The Day Tacoma Painted Itself Blue, White and Yellow

TACOMA, Aug. 29.—At 12 o'clock this afternoon United States Senator Watson C. Squire declared the Interstate Fair formally opened. At a gesture he touched an electric button that set all the fair machinery in motion. The platform from which Senator Squire made his speech was a large manufacturers' building, which was thronged with people. There were no ceremonies connected with the opening of the fair save the unique street parade that was the chief feature of the day's celebration. This parade started at 10:30 from the corner of A and Seventh streets and finished shortly after noon at the fair grounds, having traversed the business portion and a portion of the residence districts of the city.

It was a great parade. The column was decorated with the fair colors from one end to the other, and it marched through a city brilliant with the same flowers. The people in their enthusiasm had even painted white dogs with blue and yellow stripes, and the sun, in a clouded blue and smoky-white sky, had turned to yellow. Pacific Avenue was a blaze of color. C Street was almost equally brilliant, and the decorating enthusiasm had spread even to the residence districts. So great had been the demand for blue, white and yellow bunting that during the past few hours it has been impossible to purchase any of the correct shades in the city. The carriages in the procession were gaudy with blue, white and yellow. The bicycle clubs that rode in the parade had their wheels decorated lavishly. The Turks that rode the camels and the monkeys had observed the same general scheme of color in their efforts at adornment.

The features of the parade were many. Of course the huge, gaudy camels with their oddly costumed riders, and the tiny turkey and donkey boys gave a sort of foreign air to the line, but there was plenty of dignity to be found in it also. Senator Squire, with Director-General Bucey and party, riding in a four-horse carriage, the mayor, city officials, military and a host of civic organizations all went to make the parade as impressive as it should be.

All the way down Pacific Avenue the streets seemed packed with people to watch the parade. They overflowed the sidewalks and crowded so close to the center of the street that the various military organizations had difficulty in marching by platoons. At the corner of Ninth and C streets the crowd was particularly large, and only through the efforts of the police was a passageway for the parade maintained.

There was one individual in the parade who had a passageway at all times. It was the great captive elk that marched at the head of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. His branching antlers, a sight hidden from view as they were low over the crowd, made a lane for him as he went. The elk was led by a halter and was a fine specimen. The incident of the parade was when the frightened animal broke away from his leader. Sergeant Garwich saw the danger and in a moment had given orders that threw his line of men directly in front of the frightened animal. He leaped among the men, caught them by the belt, and held on until a grip could be secured. That ended the incident.

The line of parade was in brief as follows: Platoon of police, Interstate Fair band, Senator Watson Squire and the governor's staff, companies C and G, First Regiment, N.G.W.; Troop B (Tacoma City Troop), N.G.W.; Grand Army posts, Seattle and Tacoma city officials, Sons of Veterans, Order of Red Men, Knights of Pythias, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, other fraternal organizations, scenic railway and other fair amusements and concessionaires, and the fire department.

During the parade it is estimated that 25,000 people lined the streets, the vast majority of whom are on the fair grounds this afternoon and evening, together with many excursionists from surrounding towns. Music for the day was furnished by the Interstate Fair band, organized by Prof. Bull and composed of the best musicians in Tacoma, Seattle and the Northwest.

In the course of his remarks, Senator Squire said: 'The people of the Northwest should stand hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder against the world. In that way we can bring everything that we need and want to our doors. No other country in the world has resources such as ours. No other country in the world has 2,000 miles of interior seacoast harbor line, dotted with safe harbors. No other country has such soil and such a climate. We have grown faster than any other country ever grew, and as soon as the turn in the tide comes we will push on again to the front with our business and developments. That turn is already at hand.'

Close attention and much enthusiasm and applause showed that the people appreciated what Mr. Squire said. Both the speaker and the spectators became enthused, so that when Senator Squire pressed the button as he concluded, and Manager Jereisatti of the Turkish village presented him with a massive floral crescent, the applause was unbounded.