Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1917-07-05
FINE WEATHER AND BIG CROWD
Fourth of July Celebration in Wa
Keeney a Success. Tom McNeal
and A. A. McAuliffe, speakers

Fourth of July celebration held in
Wa-Keeney this year. 1t was not a
celebration headed by any one man
or any particular crowd, but cele-
bration of the people, by the people
and for the people. The weather con-
ditions were ideal and the spirit of
celebration was right. The only OBJ
jectionable feature is that it came too
late in the week for the newspaper
man to give it a proper write-up in
his current issue. Vehicles and autos
commenced to arrive early in the
day and by the time the crowd had all
assembled it was estimated that there
were at least 800 autos and between
four and five thousand people in it.
The crowd was large enough that all
the concessions, the shows, the speak
ers and the ball games had plenty of
patronage although they were all GO
ing on at the same time.
The street parade. picture show and
the band concerts we're the attrac-
tions for the morning. The parade
was not large as it has been some
other years, but the quality was there,
several of the floats being very beau
tlfuily decorated as well as novel in
makeup. The picture show, Woman
hood, The Glory of the Nation" is a
great show, working along the line
of preparedness and the part which
women can and do play in doing their
"bit' for the good of the country
All the people who could possibly
rrfat hoo Iicto |, ~
addresses by T. A McNeal, of Top
eka, and A. A. McAuliffe, of Salina.
In opening his address Mr.. McNeal
made a few humorous remarks which
captivated his audience and it was no
trouble thereafter for him to hold
their attention. He spoke of the won
derful development of the state of
Kansas in the last forty years and
gave his hearers an idea of the
amount of wheat which had been
grown in the state in that time. The
conditions which led this nation into
the present war and a tribute to
President Wilson was patriotic part
of ms address. The recent actions of
the mob against the negros in East
ST. Louis was also condemned He
declared that it was far from being
in accord with the Declaration of In
dependence and the constitution of
the United States for such things to
exist. His utterances were heartily
applauded by the audience.
The address of Mr.. McAuliffe was
favored with many thoughts of wit
icism and humor but was directed
more along the line of the work of the
Farmers Union in this state and
nation. He was glad the dis
position of the business men and cit
liens of the town was, different now
than it was a few years ago. Then
they thought the intention of the
Farmers Union and its stores was
to destroy other stores and the town
but now they realize that the inten-
tions of the Union is to help build up
the community by assisting the farm
er to get a better price for his pro-
duce and thus have more money to
spend in the vicinity in which he
lives. Mr.. McAuliffe drew several
hearty applauses from his hearers
on account of his patriotic utterances
and his references to President Will
son.
A double header base ball game
was played at the fair grounds, the
first game being between Collyer and
Hill City. 1t was a fast game and
required fourteen innings to decide
the score of and in favor of Hill
City. An unfortunate throw by the
pitcher at critical time lost the
game for Collyer. The Wa-Keeney
team then played the winners. This
was also a fast game but it required
only the regular nine innings to de-
eide it in favor of Wa-Keeney The
score was also and 2. The gate
receipts amounted to $3.50; $20.15 was
deducted for expenses and 10 per cent
of the balance was contributed to the
Red Cross fund. The remainder of
the money was divided among the
three teams.
We would like to devote more space
to this write-up but we can not do
it. However, we must not forget to
mention that a collection was taken
for the Red Cross fund which amount
ed to $51.O1 which has been turned
over to the local chapter. The people
of the county greatly enjoyed their
visit to this city and the public din
ner in the shade on the lawn of their
own beautiful court house park