Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1918-05-21
Local Man Thinks "0ver
There Celebration In EIko
On independence Day Would
Be OoubIy Patriotic if Re-
CeiptS From All Public
AmuSementS Were Donated
To Red Cross or u. S. War
Fund

How about that Fourth OF July
celebration you fellows are boosting?"'
said the Man on the Corner this
morning as We were pussy-footing
along in search of what was what in
the news. Seems TO me the people
of this town are slow about comm out
of their winter quarters. That Inde-
pendence Day Carnival ought TO be
well on its way TO consummation
right now instead of requiring all the
kings horses and all the kings men
to get II started" Well" | answer
ed, the Independent is doing its
durndest TO get it going but several
people have met us with the argu-
ment that these are war times: they
say that the people and the govern
ment need every cent for war activi-
ties and war charities and that the
money shouldn't really be spent on
celebrations OF any magnitude"
"Bosh," answered the Man on the
Corner. "All bunk! War or no war,
we ought never TO forget the day on
which American Independence was
born. That is strictly an American
institution and will never be allowed
TO TCtrograde into a state of coma as
long as there is an American who can
set off one firecracker or carry
cane in a parade. So far as the mon
oy is concerned. what's the matter
with donating everything that is TAX
on in through public concessions OF
any kind. either to the Red Cross or
to the United States government war
fund? Suppose sou have a three-day
celebration. There might be races.
automobile or horse; hang up small
purses, pay the incidental expense,
and if there is a surplus turn 1t into
the fund. You can give a dance every
night Turn all that money over to
the fund excepting actual expenses.
The Red Cross would do well to ar
range luncheon booths along the
streets. or ice cream concessions, etc,
all Of which could be stocked with pub
lie donations and the money results
given TO the Red Cross fund Make 1t
point not to allow n single conces-
sion that will not agree to give at least
a portion of its receipts to the big sum
that YOU will later turn over for war
purposes. I'll venture TO say that If
such a scheme is handled right that
hundreds of dollars could be raised
here in those three days for any war
purpose or war charity that you de-
Slltu 40 give II 10. BtSlutS II "Oulu
be unique. something not done by any
other town or city in the country and
il would put ElkO on the map as she
deserves to be, as town whose pa
triotism and loyalty is unsurpassed
anywhere is the United States. Get
busy! Wake up, Get the live ones
together and stir up the dead ones!
Work out the idea, You can't lose
on it, And the man on the corner
walked away.
The idea struck us as offering tre-
mendous possibilities and we are
therefore placing it before the public.
Let a committee of business men get
( together and call mass meeting at
which committees for various activi-
! ties can be appointed. Let us work
out this splendid idea Of an over
/ There" celebration. Il Is true that
very word celebration nowadays seem
| to CRATE harshly upon the ears when
one thinks of the lads cover There"
I who are daily risking their lives while
We at home are entering upon plans
I for gala day, but II the Man on the
| Corners suggestion is carried out that
| celebration will be turned into an af.
! fair for the absolute and direct bene.
| iii Of our boys cover There: Call II
| an "OvCr There ith of July Cclebra.
/ ton" Bill II all over the country.
/ Get the folks in here from everywhere
/ possible TO make II one of the biggest
and best celebrations FlkO has ever
I had and all for the benefit of the boys
| in tho trenches. The Man on the Cor.
| ner has the right idea. II is up to us
| to work II out