Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1922-07-06
n timber l
CELEBRATION OF FOURTH
PASSES OFF ENJOYABLY

Well, after all, it was one real
nice Fourth here. There was some
thing doing" the entire day. While
in the morning the weather was still
threatening, after ~a several days
continuous rainfall, making the
roads almost impossible for auto
travel, nevertheless quite a number
were in from the country, and they
continued to arrive until late in the
evening, when the crowd from out
of town numbered several thousand.
The first feature of the day was
the parade which did not compare
with last years. This can partially
be accounted for by the stormy
weather. which prevented the fixing
up of floats. ETC., which had to be
done outdoors. The parade was
headed by the Seventh Regiment
band of GAINESVILLE, which played
fine throughout the day.
The prize winner float was the
one from Rocky Glen. This float was
beautifully decorated. and repre-
sented the three stages of history
1776-'61, and 1917. The prize
was $25. The best decorated auto
prize, suit of clothes, went to Geo
NJ Scott; best decorated bicycle,
Jacob Stalker, jr., Junior League
ball and bat; best decorated veloci-
pede, Wayne Northrup, prize pair
roller skates. In the parade were
soldiers of the Civil war in autos,
members OF the American Legion,
and of Wagon Co. 124.
Due to the heavy roads the speak
er of the day Hon. Rupert Beetham,
did not arrive at the hour scheduled
which was 10 a. M. However, with
a concert by the band and a few Sc
lections by the members of the mu-
sic club, this time did not lag, Mr..
Beetham arrived about an hour
late, and his address was given
early in the afternoon. He is very
pleasing speaker, a splendid story
teller, having always on tap story
to emphasize some point. His ad-
dress was along the line of citizen
ship, and the point he emphasized
was that citizenship being so easy
we don't appreciate it. He also cit
ed examples of how often the gov
ernment is made a joke of, when
just for sport they turn in and elect
some Joke" for an office. In such
instances, the joke, he said, is on
the people. Democracy, he said, is
no better than any other form OF
government unless we make 1T so.
He cited the difference in cost in
running the government today, and
a few years ago, which could be ac-
counted for because so much more
is being done for the people in the
way of roads, health laws, educa-
tional system, etc. 1t takes ability
to be a good citizen, he said, and
ability requires education. The
weakest point in his address was
when he attacked the Smith one per-
cent taxing law. In doing it, we
will venture to assert, his interest
as candidate for governor was not
advanced here very much--espec-
tally among the farmers.
An unusually big crowd saw the
ball game between Stockport and
Rocky Glens, an account of which is
given elsewhere. Immediately af-
ter the ball game were the athletic
stunts at the. common. The three
legged race was won by Chester
and Everett Roberts. The prizes
were neckties.
The 100 yard dash for men under
80 was copped by Ben Hammond
a penknife Rev. r. o. McRae land
ed the prize as winner of the 100
yard dash for men over 80. The
prize was a knife. The fat mans
race prize was carried off by Mr..
Fred Parmiter, nice straw hat. In
the girls free-for-all Miss Eleanor
Baker was an easy winner-prize
silk hose. Dale Bucey was the best
sprinter of the boys under ~. His
prize was an Ingersol watch. In
the girls races to 10 years old,
Eula Maze came out first-prize silk
stockings. In the race for boys un-
der 8, Tommy Palmer Finley was
Continued on page five)