The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-25

t.onal honor and integrity call for de-
fence.
At the first meeting OF the commit
tee was shown the best evidence Of the
truth OF this feeling OF solidarity. Al
most every nation OF the globe Is repre-
scented by its sons on the Mayors COM
mittee. Gathered in the Aldermanic
Chambor for that first meeting were
men ~ every race. And Yet among
the hundreds there was only one spirit.
the spirit of Amer.canism.
II is TO accentuate this spiri. that
the committee of which ! have the
honor to be chairman is planning It's
programme. There are more than NJ
teen hundred members Of the commit
tee. and added to these 1900 are hun.
Greds of others who are assisting in
Preparing for the event. There are
sub-committecs IN every section OF the
city. and they are all working together
"ith one end IN view. the greatest cele-
hra;.on OF Independence Day since the
safe lud sane Fourth Idea was pro-
uulgated. This committee is the finest
body ~ men and women ever gathered
together tOr such a purpose. and the
results of this great effort will be DEM
onstrated when the day arrives,
ore ot the really big things We
would ike TO accomplish this year is
to eliminate the Fourth of July" II
ISN'T the day We object 10. but the
name, The Fourth of July" has stood
for something quite different from that
which this committee hopes for, II
has been n gala day, a festival Of
sports. ~ The Fourth Of July the
real spirit has been .ost. and II can
only he regained by readopting the
nam" given the day 10y our athers.
Independence Day"
We have already practically elimi-
mated the danger from the day, the
danger that was brought on by the IN
discriminate use Of fireworks. and the
day is really now safe and sane as
PLANNED. We think, therefore. that the
naHlc should Ice changed back to whore
1t was before the day became merely
Il fe.tal occasion.
The event IS too filed with import
10 br known merely by the day of the
month. II should he known as
thing more American, and 'lnde-
~rcndence Day" should become as COM
mon In IN" minds of our peop.e as is
Christmas. II We can accomplish this
even IN par; Our committee will feel
hat 1t has done well.
II is Impossible al this early date
To- go into detail as to the programme
for this years celebration Of Indepen-
denCe Day. hut enough already IL
PLANNED to make il certain that there
will he nearly five hundred celebrations
hold IN TN, .sari,lg sartinng 80 thu
greater city, Al of these celebrations
will be- IN the same spirit of true Amer
icanislm, whether they be held in the
school houses or on the athletic fields
In the parks.
Tho work of the committee has been
well organized this year, and We are
hoping to per eCt a permanent orgnni-
2l'iOn so that tho work can he car
RED over from year to year hereafter.
~ course there will he changes in the
makeup of the committee: new chair
m'u n Now secretaries are likely to
hc appointed from year to year, but In
the main tho committee will remain
very largely the same. with the same
mci. taking an active interest. In this
way II is hoped that such an lndepen-
dcnC" Day organization vii, develop
as VIII insure an annual celebration
worthy of the city In every respect.
This year the Aldermen have been
quite generous with US, having APP
propriatcd $4,000, as compared with
only 10000 last year, Added to this
will be n considerable sum to be gath
cred together by private subscrlp.
ton, Also the various local Organi-
cations get together funds OF their
own SO hat it. would not lie surpris-
ing II more than sI00.O 900 were en-
pended within the greater city this
year, We raised more than our city
appropriation ny private subscrip.
ton last year, and this time we hope
at least 20 double Il, Notwithstanding
the heavy drain IN the generous purse
of the city made by the fsnehts given
for the wounded soldiers and the war
widows Of Europe.
New York IL sometimes accused NJ
q lack VI patriotism, and though l bs.