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Presented by the Author

FOR A iSAFE AND
SANE EOURTH
By MRS; ISAAG L. rice;
REPRINTED FROM *^tHE FORUM" FOR MARCH, 15^10

The foUo-wing letter from the Governor of Oregon arrived too late to
be included in. the Foeum Article. . -
STATE OF OREaON
ExsauTiyE Depaetment
'Salem
> F^ruary 24, 1910.
Deak Madam : "In reply to your favor of recent date, I beg to advise that I am
heartily in favor with the objects of the Society for the Suppression of Paneeea-
Bary Noise; aild I l)eUeve that the efforts of your organization wiU in time bring
aboat a safe and sane observance of our Kational Independence Day. GtOod
patriotic men and women in all parts of the country should co-operate witi your
organization in order to tring about the desired results. I do not believe that
the signers of the Declaration of Independernce, when they afiixed their aignaturea
to that immortal document; evpr batt in mind the character of celebratiofi that we
witness annually in our large cities.
1 have always been a believer of appropriate patriotic celebrations, and
would not care to see any of our tim^-honored customs discontinued, but the
present method of celebrating the Fourth of July has passed beyond the botmds
of reason, and the time.,ha8 come for a wholesome reform. Let us always appro
priately celebrate the anniversary of our National Independence, but" let ther«
be no features of biifceleb/ation that will endanger life, limb, or property.
Wishing you, and your society success iii your mosl laudable imderta^ing,
¦I ttM, , ¦ ¦ .
Very SuiceTely yours,
' Frank W. Benson.

For a Safe and Sane Fourth
By Mrs. Isaac L. Rice
The question of putting an end to the barbarity of our present
observance of Independence Day is now assuming an importance
undreamed of several years ago. No longer need one fear to be
branded with the stigma of disloyalty to country if one inveighs against
the madness of parents who place dangerous explosives in the hands of
their little ones, or protests vehemently against the crime of permitting
wee ehilden to be maimed and killed in the celebration of a holiday.
Partly as a result of the untiring efforts of the Journal of the American
Medical Association in compiling statistics of the cost of our observance
of the Fourth, a wave of indignation is sweeping over the country, and
the time now certainly seems ripe for some concerted action for the pro
tection of our boys and girls.
Several months ago, the Society for the Suppression of Unnecessary
Noise, through its President, began a new line of work in its endeavor
to establish a sane and safe observance of Independence Day. This con
sisted in interviewing, by means of correspondence, men whose names
would carry weight in any cause and who could never, by any stretch of
imagination, be deemed unpatriotic or indifferent to matters affecting the
public welfare. Letters, petitions, and literature were sent to Gov
ernors of all the States, to Mayors, to Fire Chiefs, to Commissioners of
Health, to Heads of Police Departments, and to Presidents of Colleges.
The State Executives were asked to permit their names to be placed on
a National Committee for the promotion of a safe and sane Fourth, and
the others were asked to express their opinion on the necessity for the
agitation. In response to this request, much valuable material has
reached us, all of which, as a splendid manifestation of enlightened and
humane patriotism, deserves to be made public. As the limited space of a
magazine article, however, would not admit of this I shall only give the
letters from the Executives in their entirety, and, from the other com
munications, shall simply make extracts. They need no comment, for
they speak with a note of authority that renders superfluous any word
of mine. Indeed, it is scarcely necessary to say that no article from
a single pen could rival in interest this symposium of those whose high

2 FOR A SAFE AND SANE FOURTH
position, official duties and intellectual attainments command the respect
of the public.
The first letter is from the Governor of Illinois :
Deab Madam: Your letter with reference to the formation of a national
committee composed of the governors of the States to promote the sane and safe
observance of Independence Day is received. I appreciate the value of the sug
gestion and shall be glad to cooperate with the other governors in bringing about
the abandonment of the noisy and dangerous use of fireworks and explosives to
which so much suffering and loss of property are due every Fourth of July. I am
glad that such a movement has been entered upon to bring about this result.
This plan 1 am sure will be far more effectual in securing a more rational observ
ance of the national holiday than the usual proclamations issued by the mayors
and police authorities of cities each year. These have proven almost invariably a
dead letter and have been totally disregarded. Wishing you success in your laud
able efforts, I am. Yours truly, C. S. Denebn.
The next is from the Governor of Wisconsin :
Deab IMadam : I am in receipt of your letter, with enclosures, relating to the
effort being made to promote a safe and sane celebration of the Fourth of July.
I agree with you that the truest patriotism consists in living and working for
our country — not in dying or in placing ourselves in such positions that we are
liable to be maimed, — and I am in hearty sympathy with the efforts that are being
made to secure a sanely patriotic safe celebration of our national holiday. I shall
be very much pleased to give every assistance within my power to promote the
objects for which you are striving. You are hereby authorized to use my name
as a member of the national committee for the promotion of a safe and sane
Fourth of July in any way which will further the objects of the organization.
Thanking you for your courtesy, and wishing you all success, I am.
Very truly yours, J. 0. Davison.
The third is from the far Northwest, from the Governor of Washington:
Deab Madam : Your kindness of December 3d, addressed to the late Governor
Cosgrove, relative to a safe and sane observance of Independence Day, placed upon
my desk for reply. Agreeable thereto would say that I will certainly be very
much pleased to do what I can toward securing a more rational observance of our
National Birthday, and if you so desire I shall be pleased to join with the other
Governors in the formation of a National Committee to bring about a less noisy
and more patriotic observance of our National Day. I am.
Very respectfully yours, M. E. HA.Y.
And next, one from the Governor of Vermont:
Madam: I am in receipt of yours of the 21st, and I shall certainly be very
glad to do anything I can to assist in promoting a, sane and safe Independence
Day Celebration, and should be glad to cooperate in any way that I am able to
that end. Yours very sincerely,
G. H. Pboutt.

MRS. ISAAC L. RICE 3
From the Governor of Montana came the following :
Deae Madam: Your letter dated December 22d relative to the sane observ
ance of the Fourth of July, has been received. I assure you that I am in
thorough sympathy with the movement and shall be pleased to cooperate in any
way possible in its furtherance. Yours truly, Edwin L. Noebis.
And this, from the Governor of South Carolina:
Deab Madam: Your letter of the 21st instant, asking the use of my name as
a member of the national committee for the promotion of a safe and sane Fourth
of July, has been received, and I thank you very much for the same. I have also
received copies of letters received by you from other governors, and I join with
them in wishing you great success in the movement you have on foot. I think a
moderate amount of celebration on this occasion is permissible, but the use of
great crackers, firearms and other things of that kind are the cause often of
accidents, and I shall be glad to do anything I can in a reasonable way to help
the cause. Y'ours very respectfully, M. F. Ansel.
From another Southern State, Alabama, came this letter :
Deab Madam: Yours asking for cooperation from the State Executives in
the suppression of unnecessary noise received and noted. Thank you for the invi
tation. Agreeing with you fully, I would suggest adding another line. For the
suppression of suicides. You will easily recall the many deaths as a result of
explosives used in celebrating the Fourth of July. With regards, I am.
Yours very truly, B. B. COMEE.
The Governor of Delaware wrote:
Deab Madam: Your letter of January the 21st has been received. The move
ment for the promotion of a safe and sane Fourth of July meets with my hearty
approval. I will gladly cooperate with your society, and join with the Governors
of other States in bringing about this reform. Yours very truly, Simeon S. Pennewux.
From North Dakota, this:
Mt deab Madam : In answer to yours of recent date I will say that I shall
be glad to act with you in securing a safe and patriotic observance of our National
Holiday. The explosives used are becoming more dangerous every year. When I
wag a boy there was no such thing as a giant firecracker and the firecrackers used
were small and almost harmless compared with those of to-day. I am willing to
lend what assistance I can. Very sincerely yours,
John Buekb.

4 FOR A SAFE AND SANE FOURTH
And this from the East, Massachusetts :
Deab Madam: Your letter of the 21st instant has been received. I am per
fectly willing that you should use my name in the manner indicated in favor of a
saner July Fourth. I do not object to the noise so much as I do to the danger to
our children and young people through an indiscriminate use of dangerous
explosives. Yours very truly, Eben S. Deapee.
From Maryland:
My deab Madam: In reply to your letter, addressed to the Governor, he
directs me to say that he shall be very glad to act as a member of the National
Committee for the promotion of the safe and sane Fourth of July.
Yours very truly,
Emerson R. Cbothees (Sec'y).
This, from Colorado :
Deab Madam: I am in receipt of your letter of January 21st, and in reply
thereto would say that I have no objection to my name being used in connection
with the promotion of a safe and sane Fourth of July. I have long felt that the
injuries and loss of life, occasioned by the present method of celebrating the
Fourth, were a great reflection upon our intelligence. I wish you well in every
particular in your excellent movement. Yours truly, John F. Shafboth.
From another Western State, Nevada, I received the following letter :
Deab Madam: I am in receipt of your letter of January 21st requesting me
to act as a member of the National Committee for the Promotion of a Safe and
Sane Fourth of July. I shall be pleased to act as a member of such committee
and to assist in any way I can to further the objects for which the committee is
formed. Sincerely yours, D. S. DiCKERSON.
The Governor of South Dakota sent me this:
My deab Mbs. Rice: Your favor of the 21st received to-day with enclosures.
The contents of your letter has been noted with care, and I assure you that I shall
be glad to act with you in regard to bringing about a safe and sane Fourth. I
shall also be pleased to act on your National Committee if there is anything that
I can do to assist in furthering the work you have undertaken. With good wishes
for the success of the movement, I am. Very respectfully yours, R. S. Vessey.
Coming back again to the East, this from Maine :
Dear Madam : I am in receipt of your letter of January 21st in relation to
a safe and sane Fourth of July. The alarming list of accidents that is annually

MRS. ISAAC L. RICE 5
brought to our attention as a result of the reckless use of dangerous explosives
certainly warrant the effort your Society is making to bring about a more rational
observance of our National Holiday. If I can cooperate with the Executives of
other States to aid the movement it will assuredly give me pleasure to do so.
Very truly yours. Beet M. Feenald.
And once more from the West, Idaho, came another endorsement:
My deab Madam : I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of
December 21st calling my attention to a letter from Governor Deneen of Illinois,
both with reference to the formation of a National Committee of the Governors of
the several States to promote a sane observance of Independence Day. I heartily
agree with the sentiments expressed by Governor Deneen. I shall be pleased to
co5perate with your society and with the Governors of the several States in this
regard. Trusting that your efforts will meet with a. full measure of success,
I beg to remain. Very truly yours, J. H. Bbady.
And from Tennessee :
Deae Madam: In reply to your favor of the 21st instant, will state that, I
shall be very glad to serve as a member of the National Committee for the pro
motion of a safe and sane Fourth of July, as requested by you. Thanking you,
and wishing you success in your undertaking, I am.
Very sincerely yours,
Malcolm R. Patterson.
From New Jersey I received the following :
Dear Madam: Your letter to the governor has been received. He is entirely
willing for you to use his name in connection with a safe and sane Fourth of July,
and he will be very glad to serve you in any way that he can.
Very truly yours, Leslie R. Fobt (Sec'y).
Governor Weeks of Connecticut wrote as follows :
Deab Madam: I am in receipt of your favor of the 21st instant. I most
certainly am favorably disposed toward any movement that will insure a sane
and safe Fourth. I, with the hosts of others in our country, feel that the dan
gerous use of explosives at that season has passed all bounds of reason, and I will
gladly cooperate in any way I can toward this desired reform. I am.
Respectfully, Feank B. Weeks.
This cordial note of approval came from Minnesota :
Dear Madam : Replying to your valued favor of December 22d I take pleasure
in saying that I am in hearty accord with the objects of your society and will be

Q FOR A SAFE AND SANE FOURTH
glad to coSperate in any movement to aid in bringing about the reforms for which
it is laboring. Kindly advise me as the movement progresses, if I can be of any
further service and believe me to be, Very truly yours, A. Ebeehaedt.
Governor Warner of Michigan wrote:
Dear Madam: I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your esteemed favor
of January 21st. I take pleasure in complying with your request regarding the
use of my name as a Member of the National Committee for the Promotion of a
Safe and Sane Fourth of July. Very truly yours, Fred M. Waenek.
And from Louisiana came the last :
My dear Madam: In reply to your communication of January 21st I desire
to say that I heartily approve of the object for which the Society for the Suppres
sion of Unnecessary Noise was formed. I am very glad, indeed, to add my indorse
ment to the movement for a sane Fourth of July. I will be glad to encourage and
assist in the movement in every way possible. Respectfully yours, J. Y. Sanders.

No less encouraging than the replies from the Executives have been
the answers received from the Mayors of many cities, who have
put themselves on record as being opposed to the present celebration of
the Fourth. From cities north, east, south and west, from cities large
and small, have come words of endorsement and approval and, almost
invariably, offers of assistance. Trenton, for instance, is evidently pre
paring for a sane Fourth, if one may judge from the reply sent me by
Mayor Madden :
I beg to state that I am in hearty sympathy with this movement. When one
reflects upon the frightful number of fatalities and accidents which have annually
resulted from our thoughtless and barbarous manner of celebrating this National
Holiday, it behooves every thoughtful person to contribute some aid toward a
more sane method of expressing our patriotic feelings on this day. I have ap
pointed a committee of twenty-five representative citizens to arrange for a safe
and sane celebration of Independence Day, on July Fourth, 1910, in the city of
Trenton. The same attitude regarding this matter is manifested by Mayor Ed-
gerton of Eochester, who, for a long time, has been working for a better
observance of Independence Day:
I am in hearty sympathy with any movement to bring about a safer and

MRS. ISAAC L. RICE ij
more rational celebration of the Fourth of July. We can show our patriotism
just as effectively without the use of explosives, which annually causes the loss of
so many lives and involves the destruction of so much property.
"Let the good work go on!" is the language of the Mayor of Duluth,
while the Mayor of Chattanooga stated that our petition had not only his
signature but his hearty endorsement. The Mayor of Bridgeport wrote :
The real significance of our National Holiday seems to elude the majority of
our youths, who look upon it as a day of license to carry and discharge diabolical
weapons and thundering explosives. Anything that will tend to correct this
erroneous idea of celebrating will surely be welcomed by all thinking people.
In a communication from Mayor Mahool we learn in how drastic a
manner Baltimore is engaged in the fight against the slaughter on Inde
pendence Day and about its protective ordinance :
"As mayor," he stated, "I have the right to grant a permit free of charge for
the explosion of fireworks, but in the three years I have been in office, I have not
granted a permit of this nature, with the result that the Fourth of July in Balti
more is celebrated in a safe and sane manner, the day being given up to celebra
tions of a patriotic character."
A most interestiQg letter has reached me from Mayor Meals of Harris-
burg: We appreciate the spirit that actuates our American people in celebrating
this glorious event, but we are not unmindful of the fact that there is a danger
of going to extremes, which in my opinion is not an observance of the great prin
ciples of Independence Day, but rather a noisy demonstration for personal gratifi
cation. This department is in hearty sympathy with the movement that has been
inaugurated, and we are satisfied that the determined effort upon the part of
yourself and others who may be interested with you, will result in a far more
effectual and rational observance of the National Holiday than are fiuch methods
that bring disaster and sorrow to our homes.
From Hartford came the following :
Your work in interesting the Nation is certainly producing good results in
very many cities, and I am glad to heartily commend the unselfish service that
you have given which has accomplished so much for the benefit of all our people.
In his letter to me the Mayor of Nashville touched upon a point which
seems strange to Northerners — I refer to the custom prevalent in the
South of celebrating Christmas with pistols and fireworks:
Here in the South, it is the custom to celebrate Christmas with fireworks, toy
pistols, cannon crackers, and various devices that cause death and injury to our
children. I think the work you are engaged in will be a great benefit to the rising
generation and I am willing to help you in any way that I can.

8 FOR A SAFE AND SANE FOURTH
And this, from the Northwest, Portland:
I am in hearty sympathy with the movement you head. I think the time
has come when a strong stand ought to be made for a less noisy, a saner and more
patriotic observation of our National Holiday.
This came from Mayor Homer of Joplin (Mo.) :
I note with pleasure the stand taken by your society in demanding a more
rational observance of our National Holiday, and the assistance assured by twenty-
one governors of various States, and you should have the support of every gov
ernor of all States.
Joplin, a city of 50,000 population, surrounded by a population of 75,000
people within the radius of ten to twenty miles, connected with interurban street
car lines, is generally the hot-bed on the Fourth of July, and naturally we have a
great many serious accidents. So last year I not only issued a strong proclama
tion, but followed same up by making arrangements with the park managements to
cut out all dangerous fireworks and to allow no one to have fireworks on the
grounds, except competent men who had charge of the firework display, and also
put on several special police, so that the Chief of Police McManamy could handle
the city nicely. Consequently we had no accidents reported.
I have this month had an ordinance drawn which is now on its first reading
before the Council, making it a misdemeanor for a merchant to display or sell
cannon fire-crackers, bombs, canes, or toy blank pistols, and we expect to have
this coming Fourth under absolute control.
I wish your Society success in your movement for a safe and sane Fourth of
July. From the town of East Liverpool came this :
I feel that the sale of any dangerous articles of any nature whatsoever, for
any celebration of any kind, or for any other purpose, should be prohibited by law,
as it is foolish and unnecessary at the best, and brings many serious and bad
results. And from another town, Wausau (Wisconsin), the following:
This city believes in a sane Fourth of July. Last year we did not have a
single accident and no fires.
In a most encouraging letter, the Mayor of Lafayette (Ind.) spoke
of the passage of a drastic ordinance in August, 1908, which prohibited
the use of everything explosive:
At first the adoption and signing of this ordinance caused some inconvenience
to dealers in such merchandise, but since its going into effect all our citizens are
fully satisfied, and on the Fourth of July we no longer have burning buildings nor
killed nor maimed and injured children, or other persons. Your society deserves
the greatest praise in taldng up this work, and no city should fail at once to put
into effect such a law as this city is enjoying.
"I approve of your movement and am willing to do anything in my power to
help you," wrote the mayor of Maiden. "There is no sense in our present methods
of celebrating the Fourth."

MRS. ISAAC L. RICE 9
From the Mayor of Louisville came this very vigorous letter :
Turning this Republic into a field of carnage on Independence Day is horrify
ing. Glorifying our National Birthday with explosives is barbarous, as shown by
the record last year — 163 killed, 5460 injured. Every city should enact an ordi
nance looking to sanity and safety in celebrating the Fourth of July.
And now another town, Anderson :
I feel both honored and pleased to offer my humble coBperation in the move
ment you suggest. No honest mind will hesitate a moment to go upon such a
programme of progress.
From the Mayor of Lebanon:
I am heartily in sympathy with the movement you have inaugurated to pre
vent the deaths and mutilation of the people and the destruction of property that
occur from the manner of celebrating our natal day. Ever since taking oiSce I
have endeavored as faithfully as I possibly could to enforce all ordinances bearing
on this subject, and have realized the most gratifying results. Because of the
strict enforcement of this ordinance an effort was made by councils to repeal it,
but a veto was interposed — a copy of which I enclose — ^which will give you my
feelings in regard to our present method of celebrating our natal day. In my
limited sphere, I shall continue in this matter as I started, and battle with you
in the entire overthrow of the reckless and criminal use of fireworks, for the saving
of life, limb and property.
Quite a number of Mayors have informed me of the work that has
been done in their cities to promote a better observance of the Fourth,
and have sent me copies of ordinances that have been enacted. One of
these was the Mayor of Dayton, who wrote:
I can assure you that your plan is approved in this city, as a few months ago
our city council passed an ordinance prohibiting the shooting of fireworks, pistols
and other explosives on Independence Day. This ordinance is now in effect in our
city, and we hope hereafter to have a quiet, and at the same time a patriotic cele
bration of Independence Day.
From Utica:
This question has had the attention of our people, to the extent that an ordi
nance is at present in force in this city having that object in view. We are
enclosing you a copy of the ordinance.
And from Springfield (Mass.) :
For several years past the city of Springfield has been working out the same
idea which you are advancing, "establishing a sane and safe observance of Fourth
of July." We have been most successful in our plans.
The Mayor of Topeka wrote :
The proposition or suggestion is a good one, and I am in hearty accord with
it. I might say that in Topeka we are moving along these lines already, as you
will notice by the enclosed ordinance.

10 FOR A SAFE AND SANE FOURTH
Many others have sent us sympathetic words:
"I am heartily in sympathy with the object which your society hopes to
accomplish," wrote the Mayor of Columbus (Georgia). "The work in which you
are engaged meets with the Mayor's hearty approval," was the message that came
to us from St. Louis; while from Passaic, nearer home, the Mayor wrote: "I am
strongly in favor of a safe and sane celebration of our nation's birthday, and I
believe that the patriotism of the people can be shown just as well by sane
methods as by barbarous ones, and without blowing off the heads and hands and
fingers and legs of our children and grown-up people." "It will give me pleasure
to coSperate with your efforts, and those of your society, to secure a more rational
observance of Independence Day," replied Mayor Speer of Denver. "I assure you
that I am in thorough sympathy with the movement," came to me from New
Brims wick.
And still more letters have come from the Mayors of Wilmington, Pater-
son, Des Moines, York, Newark, Galena, Cleveland and Cambridge. As
for our petitions in favor of a safe and sane Fourth, they have been signed
by the Mayors of Toledo, Eiehmond, New Haven, Holyoke, Cincinnati,
Erie, Sacramento and Jacksonville.

Eegarding the communications from Commissioners of various de
partments, all of which are valuable to our cause, many have already been
received and many others are still coming in. Without exception, they
lay stress on the urgency of putting an end to our present mode of cele
brating the Fourth, and pronounce their willingness to help along the
movement. Beginning with those of Health Officers (which have come from State
as well as from City Departments), here is one from Dr. E. H. Porter, of
the New York State Department of Health :
I sincerely hope that your movement to secure a rational observance of the
National Holiday will be successful, as I am in thorough sympathy with the move
ment and will be glad to help in any way in my power.
Commissioner Dixon of the Pennsylvania Department wrote:
I heartily commend the movement you have headed for a safe and sane Inde
pendence Day instead of "Our Barbarous Fourth." As Commissioner of Health
I have done all I could to warn the people against the grave danger of explosive
wounds, but it will take some strong united movement on the part of municipal
authorities to put a stop to the unpatriotic practice of killing and disabling our
young children, and your determined effort should command the heartiest support.

MRS. ISAAC L. RICE H
From Director Neff, of Philadelphia :
My thought on this subject is, that so long as manufacturers make high ex
plosives and other dangerous fireworks, so long as local dealers fill their shelves
with these implements of suffering and death, just so long will they be sold and
used by "Young America," in spite of proclamations issued by municipal authori
ties. If ordinances are passed prior to the booking of orders by manufacturers,
and dealers realize that the law will be enforced, they will not procure a supply
of the interdicted articles, and their commercial interests will be protected, and no
sale take place. This is the surest way of preventing the improper celebration
of the day.
And this from Eochester :
For years past it has been customary for us to send out cards similar to the
enclosed, warning the public against the danger of lockjaw from wounds produced
by Fourth of July fireworks. I believe, however, that it would be a great deal
better to suppress unnecessary noise than it is to distribute tetanus antitoxin.
Similar letters or signed petitions have also been received from the
following Health Officers:
Dr. Ernst Lederle, New York City ; Dr. E. C. Levy, Eiehmond ; Dr. W.
A. Evans, Chicago; Dr. G. W. Gordon, Springfield (Mass.); Dr. W. S.
Eankin, North Carolina State Board of Health; Dr. J. Wigglesworth,
Wilmington (Del.) ; President Thomas J. Clark, St. Joseph; Dr. W. C.
Woodward, District of Columbia ; Dr. C. E. Fancy, Jacksonville ; Dr. B.
Bevier, Toledo; Dr. William D. Peekham, Htica; Dr. C. H. Thomas,
Cambridge, and Dr. William B. Foster, Lexington, Mass.
And next letters which have come from Police Departments:
"We have an element in this city," stated the Chief of Police of Worcester,
"who come from countries where firearms are strictly forbidden, so on the 'Fourth'
they go out and buy revolvers and proceed into the public streets firing blank
cartridges. We arrest all such offenders and put them before the court. This
element sees that a certain celebration is going on, and though they have no con
ception of what it is all about, they see others celebrating, so join the procession.
I send you a circular such as is issued to all dealers, posted in all mills and public
places by patrolmen of this department. It is in several different languages to
reach the non-English speaking element.''
Accompanying this letter was a placard printed in seven languages.
"Personally I think the present method of celebrating the day idiotic," wrote
the Chief of Police of Newport, while the message from Superintendent of Police
Stewart, of Chicago, was: "The value of concerted effort and action throughout
the country cannot be over-estimated." And this from Major Sylvester, Superin
tendent of Police of Washington: "I might add that the celebration of Independ
ence Day, 1909, in this jurisdiction was devoid of the explosions, firing of crackers

12 FOR A SAFE AND SANE FOURTH
and other noise-making devices. There were no accidents and but one fire on the
day. . . . The success attending a quiet celebration of the Fourth of July was
remarkable. It showed conclusively what can be done in that direction."
From Police Headquarters, Portland, Ore., Chief Cox wrote:
I am heartily in accord with your efforts. I have little ones of my own, and
I presume the feelings of the average parent are about the same as mine, and in
past years hardly a Fourth has passed which has not been accompanied by- some
apprehension for my own and other people's children. While I am in favor of
bringing the younger generation up with a reverence and an admiration for the
spirit exemplified on our National Holiday, I am also in favor and would be glad
to see some of the element of danger eliminated from the occasion as they are now
annually observed.
In addition to these, letters and signatures to petitions have come
from Commissioner Wm. F. Baker, New York City; Superintendent
McQuaide, Pittsburg; Chief Levan, Eeading; Chief Hyatt, Albany;
Secretary Skelly, San Francisco; Superintendent Birmingham, Bridge
port; Chief Davis, Memphis; Chief Eandall, Duluth; Chief Creecy, St.
Louis; Secretary Gee, Providence; Chief Persett, Galveston; Chief
Moyer, Duluth ; Superintendent Downey, Detroit ; Messrs. J. M. Morton,
Dansey and Lawson, Police Board, Fall Eiver; Commissioner of Public
Safety Hessler, Syracuse; Chief Millikin, Cincinnati; Chief Kohler,
Cleveland; Secretary Kinsey, Baltimore; City Marshal Quilty, Spring
field (Mass.) ; and Chief Werner, Eiehmond.
From the Fire Chiefs came the same recognition of the need of a
change in the mode of celebrating the Fourth.
"I congratulate you," wrote the Fire Chief of Springfield (Ohio), "for leading
this movement, as we have had, in years gone by, many fires and personal injuries
resulting from the foolish and hazardous use of fireworks on the Fourth of July.
I hope that the people of this country will see that the cooperation of the different
mayors and the heads of fire departments will be the means of decreasing, on the
Fourth of July celebrations, many personal injuries and losses of life and prop
erty. . . . You can count upon me at all times as against the unnecessary and
hazardous risk of life and property in our city."
"I believe this great day should be observed and celebrated in a more moderate
way, namely, by patriotic speech-making, music, athletic games, et cetera, and not
in a way which is directly responsible for the destruction of life and property,"
declared the Fire Chief of Erie (Pa.), while the Head of the Fire Department of
Chattanooga exclaimed: "Let the good work go on! Some of our greatest fire
losses have been the result of fireworks. Several years ago one of our hotels was
destroyed and three people burned alive as a result of such celebrations."
Further endorsement came from Chief Gernand, Galveston; Chief
Salter, Omaha; Chief Eandall, Duluth; Secretary Wilkinson, Baltimore;

MRS. ISAAC L. RICE 13
Chief Mayo, Toledo; Horace B. Clark, President Board of Fire Com
missioners, Hartford, and Chief Clancey, Milwaukee.

In reply to the letters and petitions sent to Universities and Colleges,
many answers have been received, while hundreds of signatures to our
petitions which had been posted on the bulletin-boards have been returned
to us. If space only permitted it would be delightful to quote from
many of these admirable letters, but — as it is — I must limit myself to
one. This one, however, which came from President Woodrow Wilson,
of Princeton University, voices the sentiment of all :
I most unhesitatingly sign one of the blank forms of petition accompanying
your letter of January 25th. I wish to express my entire sympathy with the
interesting work you are undertaking for the suppression of unnecessary noise and
the sane reform of our present way of celebrating the Fourth of July. I shall
take pleasure in placing the other blank forms on the bulletin boards of the
university, as you request.
Other College Presidents who have complied with our request are:
Dr. Nicholas Murray Butler, Columbia University; Chancellor H. M.
MacCracken, University of the City of New York; Dr. John Finley, Col
lege of the City of New York; President Ellis, Ohio University; Sister
M. Paulinus, President College of St. Elizabeth, Morristown; President
Levemore, Adelphi College, Brooklyn; President Schurman, Cornell;
President Meserve, Shaw University, Ealeigh; President Hamilton, Tufts
College; Professor Crull, Concordia College; President Gallaudet, Gal-
laudet College; President Thomas, Middlebury College; President
Sanford, Clark College, Worcester; President Cain, Washington Col
lege, Chestertown; President Blackwell, Eandolph-Macon College, Ash
land; President Ware, Atlanta University; President Thwing, Western
Eeserve University, Cleveland ; Dean Carnell, Temple University, Phila
delphia; President Gross, Union Theological Seminary, New York;
President Smith, Smith College, Northampton; Director Aldrich, School
of Technology, Potsdam; Dean Barr, Drake University, Des Moines;
President Atkinson, Polytechnic Institute, Brooklyn; Acting President
Hutchins, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; President Judson, Uni
versity of Chicago; President Faunce, Brown University, Providence;
President Gulliver, Eockford College; President Spooner, Norvsdch Uni
versity, Northfield; President Boatwright, Eiehmond; President Need-
ham, George Washington University, Washington; Chancellor Din-

14 FOR A SAFE AND SANE FOURTH
widdie. Southwestern Presbyterian University, ClarksviUe; Chancellor
Barrow, University of Georgia, Athens; President Booker T. Washing
ton, Tuskegee Institute, Hampton; President TroxeU, Midland College,
Atchison; President Craighead, Tulane University, New Orleans; Presi
dent MacLean, University of Iowa; President Briggs, Eadcliffe CoUege,
Cambridge; President Frieden, St. Louis Institute of Law; President
William Smith, Eandolph-Macon, Lynchburg; President Mooney, Seton
Hall College, South Orange ; Bursar Zabriskie, General Theological Sem
inary, New York; President Deimy, Washington and Lee University,
Lexington (Ya.) ; President Taylor, Vassar, Poughkeepsie ; President
Murphree, University of Florida, Gainesville; President Carson, Mills
College; President Gunsaulus, Armour School of Technology, Chicago;
President Baker, University of Colorado, Boulder; President Hammel-
kamp, Illinois University; President Baer, Occidental College, Los An
geles; President Lory, State Agricultural College, Fort Collins; Secre
tary Hawley, Teachers College, New York; Secretary Pratt, Pratt In
stitute, Brooklyn; Acting President GunsoUy, Graceland College,
Lamoni; President George, Drury College, Springfield (Mo.) ; President
Manck, Hillsdale College ; President Harris, Amherst College ; President
Eiley, McMinneville ; President Mam, Iowa College, Grionell; President
Venneble, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill ; President Keister,
Lebanon Valley College; President Kelly, Earlham College, Earlham;
President Aikens, Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove; President
David Starr Jordan, Leland Stanford, Jr. University, California; Eev.
President Hosmer, Southern University, Greensboro ; and President Mc-
Clure, McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago.

I believe that the most potent factor in the fight for a safe and sane
Fourth has been the set of tables of Independence Day casualties pre
pared by the Journal of the American Medical Association, although it
must be remembered that these statistics, startling as they are, do not, by
any means, state a complete case, as a large proportion of casualties never
are recorded. However, until these figures had been tabulated, no one
realized the price that we were paying for the celebration of our National
Holiday. Perhaps one could not give a better object-lesson of this than that of
placing side by side with the casualty lists of the Journal of the American
Medical Association for the past seven years, those of the American losses

MRS. ISAAC L. RICE 15
in seven famous Eevolutionary battles, namely, Lexington, Bunker HiU,
Fort Moultrie, White Plains, Fort Washington, Monmouth and Cow-
pens, the figures for the latter being taken from Bancroft's History of
the United States.

Battles
Lexington 
Bunker Hill 
Port Moultrie . .
White Plains . . .
Fort Washington
Monmouth 
Cowpens 

Killed and
Wounded

Celebrations

Killed and
Wounded

83

July 4, 1903

4,449

449

July 4, 1904

4,169

37

July 4, 1905

5,176

100

July 4, 1908

5,466

149

July 4, 1907

4,413

229

July 4, 1908

5,623

72

July 4, 1909

5,307

1,11-9 34,603

And now, what are the instruments, by means of which Death reaps
so large a harvest every Fourth? Unfortunately, but little is known,
either by parents or children, concerning the dangerous playthings in
dulged in, and to this may be attributed, without doubt, many sad fea
tures of our "holy day." Only three attempts have been made, I believe,
to remedy this, one ia Philadelphia, the second in Boston and the third
in New York. In Philadelphia, Superintendent Brumbaugh has ar
ranged for lectures which are to be given to children in the public schools
warning them of the dangers of explosive enthusiasm; in Boston lec
tures have been prepared for parents, in which they will be made ac
quainted with the risks that they allow their children to run in permit
ting them to purchase fireworks ; while in New York, the subject is to be
taken up in the Free Lecture Course of the Department of Education,
beginning the latter part of April, for the purpose of promoting a better
holiday observance.
It is surprising, considering the enormous sums annually spent for
fireworks, that so little literature dealing with the subject can be found.
One of the few articles that I have come across refers to a circular which
has been issued by the Kentucky Board of Fire Underwriters. This states
first that the composition of many dangerous pieces cannot be ascertained
(the secret resting with the manufacturers), and then it goes on to speak
of the composition of the common cracker and of the torpedo :
The largest cannon crackers contain two-thirds ounce of chlorate, one-third

16 FOR A SAFE AND SANE FOURTH
ounce of sulphur, and a small amount of charcoal. The seven-inch variety contains
one-half the amount of ingredients of the larger kind. Last Fourth of July one
of these "murderers'' exploded while under a man's arm, killing him almost
instantly, and driving his watch from his vest pocket into a telegraph pole to the
depth of one inch. And next. The small torpedo contains a small wafer of
chlorate of potash, and gravel, while the largest variety contains chlorate,
phosphorus and chloride of antimony. One manufacturer is using fulminate of
mercury, which makes their explosive power almost as great as dynamite. These
noise-makers have been responsible for many deaths and accidents, and have also
turned valuable properties into bonfires, etc.
"Very few parents," the circular proceeds, "would allow their children to
experiment with dynamite, yet they allow them to explode these fireworks, which
are even more dangerous .than that explosive."

Mr. H. J. Pain, the "Fireworks Kiag," divides fireworks into those
that are exploded by fire and those that are exploded by concussion. The
latter he declares, with the addition of giant crackers which belong to
the first class, are dangerous and should be prohibited. "There should
be no giant crackers," he declares, "large torpedoes should not be aUowed.
Pistols, revolvers, and cap pistols should be prohibited from use." Mr.
Pain voices, I think, the sentiment of most fireworks makers, in regretting
that the trade in dangerous articles is harmful to that in beautiful, spec
tacular pieces which could be set off under expert supervision, on the oc
casion of public displays. "As the cities are going now they are stopping
all fireworks," are his own words.
It must not be imagined, however, that toy pistols and giant
crackers are the only dangerous devices that are yearly bought by our
boys and girls, for there are many others. To the list must be added the
shooting cane, the lozenges for which, made of potassium chlorate, sulphur,
powdered glass and other substances, sometimes explode en masse, ignitiag
clothing, or perhaps even blowing off a limb; fix rohr, too, is another
gentle toy for children, a box of which some time ago exploded in the
Boston Custom House, tearing up the floor and killing three men; toy-
cannon are dangerous when they "kick" as well as when they burst, and
toy balloons frequently start flres, because the paper of which they are
made becomes ignited, five houses in one town, in one day, being
burned in this manner.

Of many recent ordinances, either proposed or enacted, I shall simply
quote that of Alderman Courtland NicoU of New York, which is inter-

MRS. ISAAC L. RICE 17
esting not only because it is one of the very latest (introduced February
1st), but also because it is absolutely prohibitive, and not merely restric
tive. As Dr. Simmons, Editor of the Journal of the Medical Association,
has said, this idea of regulating has been attempted in many cities
already, and in no instance has it resulted even in an improvement.
Here is the text of Alderman NicoU's Ordinance :
Be it Ordained by the Board of Aldermen of the City of New York, as follows :
That section number 531 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of New York
be and hereby is repealed and the following substituted in place of the present
language of the section so numbered:
Sec. 531. That it shall be unlawful to discharge or explode or to have in
possession for any such purpose, or to sell or offer for sale to any person under the
age of twenty-one, within the City of New York, any toy pistol using a percussion
cap, or any squib, rocket, fire cracker, roman candle or other combustible fireworks
designed to be exploded with a sudden report or detonation; provided, however,
that the Police Commissioner may issue a permit to any person above the age of
twenty-one years to set off and have in his possession for such purpose for a
period not exceeding one day any such fireworks, provided such person shall first
satisfy the Police Commissioner by proof satisfactory to him that he is familiar
with the nature and operation of such fireworks; second, shall pay a license fee of
five dollars ($5) for such permit; and third, execute a bond or undertaking under
seal in the sum of five thousand dollars with sureties satisfactory to the Commis
sioner, the condition of such bond or imdertaking being that the license shall save
the city harmless from all damage incurred by reason of his having in his posses
sion or setting off such fireworks. Such permit shall have endorsed thereon the
time and place at which it is proposed to set off such fireworks, and no such permit
shall be valid as permission to set off any such fireworks within any of the public
parks or playgrounds of the City of New York without having endorsed thereon
the consent of the Park Commissioner of the Borough in which such park or play
ground is situated.
There are many cities laying claim to protective ordinances, in which
restriction — and not prohibition — is aimed at. Lynn, for instance, for
bids large crackers, but permits them to be used up to two inches in
length and half an inch in diameter; Springfield's new ordinance allows
them to be used up to three and one-half inches in length ; Syracuse per
mits a five-inch cracker and Boston, I believe, countenances one six
inches long and one inch wide. When one recognizes the fact that four-
teen-inch cannon crackers are commonly sold, even in towns where their
use is forbidden, and that it is impossible for a police officer to differen
tiate {after the explosion) between a five and a fourteen-inch cracker,
ordinances of a merely restrictive character appear to have little practical
value. Dr. Evans, Health Commissioner of Chicago, has declared that
even a two-inch firecracker could not be considered safe, because the
wound made by it could become infected just as easily as that made by

18 FOR A SAFE AND SANE FOURTH
a ten-inch cracker, and this statement has been corroborated by those in
charge of many Chicago hospitals. "Tetanus," said Dr. Simmons, "fre
quently comes from wounds not more than a quarter of an inch long."
Efforts to promote a better celebration of the Fourth are now being
made in many cities in various different ways — ^by prohibition, by restric
tion, by prohibition and substitution and by restriction and substitution.
Of all these experiments, the most interesting is that which has been
tried for several years in Springfield, Massachusetts, if one may judge
by last year's official programme, a copy of which was sent me by Mayor
Lathrop. The scope of the celebration was wide enough to interest and
to please all, embracing as it did music and band concerts, a parade, ath
letic sports and exercises, aquatic sports, displays of fireworks, and
historical pageants with fioats representing scenes from events enacted
there, such as Pynchon's purchase of the land from the Indians, the
Corn Fleet, Defeat of Shay's Insurgents, and the Underground EaUway.
In describing one of these fete-days. Dr. Gulick said :
This splendid parade, which included the children and adults, the city gov
ernment, the nationalities of which the city was composed — the history of the
city — ^brought the people together as they had never come together. It developed
a feeling of oneness, of belonging together, which was new. . . . By this means,
Springfield has, by constructive rather than restrictive measures, won her day and
is winning her city consciousness. . . . We have many holidays and other occa
sions which demand social expression, but the Fourth of July gives us the most
dramatic point of attack.
Pittsburg is at present agitating the question of preparing a gorgeous
pageant in honor of the Fourth, for which a large sum is to be raised by
popular subscription. It is proposed to engage John W. Alexander, the
artist, and Percy MacKaye, the dramatist, in order to arrange a marvel
lous historical and artistic festival, in which young and old, Americans
and those of all other nationalities will take part. "Let us make our
National Holiday a holy day," said the Mayor, a few days ago, "recaUing
and revering the heroic past and symbolizing the present reality with
the ideal of the brotherhood to be."
Philadelphia, too, is now working for a holiday programme which
will engage the public attention to the exclusion of gunpowder. In this
celebration a military parade will be a conspicuous feature, and there
will be patriotic music, speeches, pyrotechnic displays, both public and
private, set off under expert supervision, and children's games in every
breathing space in the city from a park to a vacant lot. In this work,
Mrs. Imogen B. Oakley is the moving spirit and it is she who, more than
any other Philadelphian, has led the movement for sanity on Independence
Day. Newark is evidently in favor of a great patriotic and historical

MRS. ISAAC L. RICE 19
festival in which civic organizations and the militia can participate, as
well as the schools. In Indianapolis, the Mayor and the President of
Council recently met the members of the Committee on City Interests in
order to plan a suitable celebration of our National Birthday; later
there wUl be a joint meeting of all civic organizations and all city offi
cials. And thus, even in mid- winter, city after city is ranging itself on
the side of those who are endeavoring to do away with a mode of observ
ance that is a desecration of our National Birthday, a "devastating
nuisance," as it has been called, and to replace it with one that is safe,
instructive, attractive, artistic and patriotic.
I cannot bring this article to a more fitting close than by quoting
a letter just issued by the Governor of Connecticut to the mayors of the
municipalities of the State: STATE OF CONNECTICUT
Executive Department Hartford, February 21, 1910.
To his Honor, the Mat/or of 
Sir: The Society for the Suppression of Unnecessary Noise, with head
quarters in New York City, is making every effort to interest the people of the
states through their executives in the wisdom and importance of observing a
"safer and saner Fourth of July." Statistics show that during the celebration of
five national holidays 1,153 persons were killed and 21,520 were more or less
injured. No computation can possibly be made of the harm, say nothing of the dis
comfort, our sick and nervous are obliged to undergo by the noise. All this,
together ¦with the immense loss through fires, leads the society to believe that all
thinking people are more than ready to cooperate with the authorities toward
securing a less noisy day.
Therefore, as I am in hearty sympathy with this movement, and believing, as
I do, that the size and quality of some of the explosives used together with the
unreasonable time allowed in which to celebrate has passed all bounds, I feel
warranted in calling to the attention of the heads of municipalities and our
people generally the advisability of taking steps toward making the glorious anni
versary a day of pleasure and jirofit, instead of a day of unrest and horror.
Hoping for your cooperation in the matter, I am, Mr. Mayor,
Yours very truly,
Feank B. Weeks,
Governor.

From an article by the Hon. Henry Litchfield West, Commissioner of
the District of Columbia, entitled "A Safe and Sane Fourth of July,"
published in The Forum for August, 1909.
"A little more than a year ago the Century Magazine contained a vigorous

and convincing article by Mrs. Isaac L. Rice, entitled 'Our Barbarous Fourth.'
It was a protest against a condition of affairs in the United
"Our States which had long attracted attention, but which no one, up
Barbarous ^^ ^-^^^^ ^jj^g^ jj^d criticised in such emphatic terms. 'The grim
Fourth" statistics of the Fourth of July,' said the article, 'probably fur
nish a sadder commentary on human folly than that afforded by any other celebra
tion in the world.'
"It is worth while to present in detail the indictment upon which the article
in question arraigned the nation. It showed the heavy penalty which this country
has for many years paid to the god of gunpowder under the mistaken notion that
noise was patriotism, and that civic and national pride were measured by the
explosion of firecrackers and cannon. The figures gathered from accurate sources,
although admittedly incomplete, were startling in their presentation. They
showed that during the celebration of five national birthdays, from 1903 to 1907,
inclusive, 1153 persons were killed and 21,520 were injured. Of the injured, 88
suffered total, and 389 partial, blindness; 308 persons lost arms, legs or hands,
and 1067 lost one or more fingers. 'But these figures, startling as they are,' com
mented Mrs. Rice, 'convey only a faint idea of the suffering, both physical and
mental, which went to swell the total cost of these five holidays; in this we must
include the weeks and often months of anguish of the injured, the suspense of
entire families while the fate of some loved one hung in the balance, the horror
of a future of sightless years, the pinching poverty now the lot of many because
of the death or maiming of breadwinners.'
"It is true that a few thoughtful people had in more or less nonchalant
manner observed the terrible toll of death and injury which the evil celebration
of the day demanded. Quite a number of newspapers — notably the Chicago
Tribune — ^were questioning the wisdom of a method which in one day had resulted
in the death of 164 people, and the injury of nearly 5000. 'How can any satis
faction,' asked the New York Tribune, 'be taken in the perversion of a holiday to
purposes of disorder and destruction, and how can any pride be felt in methods of
observance which inevitably condemn hundreds — if not thousands — to be shot,
burned, maimed, and otherwise disfigured and tortured in propitiation of the
great god of senseless uproar ? The St. Paul Pioneer Press deplored the fact that a
day which ought to be the most enjoyable in the calendar had become a day of
general carnage; while the New York Commercial characterized the popular cele
bration as ridiculous and senseless.
"Notwithstanding these occasional utterances of truth, which indicated a
growing sentiment, the fact is, that at the time of the appearance of 'Our Bar
barous Fourth' there was only one city in the country wherein any curb had been
placed upon the Insensate and reckless custom of observing the Fourth of July
with dynamite and gunpowder. The cemeteries and the hospitals were claiming
their victims and yet no one in authority seemed courageous enough to call a halt
for fear of being charged with lack of patriotism.
"I believe, however, that the article in question appeared at the psychological
moment. It was so straightforward in its presentation of the facts, so earnest in
its appeal and so logical in its assertion that tliere were numerous sensible ways
of celebrating our National Holiday, that it made a profound impression every
where. At any rate, the fact is, that before that article appeared only one city in
the country had prohibited the sale and explosion of fireworks, while within a
short period after it had been printed the authorities in several cities took radical
action along the lines therein suggested. It is no exaggeration to say that within
the next ten years the old barbarous Fourth of July will have entirely disappeared,
and it is also within the bounds of accurate statement to add that the one greatest
individual factor in accomplishing the much-needed reform is the author of the
Century article."

Caylord Bros.
Makers
Syracuse, N. Y.
FAT.JAX. 21. 1908

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