From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for May 25, 1916:

• “Most of the activity of Baldwin between the Baker commencement and the Fourth of July will be devoted to preparing for the big celebration on July 4, which will review many of the historical incidents which center about the community in the south part of the county. The people of Lawrence have pledged their assistance in making the celebration a notable event. No competing celebration will be held at Lawrence. The observance of the day at Baldwin will be for the whole county…. The day’s program will all be held in the college campus of Baker University, one of the great beauty spots of Kansas, and where every convenience for the general public can be secured. At 11 o’clock a sham battle will be put on by Company H of Lawrence, probably the best drilled company in the west. At noon the people will hold a basket dinner in the campus where they will be grouped in six groups according to the time they or their parents came to Kansas. The first group being from 1856 to 1866 and so on to 1916. This will make an interesting social hour…. At 2 o’clock there will be a concert given by the children, 500 of them, when they will sing patriotic songs and be accompanied by a big orchestra. The children in the school districts for miles around have been practicing these songs for several months…. At this time and place Governor Arthur Capper will make an address in keeping with the day. Following this there will be games galore for the young people for which many prizes will be offered. Then will come a big ball game followed by the supper hour. The Lawrence military band will give a twilight concert after which a big spectacular play will be given in the gymnasium.”
• “When Theodore Roosevelt comes west next week he will speak before city audiences on Americanism and preparedness. He is scheduled to talk at Kansas City Memorial Day. Believing that Colonel Roosevelt would like also to give his views to an audience of country people, the Plain Citizens Club of Douglas county has invited the former president of the United States to speak at Lawrence the day following his Kansas City address. If the invitation is accepted, it is planned to have the address in Woodland park, where there will be room enough for the whole county to gather. There is no question that a great throng would gather in Lawrence to welcome Mr. Roosevelt and to listen to his address.”
• “The first open air concert of the First Regiment band will be given in South park tonight. The band expects to make weekly concerts a regular feature of the summer months.”
• “Oskaloosa, Kan. — While a mob was gathering around the jail here last night, sheriff W. E. O’Brien hurried Ira C. McGee, a cobbler, charged with attacking an 11-year-old girl, into a motor car and took him to Topeka. Leaders declared their intention of lynching McGee at the first opportunity. The girl, who is in a serious condition, is the daughter of a prominent resident of Jefferson county. McGee invited her to go for a motor car ride into the country yesterday. The wife of a farmer saw the crime from a window of her home.”