Taylor, OF Little Rock,
Mr.. Taylor being one Of those fire.
quently called upon to respond to
toasts and addresses Of welcome. The
excursion covered Sos miles, Of which
840 was on the Iron Mountain, lG9 on
the Frisco, and SO on the NJ, & N. A,
and the Jonesboro, Lake City & East.
ern, The trip was made In n special
train, with great streamers on the
side, Arkansas Press Association"
II was accompanied throughout by Gen,
Supt ]. w. Dean Assistant General
Passenger Agent r. e, Schroeder D,
q Welty, Commissioners OF Agricul'
ture, c. o, Carpenter assistant com,
missioner, Jack Kearney director Of
publicity Carroll Walker, secretary TO
Mr. Dean, all OF tho Mo, pac..lron
Mountain, Fred d, Wore Of the Mis-.
Bourl n North Arkansas, and Chas.
ROhrer of the Rock Island On the
Frisco line the eXcurslonIsts were roy
ally treated by Division Supt, Charles
Baltzell, who ten years ago was ply.
Blcal director OF the Little Rock Ath.
ietlc Association, Ralph Powden tray.
cling passenger agent, and II, c, Ga
briel, assistant superintendent At all
times the entire train crew. follow,
fng the examples set by Supts, Dean
and Baltzell, were alert In extending
courteBles and looking after tho com.
fort and convenience Of the excursion.
lists, George r. Brown, Secretary Of
The Little Rock Board Of Trade, and
known Ns ono OF the capital olty's
greatest boosters, also accompanied
the party,
The receptions everywhere we're more
than gonorouB-they were lavish. The
stops varied from twenty minutes 10
fifteen hours, the longest stays being
Mt Mammoth Spring Thursday night
and at Jonosboro Friday night Rocep,
tIon committees were awaiting at each
place, with brass bands, and Nutomo,
biles, and welcome signs across the
streets, II began Nt seOrey where
Col, Brundldge welcomed the party In
the rebuilt courthouse. and there were
speeches by citizens and members Of
\ The Association, The principal speak.
i ors OF the excursion party whose clio,
auehee was heard at the various stops
were Secretary OF state Hodges, May.
or q ID, Taylor, 7, u, Wood, the retir.
Ing president, V A, Beeson, the new
president Mrs. SallIo l. Stanfleld c.
A. Berry A. u, MurlIn, G, p, Newton
nd numerous Others Brief, snappy
talks were the order, and longwInded
speeches were everywhere out Of
place
More attention was given TO CASTRO.
Monies than 10 oloquonce, ana II was
this fact which inspired the beautiful
yrlo, "When We Came Down Straw.
berry Way" which was sung by the
chief entertainers OF the party prIn.
cipally, Fred Pattoe, Ray Gin, Barlo
Hodges, A. d. MWln, Erwin Funk, Il,
o. sehoefer and others The first two
days we're enlyened by the bunch who