Evening star., 1939-10-31
President Proclaim!
November 3 as
Thanksgiving Day
Formal Declaration
Expresses Gratitude
Nation Is at Peace

Expressing deep gratitude that
America is at peace and that our
bonds of friendship with other peo-
pies of the Western Hemisphere
have been strengthened, President
Roosevelt today proclaimed Novem-
ber % a day of general thanksgiv-
ing.
In selecting this date, the Chief
Executive carried out his earlier an
nounced intention of advancing
Thanksgiving Day from its tradi-
tional place as the last Thursday
in November to an earlier date. The
reason advanced in earlier discus
sion of the matter was that the
greater spread thus permitted be-
tween Thanksgiving and Christmas
would be beneficial to holiday retail
trade.
About half of the 48 States have
indicated they would accept the new
date, with the rest standing by the
final Thursday of the month for
their observance A few are plan
ming to observe both days.
Results Held "Heartening"
The President also noted in his
proclamation today that "hearten-
ing results have been achieved
through efforts to combat depression,
unemployment and widespread agri-
cultural distress
The text of the proclamation fol-
lows in full:
Il, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Presi-
dent of the United States of Amer
lea, do hereby designate Thursday,
the 23d of November, 1889, as a day
OF thanksgiving
More than three centuries ago,
at the season OF the gathering of
the harvest, the Pilgrims humbly
paused in their work and gave
thanks to God for the preservation
of their community and for the
abundant yield of the soil. A CEN
tury and half later, after the new
Nation had been formed and the
charter of government, the Consti-
tuition of the Republic. had received
the assent of the States, President
Washington and his successors in
vited the people of the Nation to
lay down their tasks one day in the
year and give thanks for the bless
lngs that had been granted them
by Divine Providence. 1t is fitting
that we should continue this hal
lowed custom and select a day in
1889 to be dedicated to reverent
thoughts of Thanksgiving.
Nation Moving Forward.
"Our Nation has gone steadily
forward in the application of demo-
cratic processes to economic and So
cial problems We have faced the
specters of business depression. of
unemployment and of widespread
agricultural distress. and our posi-
tive efforts to alleviate these condi-
tions have met with heartening re-
suits We have also been permitted
to see the fruition Of measures which
We have undertaken in the realms of
health. social welfare and the con-
: servation of resources. AS a Nation
we are deeply grateful that in world
Of turmoil we are at peace with all
countries. and we especially rejoice
in the strengthened bonds of our
friendship with the other peoples of
the Western Hemisphere.
Let us, on the day set aside for
this purpose. give thanks to the
Ruler of the Universe for the
strength which He has vouchsafed
us to carry on our daily labors and
for the hope that lies within us of
the coming of a day when peace and
the productive activities of peace
shall reign on every continent.
In witness whereof I have here
unto set my hand and caused the
seal of the United States of America
to be affixed
Done at the City of Washington
this 3lst day of October, in the year
of our Lord 1889, and of the inde-
pendence of the United States of
America the 164th.
'FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT"