100 years ago: Residents argue for, against fireworks ordinance

From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for April 14, 1916:

  • “Opinion differed regarding the sane celebration of July 4 when the subject was discussed in a meeting of the welfare board last night. The present ordinance pertaining to the sale of fireworks and other explosives used to observe the birthday of the nation was declared by some members of the board to be too drastic. Mrs. George Barker expressed an opinion that the ordinance was not binding because it was not backed by a state law on the subject…. In support of the ordinance now among the laws of the city Prof. Homer Talbot, chairman of the board, showed a letter from the state fire marshal asking cities to pass such an ordinance as the one Lawrence now has. He also showed by figures from a medical journal the enormous loss of life and injuries over the United States which were directly due to the use of fire crackers or fireworks.”
  • “How the famous ‘Rock Chalk, Jay Hawk, K. U.’ yell made a hit before a gathering of European students at Copenhagen, Denmark, was described this morning by Kenneth Pringle who spoke to his fellow students in Fraser hall at the monthly convocation concerning his experiences as the school’s representative on the Ford peace boat. ‘It was at a banquet of students,’ said Pringle. ‘Different students were giving the yells of their schools…. The pitch was a little high and our rhythm was far from perfect, but the K. U. yell was voted the best of the lot.’ How great a distinction this was is indicated by the fact that there were thirty-six students representing thirty-three American universities with the Ford peace boat…. Fraser hall was crowded by students and faculty members this morning to hear Pringle’s address. In clear, concise fashion, he told of the purpose of Mr. Ford in backing the peace mission, and of many interesting incidents of the trip.”
  • “A suit for $10,000 damages against Charles W. Hemphill was filed this morning in district court by Mrs. Maude Smith. Mrs. Smith alleges that she received serious injuries by breaking through a stairway in a house at 636 Ohio street where she was living. According to the petition the house was rented from C. W. Hemphill by her husband Kirby Smith, with the understanding that it was in good repair. The plaintiff alleges that the defendant was well aware of the dangerous condition of the basement stairs where the accident occurred.”
  • “Any Lawrence people who have an unsatisfied curiosity as to how a city newspaper is produced, can witness the details of the making of one Saturday night when ‘Racing the Deadline,’ a feature newspaper film, will be shown at Fraser hall under the auspices of the Sigma Delta Chi journalistic fraternity. Only one run of the film will be given. It will start at 7:15 o’clock. An additional feature will be a Bray comedy film.”
  • “The current for the new electric light service in Eudora will be supplied from Bonner Springs. The Eudora City Council met last Saturday and awarded the contract to the Bonner Springs people, who were the lowest bidders. Bonner Springs will supply DeSoto, Linwood and Eudora with ‘juice.’ The current will be supplied to Eudora for six cents and will cost the consumers 10 or 12 cents.”