Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-11-24
Philip PROCLA|MS
THANKSGIVING DAY
Governor Officially Designates
Thursday, Nov. Is.
URGES GENERAL OBSERVANCE
Chief Executive of State Declares PEG.
pie Should Take Deeper Thought
Upon Duties Which Rich
Benefits Impose.

hduAoOn- OOfaAuOI EnilAHP Ao6uC0
a proclamation designating Thursday,
November 25, as Thanksgiving day,
and urging all persons in the state
properly to observe it.
He deplores the old world war and
says that it should serve to draw US
closer to our own country and knit US
together in stronger bonds of patriot
ism.
The proclamation follows:
"Ag another year draws toward its
close, the people of our state and ma
ton have extraordinary reasons TO be
thankful. While other countries have
! been engaged in war, we have enjoyed
the blessings of peace. In an era OF
carnage and destruction. we have been
allowed to keep on in our accustomed
ways of industry and national growth.
Want, pestilence and all the evils that
\ follow in the wake of war have left
our homes unmolested; and now that
harvest time is past nature has re-
warded our labors with an abundance
that has seldom been equaled.
1t is fitting that we receive these
favors of providence in a spirit OF
gratitude. and that, in accordance with
our American custom. we set aside a
day to render thanks for benefits re-
ceived and take deeper thought upon
the duties which such benefits impose
upon US.
Thanksgiving is the oldest of our
American holidays. Its spirit pre-
ceded and gave rise to our more patri-
otto celebrations. II is the natural ex-
preston of a people whose ideals are
those of peace and industry. 1t is the
holiday of the pioneer who. with all
his hardihood and self-relianee, real
ICES that his good fortune is not all OF
his own making, ner wholly due to
any virtue of his own.
las we have grown from a small
country mainly concerned with agri-
culture and have taken our place
among the mighty nations of the
world. the spirit of thanksgiving has
remained with US and the holiday has
been preserved to express our attitude
as people.
The present year. with its com
polling wider outlook upon world af-
fairs, is well calculated to give it a
still deeper and more thoughtful OBJ
| servanee. Because of our fortunate
situation we have been allowed to sit
as a spectator nation, watching nearly
| the whole world at war. While other
homes are bereaved. fertile fields be-
] I'll. runrl~e IF
| peace ruthlessly destroyed. we live at
peace with the world ana enjoy the
| fruits Of our labor.
Confronted with war such as has
never been known, with whole popula'
| lions involved in racial strife that
gives an entirely new aspect to war,
| we cannot but turn our eye inward
and see new causes for hope and graft
tude. A composite people. made up of
| the virtues of many races. and pledged
| to a new ideal in government, our
| hearts have been torn in many dtrec-
lions by a neutral sympathy with our
kinsmen across the sea; and yet this
trying experience has only served to
draw us closer to our own country and
knit us together in stronger bonds OF
patriotism.
For this, even more than for boun-
teous crops and such material bene-
| fits. we should be especially thankful.
Therefore. I, Emanuel L. Philip,
| as governor of the state of Wisconsin,
and in conformity with proclama-
ton of the president of the United
| States of America. do hereby desig-
nate and proclaim Thursday, the TWEEN
! ty-ffth day of November, Thanksgiv-
ing day. and recommend that it be
| generally observed. Let US unite with
| one another in remembrance of our
! blessings and thereby foster in our
| hearts the spirit of our nation. thank
| full. thoughtful and we'll disposed. And
| out of our own abundance let there
| flow a feeling of mercy to all men and
a spirit of benevolence toward those
who are not so fortunately situated.
"In testimony whereof l have here
unto set my hand and caused the great
| seal of the state of Wisconsin to be
affixed. Done at the capitol, in the
! CITY of Madison. this eleventh day of
November. in the year of our Lord
one thousand nine hundred and IF
| teen"
In accordance with the usual Gus
tom. business will close and manufac'
turing industries will close their doors
on Thanksgiving day throughout the
state, and special services will be held
| in the churches.