The Delta independent., 1923-06-01
SECOND ANNUAL MISSOURI
CELEBRATION A BIG SUCCESS

bright and clear and all day long OlO
Sol looked down upon proceedings
with a warmth and fervor that could
scarcely be surpassed by Missouri It.
self. The warmth of the sun was,
however, equalled If not excelled by
the warmth of the welcome extended
by the town to visiting Missourians
and by the pleasure derived from
meeting together and talking over old
times again.
1t was estimated that there were
between five and six thousand Mis-
sourians and friends present at the
celebration Saturday. The roads
leading to Delta were alive with cars
early in the day and long before
noon the streets were crowded. The
street parade at 10 O'Clock furnished
great deal of interest and fun and
included a long line of Missourians in
cars and other vehicles. The prize
for the best team of mules went to
Carl Walker, who lives on California
Mesa. Ralph Goswick, of Tongue
Creek drove the winning team Of
horses, a magnificent team of gray
Percherons.
The court house grounds presented
busy scene at IL o'clock, at which
hour the annual roll call began. w.
A. Davis, assisted by Chas. Davis call
ed the roll and as their native county
was called, Missourians fell in line
and passed by for enumeration. Boil
linger county was again in the lead
with so representatives.. Wright
county was next with 90; Madison
third with Is, while Wayne was not
far behind with an even dozen. After
roll call, the crowd broke up into
small groups and gathered around
open baskets under the trees to enjoy
their lunch, which was supplemented
by free coffee and lemonade supplied
by the committee. The grounds look
ed very lovely with the smooth turf
dotted with trees all clothed in their
fresh spring green and bathed in the
glowing sunlight.
Promptly at one o'clock the as
sembfy was called to order and the
afternoon program began. After
prayer by Rev. Sherman. Chairman
Davis introduced C. E. Blaine who in
few fitting words, welcomed the
visitors to Delta. Mr.. Davis then
called upon Lawrence Bothell. of
Grand Junction, who acted as chair
man for the rest Of the program. Mr..
Boutwell, gave short talk eulogizing
the SHOW Me" state. in which among
other things he named a few of the
great men OF our country who hailed
from Missouri. including Kit Carson,
Mark Twain. Eugene Field and Gen.
eral Pershing.
Mayor Penley was next on the list
and made an interesting speech. bas-
appeared in the April number of The
Geographic, entitled Missouri, the
Mother of the West" He then pre-
sented the keys of the city to the
Missourians. accompanied by a few
appropriate words.
Rev. w. L. Brandon. pastor of the
Baptist church at Palisade, gave the
Loyalty to Americanism.' 1t was
a mastery Grafton and in spite of the
heat and backless benches. the au-
diences listened with every indication
of deep interest while the speaker
eloquently traced the history of two
outstanding factors in the life OF
America and touched upon the part
Missouri has played in their growth.
One was education and the other
slavery. In speaking Of the former
lie quoted an English writer to :-e
effect that wherever an Englishman
goes, a custom house is built; wher-
ever a Frenchman goes railroad is
constructed: wherever German goes
an arsenal is established: wherever an
American goes. school is founded"
He closed his address by pointing
out that some OF the problems that
face other countries and ours, and
stressed the point that only loyalty
to home, to our country and its con-
stitution and to God. can these diff
culties be met and conquered.
Dr. Isaiah Knott OF Montrose made
a few remarks commencing the gath
ering and praising the great old state
with a song of his own composition
by Rev Mr.. Hampton of Montrose.
which met with hearty applause. Its
chorus.
''Hurrah, hurrah. a shout from every
one.
Well shout for old Missouri the land
OF hogs and corn,
seemed to strike a responsive chord |
in everybody's heart and Mr.. Hamp-
racp0nInI ,,ct rtx-
Ago." A song he is well qualified to
for he came to Colorado
from Gentry County. Missouri Just