Phoenix tribune., 1919-11-29
A PROCLAMATION OF
ANKSGIVING DAY
BY THE
GOVERNOR OF ARIZONA
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
STATE OF ARIZONA

While THANKSGIVING DAY is dis
tinctively American, its scope has
broadened since that November day,
at Plymouth, when the Pilgrim Faith
ers with grateful hearts for their de-
liverance from the shackles of civil
and religious servitude, rendered trib
ute to Him who had guided them to
distant shores and land destined to
become the refuge of the oppressed
of all the world. Truly they had much
to he thankful for, and in reverent
spirit they acknowledged their de-
pendence upon that power, the wis
dom of which passeth all human un-
derstanding. From their sturdy stock
comes the nucleus of the virile Ameri-
can nation of today and to it we owe
those concepts of government and hui
man conduct which have set us aside
and marked us as a people peculiar
unto ourselves. Since then we have
passed through the fiery furnace of
war several times, triumphing because
our cause was just, and refining our
national spirit in separating the
dross from the finer metal. On
each occasion We have emerged, not
only conquerors in a physical sense,
but imbued with better and higher
ideals of the duty we owe to
society and government. Our mate
rial progress has kept pace with, in
fact, exceeded our spiritual advance
ment until today it is our proud and
indisputable boast that we are the
richest and most powerful nation in
the world If we use, as in the past,
these instrumentalities in the proper
way, we may go forward to our des-
tiny in hope and confidence that the
perpetuity of our institutions is as
sured If we misuse this God-given
power, then we have just reason to
face the future with apprehension.
The past year has given us manifold
reasons to be thankful. From feel
ing of insecurity brought about by
the close of the Great Conflict, and
the necessity of readjustment to new
conditions, we have finally found our
selves, and placed our feet on solid
ground, sustained by the thought that
the Puritan spirit still animates our
body polite and makes for that which
is good and worth while Bountiful
harvests have been our portion; our
mines have yielded their treasure and
provided employment at good wages
for every man who desired it; farm
ers and merchants have prospered and
we have been happy and contented
people; the relations of labor and cap
ital have been amicabie, betokening
approach of a better understanding of
the rights of each; seditious organi-
cations have not openly sowed the
seeds of discord, and those who op-
pose the government have found this
is not the fertile field it once was for
their nefarious work. Many of our
soldier boys have returned to us and
again taken their places in civil life.
Their fidelity to the government has
had a heartening and strengthening
effect upon those disposed to lean
toward the crop of isms which seemed
with startling suddenness to find root
in the soil which we believed to be
indigenous only to the growths of
sane civilization. The mothers and
fathers of these boys have just cause
to rejoice and be glad over the return
of their loved ones, but while we join
in their paean of thankfulness, we
should let memory turn in solemnity
to the poppy-covered fields of France
where sleep our honored dead, thank
ing God that it was through their
great sacrifice we are permitted to
observe this time-honored occasion.
WHEREFORE, I, THOMAS E.
CAMPBELL, Governor of the State of
Arizona, by virtue of the authority in
me vested ty law, do set aside Thurs
day, November 27, 1919, as
THANKSGIVING DAY
and proclaim the same public holi-
day, recommending that all of our
people refrain from unnecessary labor
and in the mystic circle of the home
and places set apart for public wor-
ship meet and give thanks unto Him
who has crowned us with His loving
kindness and tender mercies; and
while at the table of plenty and in
the midst of abundance, forget not
those less fortunately situated.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have
hereunto set my hand and caused the
Great Seal of the State to be affixed.
Done at Phoenix, the capital, this
goth day of November in the year of
our Lord 1919.
THOMAS E. CAMPBELL,