The herald., 1921-06-30
WILL HAVE BIG
TIME ON FOURTH
AMERICAN LEGION PLANS COM
PI4ETE FOR CELEBRATION.

Consuls of the Italian, French,
British and Belgian governments.
veterans of the late war in Eu-
rope, the Civil War and the Spanish
American War and statesmen and
civic leaders of the present day are CO.
operating with the officers of the
American Legion to make July 4th at
the Fair Grounds the greatest clebra-
ton of the Declaration of Independ-
ence New Orleans has ever seen. With
a programme ranging from an adj
dress by Senator Pat Harrison of Mis-
SlSsippi, one of the foremost national
hgures of the day. through a long list
OF races, dances, boxing matches, field
athletics and horse shows to that
form of puglistic riot known as the
battle royal, with 20 negro veterans
each trying to knock down all the
others and remain standing himself.
every possible taste in entertainment
will be fully satisfied.
The elaborate programme begins at
o'clock and ends at midnight. the
last hours being given to dancing. All
the special events that may be staged
III small space, such as the battle
royal, the fancy dances, the boxing
matches. etc, will be on a platform in
the space between the grand stand and
the track. The track itself will be in
almost continuous use during the dav-
lSht hours, as number of races
among members of the Southern ANA
teur Athletic Union, the public school
league, members of the American Lee
glon will be presented with harness
races, horse races and two mule races
early in the afternoon. When the
battle royal is over, the contestants
Will fight each other again in a trial
10 see who can eat the most water
melon in ten minutes. The only athle-
tic event popular in New Orleans that
Will not be presented is the wrestling
match, which is not practicable in
warm weather.
senator Harrison, who is now forg-
ing to the front as a leader in the
upper house, will be the principal
speaker. His subject has not vet been
announced but is expected to be one
OF particular interest to the Italians
and the French.
AS every man and woman in New
orleans who wore a uniform during
the war has been requested to wear
that uniform on July 4th, there will
De military color to the whole event
The United States Marines from the
Naval Station and company of Coast
artillery from Jackson Barracks will
lead in The Escort to the Colors. 8"
The national salute will be fired bv
Battery "A, of the Field ARTILLERY
washington Artillery. When the
national anthem is played during this
ceremony, every man, woman and
child in the Fair Grounds will stand
atattention and in silence.
The funds raised through the sale
OF tickets will be used to equip the old
mortgage office building at Royal and
CONT streets as an office and club for
disabled veterans. There are now an
proximately 1900 veterans taking yo-
catlonal training in New Orleans and
about half of them are from other
towns and cities. The lack of a con-
Venlent and comfortable place for
these men to meet has long been felt
and the American Legion will provide
1t by means of the great celebration AT
the Fair Grounds.
There has been no attempt in this
brief article to set out the entire pro-
gramme that has been arranged in
every detail.
The public response to our appeal
for the disabled veterans, says Col. L.
A. Toembs, who has general direction
OF the event, lis ample proof that the |
public fully realizes that those who
attend will enjoy themselves and the
purpose of the entertainment is not |
only worthy but of great value to the
AS an evidence of the size of this
one days enterprise, a policy of in
surance for $4,000 has been taken out
against loss through rain. If there be
shower heavy enough and long
enough to amount to one-tenth of an
inch on the governments rain measur-
ing apparatus, the fund for the vet
Grams will be increased by $4,000 and
Increased only by the small amount |
lost through failure Of some good citi-
zens to get to the Fair Grounds.