USA > Illinois > The centennial of the state of Illinois. Report of the Centennial Commission > Part 33
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port of the war is recognized throughout the nation, believes a patiitie Centennial observance will be beneficial and has so de- clared in his message of October 29, 1917.
"Some of the leading editorial writers of other states have said it is particularly fortunate that Illinois, which gave to the nation Lincoln to lead in that great struggle to preserve free goverment in America, should observe ics Centennial at a time when we are fighting to preserve free government throughout the world. They express the hope that the patriotic observance of this great event will not only inspire the citizens of Illinois to nobler effort, but lend an in-piring influence to the people of the other commonwealths of the nation.
"In promoting the general observance of the Illinois Cen- tennial, it has been the purpose of the Centennial Commission to stimulate an interest in the event, and an appreciation of the opportunity which the occasion affords, and leave the working out of plans and programs very largely to the local organizations and committees. It is hoped there will be originality and variety in the different programs, rather than too great uniformity and sameness. While the most important events of our State's history should be recognized in all celebrations, the local history of each county should be feature l. and each program should reflect the thought and plan of the committee having it in charge. The two important considerations are that every program should be based fundamentally on the history of Hinol-, and that it shall be de- cidedly patriotic in character.
"It should be borne in mind that the entire year 1918 is Centennial Year. and that any convenient date during the year will be an appropriate time to commemorate the admission of Illinois into the Union. This is historically correct. Nathaniel Pope. our territorial dele gate, presented to Congress on January 16, 1818, a memorial which had been adopted by the Territorial Legislature of Illinois, requesting Congress to take the necessary steps to [wirmit the territory to organise as a State. On April 18, 1818, the Enabling Art. passed by Congress, was signed by the President and home a law. This authorized the territory of Illinois to adopt a Construction and four a State Gies rument,
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which form of government should be submitted back to Congress for approval. The delegates to the Constitutional Convention were elected in July, 1818. The Constitutional Convention as- sembled in Kaskaskia, the capital of the territory, on the first Monday in Angast, 1818, and the Constitution was adopted by the conventior on the 28th day of Augist. The elective State officers provided for in the Constitution were elected on September 17-19, 1818. The first General Assembly convened at Kaskaskia on October 5, 1818, and the first Governor was inaugurated on October 6, 1818. The action which had been taken pursuant to the Enabl- ing Act was ratified by Congress on Decer ber 3, 1818, and Illinois was formally admitted as the twenty-first State in the American Union.
"From the above facts it is clear that the admission of Illi- nois was a process which began in January, 1818, and was con- cluded in December, 1818, and that. therefore. the entire year 1918 commemorates the admission of Illinois into the Union. The only precaution necessary is that adjacent counties and communi- ties should not hold their celebrations on the same dates, and it might be better not to hold county celebrations at the time of the official celebrations at the State Capitol. It is suggested that the people of each county and community visit the celebrations held in the surrounding counties and communities in order that the intere-t taken may h. as widespread as possible.
"The official State celebrations will be held at the State Capital. The Commission would like to have an official county celebration in every county, and in addition thereto local celebra- tions in every city, village and community, including every school in the State. The various societies and organizations of the State should plan Centennial programs for their annual meetings to be held in 1918.
"The county celebrations will be hell under the auspiees of the respective County Centennial Committees. These committees are usually made up of representatives from all parts of the county and generally have the official endorsement and support of the county board. They elect their own officers, appoint their own committres, select the time for the celebration and arrange their
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own programs. In sone counties the celebrations will be held in connection with the annual county fair, an annual chautauqua, an old settlers' or old soldiers' reunion, or the high school com- mencement exercises. All of these different organizations may unite in a cooperative effort. The historical societies, commercial organizations, women's clubs, and other civie organizations should assist in making the celebration as complete and impressive as possible. One of the most important clements in a successful county celebration will be the cooperation of the public and private schools of the county. The hearty assistance of the county sup- erintendent of schools, the superintendents of the different city and village schools, and the teachers of the county, together with their pupils. will insure a very effective celebration.
"Cities, villages and communities, with the assistance of their local societies, organizations and schools, should have their own Centennial programs. These should not detract from the county celebration, but, on the contrary, should add to the general de- velopment of the Centennial spirit. The Commission desires that the Centennial observance shall in some way reach every person of the State, and that no one shall fail to receive something of its inspiring influence.
"The predominant thought running through all celebrations should be the wonderful story of our State. Every celebration should be based upon our State's history, so rich in heroie service, patriotic endeavor and marvelous achievement. Those who would enter into the spirit of our Centennial celebrations must know and appreciate the history of Illinois-the story of the early Indian tribes : the French missionaries and early pioneer- ; the significance of the Ordinance of 1252; the early 'territorial history; the admis- sion of Winois into the Union ; the struggle to preserve Illinois as a free State: the period of expansion and of reckless expenditure; the marvelous growth and development of Chicago: the Black Hawk War : the Mexican War : the part Illinois played in the pre- servation of the Union; the more recent development of the vast resources of the Stato. and the contribution which Illinois is making today in the mighty struggle for humanity and democracy.
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"We can not fittingly celebrate the hundredth anniversary of our statehood without an appreciation of the material development and progress of the past hundred years; but, above all, we must appreciate the great men whom the State has produced and the contributions which they have male not only to our State, but to the nation and to the world. We must in some way come to realize the historic truth of the words of our State song-
"Not without thy wondrous story, Illinois, Can be writ the Nation's glory, Illinois.
"From an inteligent and grateful appreciation of the service of those who have braldel our commonwealth and made glorious her history we will come to have a wholesome State pride and cuter into the spirit of Illinois. In this spirit let us celebrate our Centennial.
"A particular study should be made of the local history of each county in order that the most important historic events shall receive recognition at this time. Every county in Illinois is rich in local history which is of special interest to its own people, and this should be featured in the re -pretive county cele brations. This will add greatly to the interest in the celebration and will give variety to the different observances held throughout the State.
"The decorations for each celebration should be carefully planned, and a well thought oit scheme should be carried out. The decorations committees will have a very important work to perform, and the most artistic persons in the community should be selected to have charge of this important phase of the cel hra- tion. There will be, of course, a profu ion of American flags and Centennial banners, and it will be particularly appropriate this year to use the flies of our Allies. Indian decorations ny be used. Electric lights with roand colored shades to imitate lads, arrows, bows, spware, tomahawks, peace pipes, cagle and hawk feathers, made of heavy paper colored bright red, blue and yellow. have been suggested for stirre derorations. The ingenuity of the
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different committee. will work out various schemes that will be particularly unique and effective.
"The music, like the decorations, should be put in the hands of the most competent persons who can be secured to serve on the Music Committee. Patriotie songs will be particularly appropri- ate. In addition to our great national hymns, those songs written by Illinoisans. "The Battle Cry of Freedom," "Just Before the Battle, Mother," anl "Tramp, Tromp, Tramp. the Boys Are Marching," by George F. Root, and "Marching Through: Georgia," by H. C. Work, should be particularly featured. Of course, we will want to sing "thingis" over and over again, and no doubt there will be my new songs of merit inspired by the observance of our Centennial, which will deserve to have a place on the Cen- tennial program -. It is hoped to have an Illinois Centennial march and a new llinois Centennial song, and the Commission expects to furnish march muste for the processional pageants, children's dances, and the like.
"Nearly every Centennial program should have a Centennial pageant as one of its important features. Mr. Wallace Rice, the official pageant writer for the Centennial Commission, has pre- pared six plays suitable for school children in the grades, which will be furnished free by the Commission. These should be used generally by the schools of the State. A Masque of Illinois, adapted to high school, colleges and clubs, with music, singing and dancing. to be simple or elaborate in its presentation accord- ing to local needs and & sires. will also be furnished free by the Commission. The Caser ial Commission has in preparation a State pageant with prologue and five twenty-minute dramatic scenes, with professions available for separate use. A sixth scene and procession, written Ically to represent some historic event of local interest, may be addedl.
"Processionals and parades may be used to particular advan- tage. One can hardly thin !. of a more impressive sight than hundreds or perhaps thousands of school children carrying Ameri- can flags and Centevaid Winters. A particular feature of every county cele bration show! ! b. the assembling of all the school chil- dren of the county in a well planned processional or parade.
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Where local conditions do not readily lend themselves to dramatic representation it will be generally found that processions can be used with very effective results.
"In street parades the members of the Grand Army of the Republic should be given a place of honor. We can not too highly honor the few remaining heroes of our State who answered Lin- coln's call and offered their lives that our Union might be preserved and that government of the people might not perish from the earth.
"The public addresses, readings and recitations will, of course, deal with the history of Illinois, and should be decidedly patriotic in character. No celebration should be considered worthy that does not have a patriotic atino-phere and strongly impress the value of our free institutions. The Commission intends issuing a small book of historical addresses and excerpts from the speeches of great Illinoisans, with ballads commemorating our great historical events, suitable for publie recitations and readings in or out of doors.
"Wherever possible there should be exhibits of the primitive productions of various kinds. An excellent outline for the schools has been sent out by the educational department of the State Fair Board, which has the endorsement of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. If an earnest effort is made, it will be pos- sible in each community to go together a very interesting exhibit of old implements and relies of the pioneer days. The occasion affords an excellent opportunity for unique and attractive window decorations.
"It is suggested that one feature of cach Centennial exhibit shall be a series of ten charts, each representing one decade, show- ing the progress that has been made in inventions and discoveries during the past hundred years. The last chart should show at least twenty-five of the principal inventions which are the tools and conveniences of our present day civilization. Each preceding chart should show such of these as were used during that particu- lar decade, and so on back to the first, which shows only such as were used during the first ten years of our State's history. In this way there may be graphically portrayed the particular period
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of our State's history when the principal inventions and discover- ies came into use.
"The Centennial year affords a splendid opportunity for the marking of places where historie events took place. Governor Lowden has called particular attention to this in the following language :
Many points in Illinois, scene- of momentous happen- ings, which should have been marked half a century ago and have become fixed landmarks, are now only vague traditions; and so, while it is yet time, let our hundredth year be marked by fixing permanently the events of our first hundred years so far as they may be fixed at this time.'
"Where it is at all possible, some permanent memorials should be erected which shall stand through the years commemorative of the observance of our State Centennial. However excellent the Centennial programs may be, they will in time become forgotten, and it is therefore of vital importance that all over the State per- manent memorials shall be erected which shall remain when the memory of our Centennial programs shall have passed.
"We would suggest that the County Centennial Committee in each county have a county service flag made, to be used in con- nection with the county celebration. If any soldier from the county has died in the service, his should be a gold star. The dedication and display of this flag should stimulate the finest patri- otic sentiment. We would al-o suggest that a roll of honor be pre- pared containing the names of every soldier from the county, with the ranh and branch of service of each, and if possible the photo- graph of each one. If this roll is properly framed and draped it will give some appropriate recognition to those whose service we cannot sufficiently appreciate. A copy of this roll should be preserved securely in the archives of the county as a permanent record and memorial and another copy should be sent to the capi- tal to be placed in the Centennial Memorial Building.
"As a part of the processional, boys might be selected to repre- sent the soldiers of the county who are in the service of their coun- try. They might be dressed in khaki or boy scout uniforms, and each one provided with a cash or badge bearing the name of the
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particular soldier whom he represents. If this is done, the boys should be impressed with the great honor conferied upon them in permitting them to represent the absent soldiers. It would be well to let the parents or relatives of each soldier select the boy who should represent him. In like manner, girls might be selected to represent the nurses and other women engaged in the service.
"Finally, all programs should be carefully and thoughtfully planned, and worked out with energy and enthusiasm. The oc- casion is worthy of best efforts."
The plans thus outlined by the Centennial Commission for the State-wide celebration, were very generally accepted through- out the State, and efforts were made in nearly every county to carry them out, at least in part. It must be borne in mind that up to almost the close of the Centennial year we were engaged in the greatest war the world has ever known. The minds and hearts of our people were continually gripped by matters of vital personal interest relating to the winning of that war. Liberty Loan drives, Red Cross drives, and all the various other war activities occupied the time and thought of the people almost to the exclusion of any- thing else.
Looking back over those days. it seems marvelous that the peo- ple of Illinois should have appreciated as they did the significance of our Centennial year, and should Have given so much time and thought to its observance. This would certainly not have been done had they not been brought to feel, as the Centennial Commis- sion and Governor Lowden felt from the beginning, that the fitting observance of Illinois hundredth birthday was a valuable stimulus to the highest expression of patriotism.
Fitting acknowledgment should be made of the excellent work of Mr. Halbert O. Crews. publicity manager, in bringing to the attention of the people of Illinois the significance of the Centennial year. Nine different Bulletins were published during the year, of which a total of more than a hundred thousand copies were dis- tributed. and in addition, a new story was sent out to all the papers of the State every week. The press of Illinois responded most generously, and the success of the Centennial was due in a large measure to the hearty cooperation of the papers of the State. It is
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estimated that more than fifty thousand different articles or items appeared in the press of Illinois on the subject of the Illinois Centennial.
Celebrations were h Id on convenient dates during every month of the Centennial year. but the special Centennial dates were cen- ters around which many of the principal observances were held. These dates were February 12. Lincomi's birthday; April 18, the anniversary of the passage of the Enabling let; May 30, Me- morial Day; July 4, which was also the one hundred and fortieth anniversary of the capture of Fort baska-kia by George Rogers Clark; August 26. the anniversary of the adoption of the first constitution ; October 5 and 6, the anniversary of the first State Legislature and the inauguration of the first governor, and Decem- ber 3, the anniversary of the formal admission of Illinois into the Union.
A great many schools, churches and other organizations of the State had planned to hold celebrations during October and November, but were prevented from carrying out their plans by the epidemic of influenza which male necessary the closing of the schools throughout the State, and the prohibiting of public meet- ings of every kind. This epidemic particularly interfere with the excellent work of the State Council of Defense, which encouraged and promoted the giving of historiodl pageants.
The coinage of can hundred the end Illinois Centennial half dollars furnished the State a permanent and valuable souvenir of the Centennial year. These coins bear the head of Lincoln on one side and the great scal of llinois on the other, with appro- priate inscriptions. The issuaner of these coins was authorized by an act of Congress, the bill having been introduced by Congress- man I. E. Wheeler, of Springfiel !. The coins were delivered to the Centennial Commission about the middle of August, and were handled through the State Treasury. They were apportioned to the counties of the State on the basis of population, one to cach sixty persons, as shown by the coffeas of 1910. The Centennial Commission furnished these coins to the County Contennial Com- mittees at their face value, fifty cents cach, on the condition that they should be sold at not less than one dollar each and the profits
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used by the respective counties either to promote a county Centen- nial celebration, or be applied to some approved form of var re- lief or public service. Although nearly all of these coins have been distributed, a few remain in the State Treasury at the close of the Centennial year.
It would be a re I pleasure to write into the official report of the Illinois Comrennial Celebration, a detailed account of all the observance: heul throughout the State, but, of course, this is impos- sible. For example, a report made to the Commission of the colo- brations held in one county covers about forty typewritten pages, and this county's rejoit would not be complete were it abbreviated in any particular. The reports of the county and local celebra- tions that have been furnished the Commission will be carefully preserved by the State Historical Library.
In addition to the above reports fifteen large volumes of news- paper clippings have been carefully indexed and will be preserved in the State Historical Library. These furnish the complete story of all the Centennial celebrations held in Illinois, as given by the press of the State. In the future anyone wishing to know the de- tails of the celebration held at any particular place will be able to find them giver in these volumes of carefully selected newspaper clippings.
It may be unwise to call attention to any particular celebra- tions as being worthy of special note when all cannot be included, and so many were commendable. However, the following may be mentioned as typical of the b.st celebrations held :
The Centennial Pageant given at Starved Rock on July 4, 5 und 6, was one of the most elaborate and impres i've celebrations held anywhere in the State. The committe . having charge of this celebration was Leaded by Jodge HI. W. Jobuson, of Ottawa, and the pageant was given under the direct management of Mrs. Florence Magill WeBace. Every part of the county was represented in the cast, and one of the most delightful features was the spirit of community cooperation. After paying all the expenses, the net proceeds were turned over to the Red Cross, amounting to more than a thousand dollars.
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Another pageant, particularly impressive because of the his- torie memories that surround the place where it was held, was that given on September 6 and 7, by the Ond Salem Lincoln League, of Menard County, on the spot where Abraham Lincoln spent many years of his early life. This pageant portravel the historic incidents of Old Salam and of Lincoln's young manhood. It, too, was given under the management of Mrs. Florence Magill Wallace, supported by a very able committee, of which Judge G. E. Nelson was chainnâu.
St. Clair County deser es particular credit for the magnificent county celebration given at Perrin's Park at Belleville on Septem- ber 10, 11, 12 and 13. A very impressive and beautiful pageant was written by Mics Peut M. They and given as a particular fea- ture of this cele bration. Julge Joseph B. Messick was president of the St. Chir County Centennial Committee, and Judge Frank Perrin, vin, president and chairman of the board of directors.
Probably no coumy in the State had a more perfect Centon- nial organization than Ademe County. Judge S. B. Montgomery, Judge Lyman MeCarl, Joseph L. Thomas and Superintendent J. H. Stemmer, were the leading officials in the organization, which secured the bolding of successful Centennial celebrations in prac- tically every township in the county. Urilor the auspices of the Women's Committee of the State Council of Defense, "The Masque of Illinois" was given before large audiences at Liberty, Mendon, Golden, Payson and Quincy.
Another very important celebration was that held at Albion in Edwards County, on September 18. This observance is deserv- ing of particular n te because it commemorated events of great historie significance in the carly settlement of Illinois. The cele- bration was given under the auspices of the Edwards County Con- tennial Conunittre. Mr. Walter Colyer was chairman of the ex- ecutive committee.
The Morgan County celebration, held at Jacksonville, on July 4, was unique in that it consisted of a carefully worked out pro- cessional pageant. The observance was a de ided success, and the historic lessous which it portrayed were set forth in an artistic manner.
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One of the features of the Kane County celebration at St. Charles, held on July 4, was a processional pageant, the floats being furnished from all parts of the county. A pageant under the management of Jirs. George S. Montgomery, portrayed historic scenes of intense interest. A number of excellent lovat celebra- tions were held in different parts of Kane County during the Cen- tennial year.
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