Rock Island Argus., 1916-06-21
PLANS MADE HERE
FOR STATE Event
Illinois Commission On One Hun
dredth Anniversary Holds
Session at Rock Island Club.
OFFICIAL BOOKLET is ORDERED
Also Approves Method for Notification
OF County Officials OF Affair to
Be Held in 1918.

A meeting of the state centennial
commission of Illinois was held at the
Rock Island club this morning. Those
present were 7. L. Schmidt, Chicago,
chairman: Mrs. Jessie Palmer Weber,
Springfield, secretary; Sheriff John E..
Traeger, Chicago; DR.. Royal Ennis,
Hillsboro; Father Frederick Sieden-
| burg, Chicago; Peter A Waller, and
Postmaster j. H. Mulligan, kewanee,
and Michael ]. Dougherty, Galesburg.
This commission. which is arrang-
ing for the centennial state celebra-
| ton, to be held in 1918, commemorat-
ing the Tooth anniversary of the year
in which Illinois was admitted into
the union, meets at various times as
business matters come up. The ses-
| sion was called for Rock Island this
! time for the convenience of the men,
| berS and also to allow the commits
sion TO witness the pageantrv in con-
nection with the Fort Armstrong CEN
tennial. Most of the meetings of the
commission are held at Springfield.
| At the business meeting held here
! the commission decided upon meth
cd Of notification of the county officials
Of the state A booklet which is to be
| issued within the next few weeks
calling the attention of the people to
! the coming centennial was also ap-
proved. Various plans for celebrations
throughout the state were discussed.
| The commission has undertaken to
write history Of Illinois in six vol
umes, the first of which will make its
appearance this year. Another en-
| deavor of the commission will be to
erect historical statues as markings to
| places of historical value and interest.
| Two of these are now in course of
construction. A statue of Abraham
Lincoln, which is to be placed in front
of the state capital at Springfield, IS
being carved by Sculptor O'Connor.
Another statue of Stephen A. Douglas
is being made in Chicago. 1t was
started by the late Sculptor Mulliga1
and is being continued by his son.
The commission arrived in Rock Is
| land last evening and most of the
members departed for their homes this
| noon.
| The Illinois centennial celebration
was made possible through action OF
the state legislature at a recent ses-
sion. and the commission which met
| in Rock Island today is arranging the
, details for the aCair.
Becomes State Dec. 3. 1918.
Although Illinois was not formally
/ admitted to the union by congress un-
/ til Dec >, 1918, the first governor OF
the state was inaugurated at kaskas-
/ ka Oct 6, 1918. Mrs. Jessie Palmer
Weber of Springfield. secretary of the
Illinois State Historical society, is au-
| thOrity for this statement and she has
the original copy of the proceedings
of the first legislature meeting in Hi
nois. Indiana, which was admitted tc
the union in 1916, is now holding a
statewide celebration.
The program for the state celebra-
ton as mapped out roughly provides
/ for the principal celebration a.
! Springfield, during the time of the
state fair, in September or the firsi
part of October, in 1918. Smaller cele
brations will take place in other COM
munities throughout the state.