The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-05

SlDNE1 J. BOWlE 1 Great enthusiasm marked the pa triotic celebration of the Fourth of July at Woodrow Wilson park last night, where several thousand peo- pie gathered to do homage to the day of American independence. Music by the municipal band, an oration by Sidney J. Bowie and tableau, representing the gather ing of the allies in the World war, were the features of the exercies.
 George l.. Bales, commander of l Birmingham post, No. 1, American Legion, acted as master of ceremon- les, and before introducing the speak | CTS or the evening read the Declara- ton of Independence to the audience. He then presented pr. II. A. E,l- kourie, who spoke on. behalf of the l foreign born of the city.
 Dr. Elkourie said though he was not born in this country. he consid- cred it the greatest privilege in the world to be an American citizen. He spoke with pride of the fact that tho foreign born citizens of America had borne so nobly their part in the war. He said on the battlefields of Europe no differences were made between the naturalized citizens and those born in America.
 Renew The Faith
 Sidney J. Bowie was then present. ed as the orator of the occasion. Mr Bowie declared the purpose of cele- brations of the Fourth of July was to renew the faith of the citizenship in the government and to teach the principles and purposes for which it stands.
 Mir. Bowie said many people
 make the mistake or confusing
 the government with the Officers
 who administer 1t. He declared
 the American government to be
 one of laws, not of officers. The
 glory of the American consti-
 tuition, he said, was that for the
 first time im history people
 had made 1t plain the officers of government were the sery-
 ants, not the rulers of the people. For the first time too, MT. Bowie declared, a government had laid down certain rights which were left solely to the individual and which were su- perior even to the administrators of the laws themselves. He then pre- ceded to read the first 10 amend- ments to the constitution which he said were the American bill or rights The constitution, he said, was fam ing sword to guard the rights of the people.
 Struggle For Liberty
 These rights, he said, were SO common that people who have en- joyed them all their lives are likely to forget the terrible sacrifice which was necessary to obtain them. He spoke of the struggle of the English people for liberty beginning with the securing of Magma Charta in lzl9, and continuing for hundreds or years.
 MT. Bowie then traced the develop ment of America since the origin or the constitution. and pointed out that America now produces one-half or the coal and iron of the world, two thirds Of the cotton, eighty-five per cent of the automobiles, and owns one-hal of the wealth. He declared this to be due to the fact that. the American constitution guaranteed to every citizen the fruit of his labor.
 Concerning the situation in Russia today Mir. Bowie said the Russians were pinnilg their faith to a princi- pie which fad been tried for thous- ands of years and every time had failed. The reason for failure he de- clared was that d man demands the right to kaep that which his industry, honesty and thrift have accumulated.
 Made People Different.
 He said the American constitu- ton did not mention equality of con- dition. God made people different just as he had made the objects of nature different. The thing the American constitution does provide, he declared, is equality of all men be- fore the la@. He pointed out that the government had gone so far in pro- viding equal opportunity for all that 1t had established free schools and seeks to make safe the health of the children of the nation.
 America is the only country, Mir. Bowie said. where man has chance to rise from section hand to a railroad president, as has been dem onslrated he can do in this country. In closing he requested his hearers to stop and think of the results which have come from the American constitution before paying very | much attention to the new doctrines of government which are often | preached.
 Allied Nations.
 The concluding number on the pro gramme was a pageant representing | the entrance of each of the allied | nations into the late war. Each na- | tion was personified by a young lady | bearing its flag. and background oe | American flags was used as setting. | During the pageant the municipal | band played the national anthems of | the allied nations. After each nation had been presented. the two flags in | the center of the opening disclosed | the Angel of Peace as represented by | Mrs. Lee Allen Brooks. The young ladies representing the nations were. |
 Serbia. Miss Margaret Lewis; Rus sia. Miss Frances Ledbetter: Francs, Miss Margaret Builder; Belgium, Miss | Thresa Cory England. Miss Mary Ida | Wood; Italy, MISS LeoIa Shannon: and the United States, Miss Florence Jordan.
 During the exercises the municipal | band, under the direction of Gordon Erickson rendered series of selec- tions. Mir. Erickson also lead in the | singing of several patriotic songs.
 The open-air auditorium of Wood- l row Wilson park was decorated for | the occasion with flags and bunting. f Chairmen of the committees in charge of the celebration were:
 Mrs. S. l.. Ledbetter. general chair man; Mrs. H. E. Pearce, programme; Mrs. Jack Adams music; Mrs. Frank w. Dixon, speakers; Mrs. J. R. Horn- | ady. publicity; O. Gordon Erickson, director.