The Coconino sun., 1924-04-04
LET ALL HONOR THE
MEMORY OF JEFFERSON

Thomas Jefferson was born on
April 13, 1743. With the passing of
the years since his death, on July A,
1926, the anniversary of the day
just half century before when the
immortal document which he had pre-
pared announced to the world the
independence of the United States of
America, the observance of his birth
day has become more and more gen.
eral throughout the country. In scho
OILS and by patriotic societies the birth
of Jefferson has gradually come to
be regarded as an occasion calling for
special recognition. In Democratic
political circles especially it has long
been the chief red letterday on the
calander, just as to Republicans
Abraham Lincolns birthday has serv-
ed as the most fitting occasion for
the declaration of their faith.
But, as in the case of Lincoln's
birthday, that of Jefferson appears to
be gradually but surely losing its
particular dedication to the pro-
mitigation of the tenets and the glori-
fication of the achievements of one
particular political party and is COM
ing to be recognized as an occasion
deserving of wider and more national
significance, approaching the observ-
ance of Washington's birthday.
This year the observance of JEFF
ferson's birth will be of genuinely
national character, for there is moth
ing sectional or partisan or sectarian
in the interest which has been dis
played in the effort to make his home,
Monticello, a permanent national
memorial. Republicans and Democra-
tes, Northerners and Southerners,
Jews and Catholics and Protestants
have shown equal enthusiasm in
furthering this long-discussed project,
which, at last through the efforts of
the Thomas jefferson Memorial Foun-
dation now seems destined to be car
ried to a successful conclusion. The
Foundation has already made an in
itial payment of 100000 on the JEFF
ferson property and is in actual ply
sical possession of the beautiful place,
of which Jefferson wrote "All my
wishes end, where | hope my days will
end, at Monticello"
This year, in fact, the observance
of Jefferson's birth will not be re-
stricted to birthday itself, but there
will be a whole week of celebration,
starting next Sunday, April 6, with
special services in the churches, and
ending on the actual birthday ami
versary, a week later. The crown
ing event of this Jefferson Week."
as it is to be known, will be the inn
pressive ceremonies at the jefferson
home itself, ending with procession
of distinguished visitors from all
parts Of the country from the house
to Jefferson's grave on the mountain
side.
Governors of states have issued
proclamations setting aside the period
from April 9Th to 18th as Jefferson
Week" and have appointed commit
tees to have charge of its observance
and mayors of cities are doing like
wise and calling upon their fellow
citizens to unite in Jefferson birth
day parties" during the week.
The occasion of the special "Jef-
ferson Week" this year is to concen-
trate attention on the effort to est
ablish Monticello as national MEM
orial to Jefferson, for, despite his
fame and versatility of his achieve
ments, the author of the Declara-
ton of independence is one of the
great figures of our history to whom
no really adequate memorial has been
provided. The men and women of
prominence who are leading in the
movement for the acquisition of Mon
ticello for the nation want to give
everybody the opportunity of par
taking in the celebration of Jeffer-
sons birthday.
Friday, April II, has been especial
ly designated as "School Day" in the
Jefferson Week." when exercises
commemorative of Jefferson will be
held in schools all over the country
and the pupils will have an ,oppor-
Jefferson" That evening party of
fifty boys and girls especially selected
from the public schools of New York
City, will leave on visit to Month
cello. They will go as guests of
David A. Ansbacher, merchant of
that city, who has taken this means
of aiding in the dissemination of
study of the achievements of '"The
Father of the Common School"
among the school children. They will
spend Saturday, April IL, at Monti-
cello, and will leave that night for
their homes. In Charlottesville the
school authorities and civic officials
are preparing a special program for
their entertainment and that of school
children from other cities who are to
visit Monticello for the Jefferson day
ceremonies.