Iditarod pioneer., 1917-07-07
GLORIOUS FOURTH
Celebration at Flat Attracts Crowds to Listen to Patriotic Addresses and Participate in Games
 and Entertainments

holiday costumes of women and children and smeared the surface of the earth with mass of sticky mud, great crowd gath cred at Flat on the Fourth of July to take part in the celebration of the national holl day. They came from near and far, and Every portion of the district was repre- metropolis were thronged with people from early morning until late at night while the restaurants and other places of refreshment did a land office business all day. The crowd which listened to the patriotic ad- dresses on the ball grounds was surprise even to the residents, and the interest mani tested in everything provided for the enter tainment of residents and visitors must have been most gratifying to the committees which were responsible for the celebration Early in the morning, because ot the heavy downpour which had continued dur ing the night, and which threatened to mar the days festivities, it was announced that the program had been postponed. But 1t was the glorious Fourth, and the people were out for holiday, and they defed the elements in their determination to celebrate the great day of American independence.
 Shortly after 10 o'clock two cars on the Idit arod Flat tramway, containing about forty adults and many children, left for the creek town. Many Iditaroders had preceded them the previous evening, and 1t seemed as though almost the entire population ot "the landing' had joined in the celebration. Discovery also was represented by a large contingent. The dredges of that dls- trict had been closed down, thus allowing the men to have holiday, and most of them took advantage of it.
 A Great Feature for the Riddles
 A unique feature of celebration in the creek town was g parade participated in by the children An immense float had been constructed, and bearing about score Of little girls all beautifully dressed in white and preceded by all the boys of Flat and Otter creeks, mounted on horses, the pro- cession paraded the principal streets Cyril Wood. Jr.. dressed as Uncle Sam, and rid Ing ggallllC aLihidl, itu t4S Pio1o@N'oi- and pony phaeton containing George and Martha Washington, represented by "Blll Smith and little Olga Strandberg. was a pretty feature of the procession. As they proceeded along the crowded streets they were frequently applauded and checred, and the amateur photographers took many pie lures. The absence of music was noted but it was a great success and reflects much credit on the ladies responsible for it,
 Some Stirring Addresses
 Immediately after the parade the crowds assembled at the ball grounds to hear the speaking. The grandstand was fil ed with people and hundreds stood around on the | diamond. The addresses were listened to with marked attention, and the striking sentences were frequently applauded. A. M kilgore was master of ceremonies, and introduced the first speaker, Harry l Pratt the assistant district attorney.
 Mir. Pratt who is fluent speaker, made brief but splendid address, Tn which he touched upon the significance of the day and it's meaning in American history. He referred to the part that the United States was to play in the great world war for humanity and freedom, and said the prn- cples contended for were the same as those for which the revolutionary heroes gave their lives Every citizen should do hls part, he said. While all could not serve on 1 the field of battle there was task for every citizen in which he could do hls share, He urged law observance as the first duty of the citizen, and the upholding of the hands of those intrusted with the nations 1 destinies. Even the women and children had duty to perform by which they could aid the country to win the war. lie men, tioned the noble work of the Red Cross which was peculiarly the province -of the women, and urged also that they and even the children endeavor to follow the Presl dents ad1nonitions with reference to the production and conservation of food. At the conclusion of the address MT. Pratt wa: warmly applauded
 Judge BunneII's Address
 MT. Kilgore introduced Judge Charles E Bunnen as the speaker of the day. He said an introduction was not really necessary, as all knew him as a gentleman, Jurlst and "a good sport"
 Accepting the designation in good part Judge Bunnell said he took 1t as an lndl- cation that he would be at liberty to express himself unreservedly, and this he intended to do. He entered upon discussion of the war, as being the thought uppermost in the minds of all, and undertook to show the results of victory or defeat to thls nation He said it was customary on such occasions to have the Declaration of Independence read He eulogized that marvellous docu' ment as the greatest charter of the liberties of the people ever penned, and desired par ticularly to impress upon his hearers that portion of the preamble which reads as fol lows:
 "We hold these truths to be self
 evident, that all men are created equal,
 that they are endowed by their Creator
 with certain unalienable rights, that
 among these are life, liberty and the
 pursuit of happiness. That to secure
 these rights governments are instituted
 among men, deriving their just powers
 from the consent of the governed. That
 whenever any form of government be-
 comes destructive of these ends It IS
 the right of the people to alter or to