The Odanah star. [volume] (Odanah, Ashland Co., Wis.) 1912-1916, 1913-05-09
PERRY'S VICTORY BILLS
BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE
Three Measures in Interest of Centen
NAL Celebration in Wisconsin-One
Provides for a Legal Holiday.

Three bills in the interest of tht
Wisconsin celebration of the Perry
Victory Centennial are pending in this
legislature. In substance they provide
that Sept. 10, 1913 Zone hundredtl
anniversary of the battle of Lake Erie,
shall be a legal holiday; that funds
shall be available for the mobilization
of National Guard regiments at fou
Wisconsin cities which will conduc;
special celebrations, and for the par
ticipatiOn of the Wisconsin Naval Nil
itia in the proposed naval parade OF
councils may appropriate not to exceed
$4,000 towards the expense of local Gel
ebrations.
In view of the historical significance
and educational Importance of this
centennial of military achievement
and ensuing peace between two great
nations, it would seem that these pro
visions would be considered reason.
able, are justified and ought to be en-
acted
The state is already committed tc
the observance of the Centennial
through the existence of Commission
created by act of the last legislature
and an appropriation, which enables
Wisconsin to participate with ten 9TH
er states in the erection of a perma-
nent memorial, and to create state
wide interest in the Centennial as a
patriotic and educational opportunity.
In the several centers of population
where special programs for the cele-
bration are in course of preparation
the large amount of labor and expense
necessary to successfully carry them
out will be borne chiefly by the public
spirited citizens of those localities, in
order that Wisconsin cities may not
less fittingly celebrate than their sis
ter cities on the Great Lakes, and also
that the large community centers may
suitably supplement the efforts of the
state.
The cities of Superior, Green Bay.
Madison and Milwaukee are so geo.
graphically situated, and the dates of
their respective celebrations will be
so arranged that they will not con-
fiict; thus affording citizens of the diff
ferent sections of the state an excel
lent opportunity to witness these spe,
cial celebrations without travelling
long distances, or being at great ex-
pense. 1t is confidently anticipated,
however, that every city and village
in the state will arrange celebration
of some kind in recognition of this i'm
portant historical event.
The National Government will as.
sist in the lake port celebrations by
an imposing assemblage of its vessels
stationed on the Great Lakes, which
will act as an escort to the recon
structed flagship Niagara
The principal event which the pro-
posed holiday will commemorate was
IS important in its results as any that
can be found in the nations history,
and directly affected the settlement
and development of Wisconsin and
other states included in the old north
west territory Combined with the
land campaign under Gen. Harrison
Immediately following, in which Perry
also took part, this brilliant naval &C.
ton established our northwestern
frontier as confirmed by the Treaty
Of Client, and ensured to us the own.
ership of a still vaster territory.
The bill by which it is sought to
obtain financial help from common
councils is offered as possible means
of distributing the burden, by permit.
ting the cities to use municipal funds
in part, if they wish to do SO. The
method is not new and is recognized
as essentially just when the occasion
is of sufficient public Importance, as
IN the present case.