New Britain herald., 1918-06-12
URGES OBSERVANCE
 OF 4TH OF JULY
Gov. HOlCOmb Believes All Towns
 in State Should Celebrate

Hartford, June 12.-Every com munity in Connecticut is being urged to arrange for the proper observance of Independence Day, July Fourth, planning appropriate celebrations at this time when American soldiers are fl ighting in France for the principles Gf ! freedom laid down by the slgners or < the Declaration of Independence.
 War Bureaus and town committees I of the Connecticut State Council or Defense have received special com munications this week from the cOun- ci calling attention to the urgent need l of preparing for the sort of celebra- l tion that will do honor to the nation, : the state. and the lads fighting lover ' there."
 Concerning the statewide celebration
 of Independence Day, Governor Mar
 GUS H. Holcomb has issued the follow
 ing statement:
 "Our Declaration of Independence
 was adopted by congress on July Fourth, 1776, and our colonies were
 declared to be free and independent
 states as the United States of America. "Our president has requested that all unite in making the Independence Day this year, when all the principles to which we stand pledged are on l iTT1a1, the most SlS1llCduI Ill Oul 1lc1- tional history
 "On Fourth of July this year our soldiers will be fighting on the battle front in France to preserve liberty for 11g and the world and we should cele- brate the day in a manner appropriate to what it represents and exclude the
 m nnodern f1recracker accompaniment. There should be a universal obserV- nnce of the day by all loyal Am ertcans, whether native or foreign-born, of a : character to increase our understand ing and appreciation of and loyalty to . American ideals"
 Tn addition to the governors appeal,
 the Connecticut State Council of De- fense expects that no community in
 the state will fail to follow the gov ernment's desires regarding the ob- servance of Independence Day. Pres 1dent Wilson has requested that the day be made great day in American l history His request and instructions of the Council of National Defense and Committee on Public Information in
 dfcate a nationwide observance of the day unlike any previous celebration in
 patriotic ardor and conservation to the
 war for freedom.
 Local agencies of the Defense / Council have been requested to pro-
 reed to organize plans for celebatons on the national holiday. Where other agencies already have plans under
 way such as committees appointed by
 mayors of cities, the local agencies Of
 the State Council are advised to offer l complete and hearty cooperation. This latter course is recommended in
 cities of over 10000 where the mayors have already been requested by the Federal Committee on Public Infor-
 nation to form committees of foreign born citizens for loyalty celebrations on the Fourth. Wherever Fourth of July plans have not been initiated the War Bureaus and town committees are appealed to to take the initiative In arranging for local celebrations, all local agencies of the State De- fense Council have been promised the
 assistance and CO., o-operation of the . publicity committee and the division . of war rallies The former will fur nish suggestions as to plans and pro- gram while the division will supply
 speakers for the day.
 That every group of foreign-born
 citizens desirous of so doing shall
 manage and direct it's own part in
 the Fourth of July celebration is the ! wish of the state and national agen-
 cies pushing this movement. Elm 3 phasis is also given the importance | of paying appropriate tributes to our i Allies on Independence Day
 Tn letter remarkable for it's tone
 and appeal a group of representa-
 tives of foreign born races asked
 President Wilson to call the attention
 of all citizens to the fact that these races intended on July 4, 1918, to manifest by special celebrations, their . loyalty to America and to the world war for democracy In replying the president said:
 "As July 4. 1776, was the dawn of democracy for this nation let us on : July 1, 1918, celebrate the birth of a new and greater spirit of democ- racy, by whose influence, we hope and believe, what the signers of the ! Declaration of Independence dreamed i of for themselves and their fellow
 countrymen shall be fulfilled for all
 mankind