Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-11-17

will occur upon May 20, 1898; and
the fl tieth anniversary Of the cere-
mony Of taking the oath Of office, by
the first elective state officers, upon
June 7, 1898.
Appropriate obserVances in COM
memoration Of these events are, we
feel assured, generally desired by the
people Of our state, to the end that
there may be fostered among US that
spirit of historic consciousness which
is the source OF civic pride and patriot
ism. The several program committees
which were the outgrowth of the
Committee of One Hundred, at the
final meeting of the latter, IN Milwau-
kee, a few months ago-have out
lined plans which embrace three
features, as follows:
L! County pioneer celebrations, to
be held at each county seat upon
Saturday, May %, 1898, (for the
goth falls on Sunday. and the 3Oth
is Memorial day. These celebra
tions to be, so far as possible, under
the control of local historical or ear
ly-settler societies, either already
organized, or at once to be organized,
with this end in view.
2. A general state celebration, of
a military, literary and historical
character, to be held at Madison, the
seat of state government, upon Tues
day, Wednesday and Thursday, June
7, s and 9, 1898. The 7th of June
has been declared by the legislature
81 legal holiday, and the program
upon that day is in the hands of the
governor; the proposition is to ex-
tend he celebration through the 9Th
! and 9th. under the guidance Of the
peoples committee.
3. A carnival at Milwaukee, the
metropolis of the state, from June
27 to July 2, to graphically represent
| the business and industrial develop
ment of the commonwealth during
/ the past fifty years.
| At meeting of the executive COM
mittee Of the State Historlca society,
J held on the Goth of October, the
following resolutions were adopted:
| Resolsed, That the State Historical society
| of Wisconsin views with great interest the
| preparations now under way for the semi
| centennial celebration proposed to be held
| at Madison, the seat of state government,
and at MilWaukee, the metropolis Of the
state, from June u to July 2, 1898. It con-
| siders the proper observance of the ami
versary year as of much Importance to the
people of the state, believing that it will awak-
en- stirring historic memories and foster civic
pride thereby conducting to the cause of good
| citizenship within our borders. 1t therefore
| bespeaks for these celebrations the hearty
cooperation of Wisconsin men and women
| wherever they may be.
| Resolred, That the society advises and re-
| quests the immediate formation of local and
| county historical and early-settler associa
tons to develop the historical spirit in the sew
brations at the several county seats on the 18th
OF May next, and, as further mode of semi-cen-
tenp!al observance, to gather for preservation
tee of the state) whatever historical material
may be found within their borders.
In furtherance Of the purpose of
these resolutions, the society urges
the people Of the state to form local
societies, to hold frequent meetings
during the approaching winter for the
purpose Of social reunion, to compile
valuable histo rical Incidents in writ
ten form and the collection of old
manuscripts and original documents
that will throw light upon the early
events Of the state; that Grand Army
organizations in the same manner
prepare data, and other local socie-
ties make special efforts in the
collection Of the best sources of his
torical research and place them
where they can be best preserved and
utilized. 1t also urges that counties
hold conventions, appoint historians,
compile data, etc. In all this the
society will be pleased to communi-
cate with citizens in the counties,
relative to proposed local celebra
tlons, formation of local societies
and the preparation oflocal histories.