Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-07-03
One Thing or the Other

Dmorrow is the Glorious Fourth and it is to be fttingly cee-
not only throughout the length and breadth of this broad land
over the civilized world.
BIT it is the celebration right in the home back yard that con-
the average family man most.
Several years ago a movement was launched to have what is
larly called a safe and sane' celebration.
Explosives were to be tabooed.
Municipalities passed ordinances f~orbidding the sale or the firing
eworks Of any sort within their limits. Parades and municipal
rks were to be substituted.
It was pretty hard on Young America all had to admit, but the
I'm fire cracker had become SO deadly with its high explosives
the casualty list on the morning Of the Fifth looked something
British communque after a German drive.
Parents began to see the sense in the new idea and, with a few
ptions, the fire crackers and the cap pistols for the small boy
eliminated.
81 those few exceptions are where the trouble comes In.
course, If the boy across the street has a full supply of fire
s with punk and all the rest of the things that used to make
Pldfashioned Fourth SO glorious, the boys whose parents were
g to conform with the new order of things had a pretty hard
Then dad would recall the old days and he would feel sorry for
kid, especially as the ~neighbOris boy was well supplied, SO he
Id finally yield and the "safe and sane idea was all off.
But in the old times, there was no question as to what the Fourth
be; It was going to be noisy and that was all there was to it.
Today you do not know where you are at. You think you are
ing to get through without fireworks. Then suddenly somebody in
3hsk fire crackers can be secured In a nearby town even if they are
ct sold on the sly right at home. The teasing begins and the day is
Here in Perth AmbOy fire crackers are not supposed to be sold.
Yet e. out % at ~ F0 ,s you can mi buy ! al all you %;nv want or 1t l SSS. not take tt the boys Sgn
where his cravings can be gratihed. Once the shooting Of fire
sckers begins that ends the ''safe and sane" idea.
You might as well buy your boy some first as last and have as
ach peace as you can get the rest Of the day.
= The point we wish to make is, either We should have a safe and
Iane celebration Of the Fourth or we should not attempt it. 1t is I'M
air to put some families in the position of feeling that they are violat-
ing the ordinances Of the city as well as the spirit Of the occasion
simply because Others nearby do not give a boot for the ordinance
o. SAFE and sane" regulations, and permit their boy to go the limit
FL Apparently, no attempt is made by the authorities to stop the
Of fire crackers and toy pistols by those who can get them.
In that case the ''safe and sane idea becomes a farce. If it Is fair
for one i fair for all, and the fire crackers might as well be on sale
here where al. can get a full supply without being forced 10 patronne
store at Fords or somewhere else.
Let's have one thing or the other. Either have the ordinance and
niles governing a safe and sane' celebration rigdy enforced or
Use abolish the rules and ordinances.
You cans straddle on . Fourth OF July celebration.