Arizona republican., 1915-04-18
CONGREGATION 0F: HAWKfYES
 AT RIVERSIDE
Annual Picnic of the Iowa Society Yesterday at Riv- erside a Successful Fes- tival from Every Point of View

The Iowa picnic held at Riverside park yesterday afternoon was a de- cided success from many view points. The attendance was large, thus af fording an opportunity to former resi- dents of the Hawkeye state for the making of new acquaintances and the renewing of old ones. A program of speaking followed the picnic dinner which was served at noon while number of athletic and fun making contests concluded the day. In all Iabout two hundred and fifty former residents of Iowa were in attendance and participated in the election of of ficers for the ensuing year and the making of plans for several events which will be fathered by the Iowa Society of Arizona before the next annual picnic. One of the most en- jOyed features of the day was the reading of an original poem by it's author Mr. Andrew Downing. Of the ninety nine counties in Iowa thirty seven were represented at the picnic
 The day could not have been more ideal for an outdoor gathering and it was long before noon that the mem bers of the society and their friends, former residents of the state, began to gather at Riverside. The coming of the picnicers continued until the noon hour when Dr. J. C. Norton, the pres ident of the Iowa society of Arizona announced on behalf of the ladies who had been preparing the picnic lunch l ha ha cnr 1x, ha
 ed. The table arrangements had been in charge of Mrs. Gates and the Misses Lydia Evans and Marietta Norton. Messrs Comstock, Duffy and Tannehill had previously superintend- ed the making of the coffee So many were the baskets and so delicious were the various picnic dishes that over an hour was spent by the Iowans at the picnic tables
 The tables cleared away Dr. Norton gave the assembled guests a history of the forming of the Iowa society and the various events heretofore partici- pated in by the members of the or ganiZation. Andrew Downing for years a resident of Boone county, Iowa. and the first postmaster of 1 Boone, the county seat, read an ori- ginal poem. The Hawkeyes." MT. Downing, the year before. had com posed the Iowa song which was later sung in chorus by the assemblage. The address of the day. Early Reminis- cences of Iowa. was made by Judge G. w. Barrows, former resident of
 ayne county It had been the speak CTS advantage to have been a resi- dent of Iowa for many years follow ing 1870 and he had travelled or resid- ed in every county of the state. His first visit to Iowa, however was made when boy of ten years of age in lS5S when as a truant he ran away from his home in Illinois. The speak CT was thoroughly versed with the tsubJect of his address and his de- livery was particularly pleasing. He made many comparisons showing to the advantage of Iowa in reference to other states the financial condition of the home state. the low rate of il- literacy, good roads mileage the trans portation facilities which made possi- ble unusual market conditions.
 In connection with the market con- ditions he told the story of the 1910 bumper corn crop when Iowa harvest ed over $37,000,000 worth of corn. He recalled to the minds of his listeners that Iowa has no bonded debt and that none is permissible under the state constitution, only for the purpose of fepelling an invasion in the con ila?ency of var. He spoke Of the dalry resources of Iowa pointing out 1 the fac; that the state of New Yor,, alone exceeds that state of all the states in the union in the value of such products.
 (. w. Comstock told several good stories on and about Iowans. He was followed by Herbert w. Patrick and Ned Creighton, who made brief remarks which concluded the pro- gram. Creighton was called upon by Dr. Norton for the purpose of showing specimen in avoirdupois and what Arizona climate could and had done for a son of Iowa.
 The business meeting held for the purpose of electing officers for the ensuing year resulted in the election ! Of Dr. J. C. Norton of Iowa, presi- dent; G. w. Barrows. H. D. Telford. c. W. Comstock and Chas. Bandy. vice presidents; A. G. Hulett, trea- surer and Mrs Raymond M. Gates. secretary. l The program of sports arranged by Messrs. Telford. Shirley Christy and COmstOck concluded the events of the day There was a girls smil i ing race, peanut race, mems laughing ! race, potato race, women's egg race. and boys whirling race. All were 1 eagerly contested and afforded no end of amusement for the picnicers. | i It was late in the afternoon when the | HaWkeye folk found their way back to town from the park and to their |