The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-07-04

tions the Mormon church being
represented by some OF its leaders
and officials. The representatives. Of
the different denominations, includ-
ing the Indians, carried out their
program as agreed upon, but an un-
expected jolt, entered into the affairs
that will be explained later.
Arrangements were made for
photographing the events at the
church and the local minister was
assigned to the task of having the
big flag manufactured and delivered
for the flag raising.
Editor number two was assigned
the task of getting up a big parade
and getting all Indians and auto
mobile owners to take part. The
Indians were in bad humor by now
and for a while declined to have
anything to do with it. The auto
mobile men said there was danger
of gas explosions, due to fire crack
ers being thrown under the auto
mobiles. The difficulty there was
that these matters came up after an
nouncements had been made as to
what the parade would consist of.
Editor number two had made all the
announcements so the committee
assigned him the task of making
peace with the Indians and getting
them to make good on all. the an
nouncements made and make peace
with the automobile men, even II he
had to prohibit the use of fire
crackers. Editor number two did
not understand the Indians very well
and found himself confronted with q
bunch of difficult tasks.
Merchants who dealt in fireworks
had ordered large stocks and when
the editor man acting got the COM
mittee talked about prohibiting the
use of firecrackers during the parade
and the formation of the parade, the
dealers said they had bought fire.
crackers on the announcements of
the committee and did not propose to
discourage their use and sale.
| On the third of July, when it was
time for the Indians to assemble and
make the big encampment a great
many of them arrived and they were
assigned to the space between the
court house and the railroad tracks.
A load of wood was piled up for
them, load of hay was supplied for
the ponies at stock yard agreed
upon. The encampment was made
and when it was supposed that the
Indians were all present who were
going to come, half of the beef order
was sent over to camp and leaders
among the Indians were expected to
see that it was apportioned properly
thruout the camp. Within a few
hours there were complaints that
some of the Indians. had received no
meat, some of them could get no
wood and some were not satisfied to
put their ponies in the stock yards
assigned to them. Compromises
were made in various ways with the
result that the rest of the beef order
was sent over before the celebration
actually commenced. Some ponies
were put in livery stables and editor
number two was informed that he
would be responsible for the bills.
1t was agreed that the parade,
should start at 10 o'clock in the
morning of the Fourth. The Indians
were to occupy the second section of
the parade and they agreed to be on
time, at 10 O'Clock. The leaders
were unable to get them to under
stand just what 10 O'Clock meant
and none of them were ready at
starting time. The parade was held
up three-quarters of an hour and as
none of the Indians were ready yet
the white people went on without
the Indians. BY the time they had
finished the parade of the town, and
while they were assembling at the
court house to carry out the belated
program of speeches and music, the
Indians had completed their prepare
lions and filed out on the opposite
side of the court house for the
parade, not realizing that a difference
of an hour or so would cut any
figure.
A large concourse of people as
sembled at the court house ground,
were keenly disappointed because
they did not see any Indians and that
was the chief attraction for them.
After half an hour the Indian parade
was completed and they filed back
into camp and threw off their
regalia.
The flag raising was conducted &C
cording to program by Governor
Brady and others. A Nez Perez
Indian made. a notable speech, but
while the flag was being hoisted it
became apparent that it was too
heavy for the flag pole and they had
to choose. between giving up the un-
furling Of the big flag or running it
up the flag pole as far as possible
before the flag mast would break in
the ascent. 1t was unfurled on
level with the lower part of the flag
pole and held there while the ex-
ercises continued. What became of
the flag will be told later.
The volume of the parade by the
white people was very much reduced
by the fact that most Of the auto
mobiles remained in seclusion and
some joker telephoned up and down
the valley to other towns on the
evening Of the third, saying that the
whole celebration had been called
off, with the exception of a few
exercises for the children and some
fireworks for their amusement. Not
withstanding those reports a large
delegation came in from Pocatello
and Idaho Falls and some from Salt
Lake City.