, 1898-10-06
Ia FAYETTE DAY
GOVERNOR RICHARDS RECON-
MENDS THAT THE OCCASION
BE OBSERVED.
October 18th Designated, and School
Children Asked to Participate and
Contribute to a Fund for the Erec-
ton of a Monument to the Nations
First Benefactor.

1T is proposed by the commissioner
general for the United States to the
Paris exposition to make especially
conspicuous and Respondent the cele-
bration of United States day at the
coming exposition. The great feature
of these exercises is to be the unveil-
ing and dedication Of a monument from
the children. and youth of our country
to the memory of our nations first
benefactor and defender. La Fayette.
A proposition has been made to raise
the fun6.s necessary for the erection Of
the monument through the agency Of
the schools and this proposition has
for one of its chief purposes the direc-
ton OF the minds Of our young people
to a broader study of the historic events
of the early days OF the republic.
In this connection. Governor Rich
ards has addressed the following letter
to the scholars of Wyoming:
Executive Department. Cheyenne,
Wyoming. October 5th, 1S9S.-To the
School Youth of Wyoming: have re-
ceived the following copy Of a cable
gram relating to a monument to Cen
eral Lafayette:
September %, Paris, France, United
State Embassy.-To the Governor: 1t
being proposed to %signalize the partici-
patton of the United States in the Paris
exposition Of 1900 by the erection in
Paris in the name OF the youth OF the
United States of a monument to Gem
eral Lafayette, the same to be unveil-
ed and dedicated July 18th, United
States day, at the exposition.
And it being proposed that the
means necessary for the building OF
such a memorial shall be secured by
popular contributions from the people
Of America. through the agency Of the
schools and colleges Of the United
States;
And to the end that the benefits of
this work may fall largely to our chill
dren and young people. in the attrac-
ton of their minds to a study OF the
great historical characters and events
of the early days Of our republic, l urg-
emily request that you publicly desig-
nate by official proclamation, II pos
sible, October the 10Th as lafayette
day. in the schools OF your state-pub-
lie and parochtal-when a portion Of
the day be devoted to exercises appro-
pirate to the occasion, and the story OF
u struggle for liberty told anew to
our children.
FERDINAND w. PECK,
Commissioner General to the Paris
Exposition"
The movement to e a monument
to the memory Of Lafayette has been
endorsed by President Mckinley and
by congressional action and sanctioned
by many men prominent in public and
private life. It is worthy OF the con-
fidence and support Of u people and
recommend that the action desired by
| Commissioner Peck be taken and that
October 18th Of this year be regarded
as Lafayette day in all the schools ID
the state. I advise that upon that day
there be exercises appropriate to the
occasion and that those pupils who de-
sire to do so be afforded the %opportuni-
ty to contribute to the erection Of the
proposed monument. The amounts &c
collected in the various schools may be
remitted to Hon. C. H. Parmelee, the
superintendent Of public instruction
who will transmit the same to Hon.
Charles G. Dawes, comptroller Of THE
currency and treasurer OF the monu-
ment committee at Washington.
trust that the teachers OF the state
will give this matter attention, to the
end that our school children may be
represented in this meritorious under.
taking. WIN. A. RICHARDS,
Governor.