Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-07-15
AMERICAS LEGAL HoLlpAvs.


heard that there are too many HOLIDAYS
In America, and it would seem that in
that case there should be several DAYS
celebrated alike all over the country
the truth remains that. aside from
Christmas, there is not single holt
DAY when all America joins in a real
celebration. National holidays" so
often referred to in conversation do not
exist, except for commercial purposes,
and when congress sets apart a day it
is for the District of Columbia alone
and the holidays in other states must
be fixed by the state officials.
During the fifty-third congress an
act was passed making Labor day a
holiday in the District of Columbia,
and congress has recognized the exist
ence of certain days as holidays for
commercial purposes; but with the ex-
ceptions cited there is no federeal
statute on the subject. When the
President issues his Thanksgiving pro-
clamation it only creates holiday in
the District of Columbia and the terri
tories. In the various states the set.
ting aside of holidays is a matter of
state legislation.
In Kansas there are only three legal
holidays-Decoration day, May 30; La.
Dor day, Sept 4, and Washington's
birthday, February o. All other holi-
days are observed by common consent.
Many states have special holidays,
usually commemorative of some i'm.
portant local historical event Thus
in Louisiana the anniversary of the
battle of New Orleans, January 8 is
legal holiday. Lees birthday ami.
versary, January 10, Is a legal holiday
in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina
South Carolina, Virginia and Alabama
and Lincoln's birthday, February 12. in
Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois. Mine
sofa, New Jersey, North Dakota, Penn
sylvania, Washington and Wyoming
Washington's birthday is observed in
al 1.-THE states except Mississippi. Texas
celebrates March 2 as the anniversary
of the independence of Texas, and also
the anniversary of the battle of San
Jacinto, April 81.
Massachusetts makes much Of Patri
OTIS day, April 10. Good Friday is q
legal holiday in Alabama, Delaware
Louisiana, Maryland, Pennsylvania
and Tennessee. Confederate Memorial
day is observed on April 26 in Ala
bama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi
and on May 10 in North Carolina and
South Carolina The second Friday In
May is Confederate day in Tennessee
Davis, birthday, is an occasion for dec
Grating Confederate graves throughout
the southern states. July 4 is cele
brated in all the states anc
territories, although it is MOI
SO designated by statutes II
many states. Labor day, coming las
year September 4, is very widely OBJ
served, although not legal holiday il
North Dakota and Wyoming. California
celebrates Admission day, September
81; Montana, Pioneer day, the last Fri
day in May; Utah, Pioneer day, Jul,
"a, and Louisiana, All Saints day
Thanksgiving day Is generally observed
In nearly all the states, although 1t II
not statutory holiday. 1t has onl,
been within recent years that Thanks
One Of the Oldest state holidays is The
anniversary CT the signing of the Meek
lenberg declaration of independence,
by thirty-one Scotch-Irish Presbyter
ians at Charlotte, Mecklenberg county
N. G., on May 20, ITS, and which Ii
observed in North Carolina.
! decoration day Is not generally OBJ
served throughout the south, although
In Virginia it is known as Confederat,
Memorial day, while June 3, Jefferson
| giving day attained any degree of pop
ularity in the far south, where it wa
once execrated as Yankee" institu
ton. In many states there are semi
public celebrations of Flag day, Arbo
day and various special days.