The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-07-05
THOUSANDSATTEND FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION HERE Citizens Join in Exercises to Celebrate American
 Independence
PATRIOTIC TABLEAU
 EVOKES APPLAUSE
Attorney General Lloyd Tate, in Stir ring Address, Scores German ln- humanity-Community Sing
 ing a Feature


 tol park last night at s:So o'clock 10 witness the rendition of a patriotic pro gramme that had been prepared under the craftsmanship of J. H. Finder acting under appointment of the state council of defense. in celebration of the one hundred and forty-second anniversary Of American independence and freedom.
 Attorney General of Alabama F. Lloyd Tate made the principal address of the upon his audience, as he is very forci- be speaker, and when it came to dehn- ing slaekers he elicited vociferous ap- plause from the audience.
 There arc many kinds of slackers: there are some in Coosa county defying the arm of the law Ill an effort to evade military service, and there are some in the northern end of the state likewlse engaged; then there are those who re- fuse to aid in the various war fund drives; put, in my opinion, the damndes. stacker in the world is the man of means who puts his hands in his pockets and declares, I can get per cent for my money, and refuses to lend his money to the government" said MT. Tate.
 VICTORY FOR ALLIES
 MT. Tate flayed the Germans ana prophesied victory for the allied cause in short time. We are going to hear of another drive soon, but this time it won't be facing this way on the west ern front; it will be facing east, and our boys are not going to stop until they reach Berlin, and while I would not like to hear of any of our men committing any of the atrocities tha. the German soldiers have, I do want to see them tear away every stone and destroy every bit of property on German soil, in older to teach them the lesson they need learn, and to keep them busy rebuilding it for the next 1000 years.
 MT Tate told a story of South Ala bama negro which amused the crowd im- mensely. There were two negroes talk ing one day, and one of them said, John who was the greatest man in de world? and John replied, Why, Joshua was the greatest man de world ever knowed, kase he make de sun stand still Eph scratched his head and then said, An, Shucks, nigger. YOU don't know what great man s-dat Joshua ain't in it wid W1l- son, de President of de United States, kase he not only make de sun stan still. but he sot it back a hour and den turn round and give all de railroads to his son-in-law."
 The programme as outlined and an- nounced w;Ls carried out with the excep- tion of the reading of the Declaration of Independence, which was committed be- cause John c. Henley, who was to read it, was prevented from attending on account of illness in his family.
 MOTHERS OF SOLDIERS
 Dr. Finder delivered a four-minute ad- dress to the mothers present who had sons in tie service, and when he calle1 upon them to stand at least hundred arose. Several stood when wives Of soi- diers were called on to stand.
 The music for the occasion was TUT nished by the Boys Industrial School band, and they were frequently ap- gramme. Mrs. w. J. Adams led the audience in singing America" and Mrs. o. L. Stephenson sang solo. The Boy and Girl Scouts repeated the oath or allegiance to the flag.
 John W. Sbley was called upon. and he told a fable with war moral. Je1t Bailey read the four-minute address ol President wilson, WnlcH was Indlleu tc the state council of defense for use on the Fourth of July all over the country.
 THE BLUE AND THE GRAY
 Community singing was led by Mrs w. J. Adams and the Music Study club One of the most interesting features of the programme was the tableau directed by MT. Spangenburg. The first repre- sentation was Columbia by Miss Ma rion Walker. Next came a Confederate veteran and a Union army veteran; then the son of each. Next soldier of the United States army and a sailor in the United States navy. and marine. These were followed by the Junior Red Cross workers the Red Cross, the Home Serv- ice Circle, the Canteen Workers, the Rain bow division and the Hoover Kitchen workers The band played the star Spangled Banner and everyone saluted the flag.
 The decorations at the park, which were very beautiful were placed by the Woman's Relief corps of the G. A. k. auxiliary, of which Mrs. Henry Swope is chairman. The crowd was very or derly and every bit of the programme was seemingly very much enjoyed. Dr. Finder was congratulated upon the sue cess of the occasion.