The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-09-01

up has been demonstrated numer-
GUS times since his accession to the
White House. He seems to have a
highly developed penchant for doing
the unexpected. He calls 1t "prece-
dent breaking" The results have
been varied, although it strikes me
that more Of the "breaks" have been
against him in recent months than
when he first began to break prece-
dents as President in 1888.
It appears, however, that Mr..
Roosevelt reached a new peak in
precedent breaking when he changed
the date of our annual Thanksgiving
day. Probably no statement ever
forthcoming from a Chief Executive
stirred up as much comment-un-
less perhaps it was the famous
statement by Calvin Coolidge that
II do not choose to rum" True, Mr..
Roosevelt moved the date only one
week, making this years Thanks
giving day, Thursday, November %,
instead of November 80. The effect
was the same, however, whether the
change was one week or one month.
Next year, he proposes that the
date should be moved forward an
other week so that thereafter the
date upon which we pay homage to
God, as nation, will be the second
Thursday in November, instead Of
the last Thursday of the month.
In announcing his plan, the Presi-
dent said he was DESTROYS of rear
ranging the November holiday so
that holidays will be more evenly
spaced" There is Labor day on the
first Monday in September; there
are no national holidays in October;
Thanksgiving day in November and
Christmas day near the end of De-
cember. So, Mr.. Roosevelt said it
seemed better to move Thanksgiv-
ing day bit forward. His action,
he explained, was taken after many
business men had urged it as a
means Of giving more time for
Christmas shopping. It is well
known that shoppers do not really
get going in their Christmas buy
ing until after Thanksgiving day,
and Mr.. Roosevelt said the change
might spread out the usual rush.
Thanksgiving Day Change
Sfirs Up Unusual Comment
Whatever the reason for the
change, the announcement broke out
all of the kissing steam that was
pent up. Business interests here
and there tried vainly to show a
united front. But that was impos-
sible because retailers disagreed as
to its possible benefits. There was
no disclosure by the President of
the identity of those business inter-
ests he had consulted. Some lines
of trade felt that terrific damage
had been done them and their shouts
were angry. Religious groups have
remained silent, as organizations,
but their individual members have
had unpleasant things to say about
the change. Altogether, the picture
seems to show a bad reaction
throughout the nation.
Let us look at the thing, how
ever, from a practical standpoint:
Mr.. Roosevelt made his announce
ment without consulting the state
department. If he had sought adj
vice there, he would have learned
that a presidential proclamation can
be enforced only in the District of
Columbia and the territories of the
United States. No state needs pay
any attention to a White House proc
lamation unless it desires to do so.
Hence, the declaration that Thanks
giving day shall be November %,
1889, is binding only upon us folks
here in Washington, and those in
Alaska, Puerto Rico and Hawaii.
There are II states that have laws
fixing Thanksgiving day for the last
Thursday in November Of each year.
Their legislatures are not in ses-
sion. They will not be called into
session again before the forthcom-
ing Thanksgiving day. Which day
will they celebrate and praise God
for the blessings He has given them?
There is no national statute fix
ing the date. It is a traditional
ceremonial day, a day which, to
Americans, means actually the con-
nection between our economic life
and the Almighty Power that guided
our nation from its inception, the
link between material things and
religion.
For the reasons of its establish
ment, it strikes me that there ought
not be a national law on the SUBJ
ject. 1t is a sacred thing. But my
guess is there will be a law and
that law will say that the last Thurs
day in November shall be set aside
as national holiday for expression
of our gratitude. I think such a
law will be passed at the next ses-
sion Of congress.
Arouses Fear That All Our
People Are Being Regimented
Mr.. Roosevelt surely could not
have guessed the repercussions, the
backfire, that has greeted his an