Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-07-04
THOUSANDS HERE
FOR CELEBRATION
FOURTH Or JULY
Great Crowds Participate In Rock Is
lands Biggest Observance Of
Nations Birthday.
Special Interest Centers in Parade
Featured By Special HIS
torIeal Floats.

With display of patriotic enthus-
fasm that IS typieaIIy American, Rock
Island today celebrated It's great
est Fourth of July. Because or the
war situation and the fact that this
country seems destined 70 play most
potent part IN the victory which dem
ocracy IL sure 70 win over German
aufocracy, the observance this year
Is Of special significance.
Weather conditions could not have
been more favorable Not only dit
local citizens participate in the event
but thousands Of visitors, most Of
them fran bone dry" Iowa. aocked
TO ROCK Island They came by ex
eurston boats. by trains and mostly
tstin Lizzies" Indications are that
the liquor dealers 81 the city will do
tremendous business that will
nearly approximate that Of last Sat
urday. the day before the bone dry
legislation went into effect in Iowa
Rock Island is prettiIy decorated for
the occasion Hanging side by side
with Old Glory, was the tri-color q
France on the streets. store fronts,
buildings and in private homes the
two national emblen1s we're every
where displayed showing ths loyalty
of Rock islanders TO Uncle Sam and
his allies in the European war
In many ways the celebration this
year Is unique 1T IS almost a fire
crackeriess" demonstration. Needing
the suggestion OF the government that
money usually spent for FIRE works
could he expended to much better
advantage in this hour of national
crisis. dealers as a rule did not carry
heavy stocks Of this character this
year, and as a consequence little of
the noise which usually makes the
fourth unbearable 10 nervous grown
ups is noticeable
Parade Is Elaborate.
The parade was IN seven divisions.
the most beautiful this CITY has ever
staged. The procession form ID at 80
a. the court house and al moved
from Third avenue and Fifteenth
street, marching north to Second ave
nue., east TO Twentieth street. south 10
Seventh avenue, west to Nineteenth
street, south to Tenth avenue. west 10
Sixteenth street south to Thirteenth
avenue. west TO Fifteenth street, south
To Eighteenth avenue.
W L. Franks. a. chief marshal Of
the parade, has worked necessarily
for weeks 10 make the parade sue
cess. and to him is much credit due
for the perfect arrangement of de
tails
Present Flag.
Following the parade there we're
interesting exercises at Long View
park, featured BY an address BY Rev
r s Haney, Moline Mayor William
McConochie presided and a large
american flag was presented to
the park board by the Independence
Day association. W J. Sweeney max
ing the speech Of presentation and
Mayor McConochie accepting.
Complete program arranged fol- /
lows;
Selection by BIeuers band.
Address Of welcome Mayor vii
liam McConochie-
and audience
Address Rev. r. s. Haney.
Selection. THE Flag without
Stain Double quartet
Flag raising ceremonies on hill in +
front of chalet
Presentation OF flag by Tndepend- +
ence Day association to park board
" J Sweenev
Response Mayor McConochie. pres +
ident of park board
Flag raised by Boy Scouts as band
PLAYS The Star Spangled Banner
Tribute to Flag"-Rev. David A f!
Red. White and Blue"-Double
quartet
Concert from 20 by BIeuer's
band.
The only feature Of the celebration /
this evening will he a concert by !
Stroehle's band from Z so to 10 O'Clock
At Long View.