The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1937-01-29
sEsoUICENTENNIAL TO OPEN IN
MAY

Bringing the Constitution to the
people in q great national celebration
is the stupendous undertaking of
Representative Sol Bloom (Dem., N.
", Director General of the Consti-
tuition SesQuicentennial Commission,
of which President Roosevelt is
chairman. That Mr.. Bloom will
succeed, no one doubts who followed
his processes as Chief Director of the
George Washington Bicentennial Gel
ebration in 1882.
The closing session of the 74th
Congress appropriated 100000 to
complete the plans for the new cele-
bration. Mr.. Bloom entertained no
computations in persuading Congress
to set aside this amount, for he claims
the Government cleared 100000 on
the big Bicentennial of 1882. He
expects to top this figure in carrying
out the purposes of the Sesquieenten-
NAL Commission to sweep away err
ro.s that have grown up around the
history Of the Constitution and t.
make every thinking citizen con-
scious of the civic and social values
of that great instrument in sustain
ing the liberties of the people.
The pre-celebration activities are
expected to get under way some time
in May of this year. The actual fes-
tivities start with the main event,
which will take place September II,
1897, at Philadelphia in Independ-
ence Hall where, on the 18th of Sep
TENDER, 1887, the Constitution was
signed by the several delegates before
it was submitted to the states for
ratification. The President is to ad-
dress the American people on this &C.
casion over a nationwide radio hook
up on the Significance of the Com
memorative Celebration. The cele-
bration will continue day and night
over land and on the seas, wherever
the American Flag flies, until April
80, 1899.
The thirteen original states will
hold special celebrations on the an
niversary dates their respective con-
ventions ratified the Constitution.
The names of the thirteen states
and the dates of ratification, together
with their respective votes, are as
follows:
Delaware, December z, 1887; yeas,
80 Unanimously.
Pennsylvania, December IL 1887;
yeas, 46; nays, %.
New Jersey, December IS, 1887;
yeas, 38 (unanimous).
Georgia, January 2, 1888; yeas,
26 Unanimously.
Connecticut, January 8, 1888
yeas, 1913; nays, 40.
Massachusetts, February 6, 1888;
yeas, 1877; nays, 1853.
Maryland, April %, 1888; yeas,
So; nays, IL.
South Carolina, May %, 1888;
yeas, 149; nays, 70.
New Hampshire, June 81, 1888;
yeas, 81; nays, A.
Virginia, June &c, 1888; yeas, 80;
nays, 70.
New York, July 26, 1888; yeas,
80; nays, 81.
North Carolina, November 81,
1883; yeas, 1874; nays, II.
Rhode Island and Providence Plan
tations, May 20, 1890; yeas, "a;
nays, 80.
Celebrations will be held in the
other states upon the respective dates
of their admission into the Union.
Appropriate tributes to the Consti-
tuition will also be made in one way
or another on other regular holiday
occasions in each of the states.
The first of the important Sesqui-
centennial books, entitled We The
People, will be available on or about
February Is, 1887. A brief history
of the Constitution, this book will be
a standard work of 200 pages. 1t is
the purpose of Mr.. Bloom to issue at
once 100000 copies, obtainable in
stores at 10 cents each, and he really
expects to sell 100000 before the
close of the celebration.
The Federal Trade Commission re-