The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-20
PINGREE A PLAGInRIST
SURPRISING DISCOVERY MADE AT
THE GOVERNORS OFFICE.
A Thanksgiving Proclamation APP
parently Cribbed from One Issued
by MissOurf's Executive.

While looking over the various Thanks
giving proclamations sent by the Governors
Of other States to the Governor of Indiana
Journal reporter yesterday made the
somewhat startling discovery that either
Gov. Lon V. Stephens of Missouri, or Gov.
Pingree, Of Michigan. or possibly both of
them, are guilty of plagiarism. AT any
rate, there is q similarity of wording in por-
lions of their northumberland not in the
purely formal portions, either--that one
must have taken from the other, or both
'cribbed' from the same source. If one
has appropriated the brain work of the
other, the burden of explanation lies with
the famous Governor Pingree, for his proc
lamation is dated Nov. S, while that OF the
Missouri executive is dated Nov. 1. Stripped
of its pure formalities the proclamation OF
Governor Stephens reads as follows:
I'VE are in the midst of a season when
we hear the fair music which all creatures
make to their great Lord But while
plenty may bring satisfaction and content
ment to the animal world, man, as the
of rendering deVout and intelligent thanks
giving and worship to Almighty God, cam
not enjoy to the full extent his countless
blessings save with q. grateful heart 'Thou
crownest the year with Thy goodness and
Thy paths drop fairness. The hills are
girded with Joy; the pastures are clothed
corn; they shout for joy. they also sing;
Our great Commonwealth, filled with
larger population than belonged to the
whole country when our fathers won ma
uonal indep endence, can look back over
the seventy six years of statehood and see
the simple industries of the pioneer grown
TO the many diversified industries which
have made us the eighth State in wealth.
and we are fifth in numbers and political
power IN this great Union; we review "a
orchard, and pasture, and field have re-
sponded to labor. We have been graciously
preserved from famine and pestilence, from
fire, food and tornado, from iawlessress
and civil strife.
THE spirit Of philanthropy among our
citizens has been active in providing for the
needs of the suffering and unfortunate, and
in building churches and institutions OF
learning where our sons and daughters may
be fitted for lifes great work Christian
workers have brought many to acknowl-
edge their obligations to lead better lives,
and countless homes have been made hap
every temporal and spiritual blessing which
We enjoy 1t becomes US to render devout
thanksgiving unto God"
The body OF Governor Pingree's procla-
nation is as follows:
I'm pursuance of a time honored custom
l have the honor to hereby appoint Thurs
day, Nov. 25 as day of general thanks
giving. The people of this great Common
wealth are requested on the above-named
day to abstain from the ordinary avoca-
tons of life, and to devote the DAY to ex-
ercises and recreation appropriate to the
occasion. 1t is a good day to forgive Of
lenses, to gather together In family re-
union, to forget or suspend differences of
opinion in religion belief or politics, and to
remember the great number of needy people
throughout the State, and also do kind
deeds and return thanks to God for the
many blessings which we enjoy.
Our great Commonwealth filled with
larger population than belonged to the
whole country when our fathers won ma
tional Independence. can look back over the
sixty years of statehood and see the sim
pie industry of the pioneers grown to the
many diversified interests which have made
us a great State in wealth and in a great
many other ways.
'The spirit Of philanthropy among our
citizens has been active in providing for
the needs of the suffering nd unfortunate.
Christian workers have brought many to
acknowledge their obligations to lead bet
ter lives, and countless numbers have been
made happier for their efforts during the
year. For every temporal and spiritual
blessing which we enjoy it becomes us to
render devout thanksgiving unto Cod"
There are some curious things among the
have reached the Office. That of Governor
Wolcott, of Massachusetts, printed in Bos-
ton, the boasted center Of American art
and culture, is an enormous affair. about
the size of a "one-sheet' show BILL and
looks for all the world like an advertise
ment of a country sale. Most of the New
England documents are careless and ugly
specimens of the printers art In this par
ticular the Indiana proclamation is far
ahead OF anything that mas come 1n 1t is
remarkably artistic and beautiful bit of
printing.
The Governor of Alaska has proclama-
ton that looks as If it had been printed
with apple butter on a cider press. but it
has in 1t a lot of glorifcation over the fact
that the Klondike discoveries have brought
Alaska before the public and convinced the
world that there is something of value in
the Territory besides ice and sealskns.
The Governor of Colorado seems overly
anxious to impress upon the minds of the
people that it is the sunshine, the rain and
the soil that has brought all this abundant
prosperity, despite the predictions of the
Populist calamityites. A tinge of this same
something to do with the general opening
OF the factories may be noted also in the
proclamations of the Governors of Wyom-