ernors of the foundation for the whole-hearted support which the President had at all times offered to the foundation from the inception of this patriotic movement. Mr. Gibboney thereupon moved that the members of the commission give a rising vote of thanks to President Coolidge for his inspiring patriotic efforts and his kindness and cordiality in calling this first meeting of the commission and gracing it with his presence and direction as the presiding officer thereof. The motion being duly seconded, Mr. Gibboney put the question and it was unanimously carried by a rising vote of all present. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned subject to the call of the chair. CLAUDE G. BOWERS, Secretary. THOMAS JEFFERSON MEMORIAL FOUNDATION, Hon. CALVIN COOLIDGE, President of the United States, The White House, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: For the occasion of the first meeting of the American Sesquicentennial and the Jefferson Centenial Commission of the United States, to be held upon your kind invitation, I beg the privilege of presenting to you the inclosed reports of the national Jefferson centennial committee and the national educational committee. The Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation heartily indorses the programs suggested in these reports and commends them, through you, to the consideration of the commission. We await the decision and recommendation of the commission and assure you that we shall be glad to support whatever program the commission adopts and to cooperate in every way possible for a successful patriotic and educational observance of these unusual historic events. I offer this cooperation not only on behalf of the board of governors of the foundation but also on behalf of the national educational committee, the national Jefferson centennial committee, and the various State and local Jefferson centennial committees. With kind personal expressions of my regard, I beg to remain, my dear Mr. Coolidge, Yours very respectfully, STUART G. GIBBONEY, President. NATIONAL JEFFERSON CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE, OF THE THOMAS JEFFERSON MEMORIAL FOUNDATION (INC.), Mr. STUART G. GIBBONEY, New York City, May 12, 1926. President Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation, 115 Broadway, New York City. MY DEAR MR. GIBBONEY: The national Jefferson centennial committee begs leave to submit the following program for the commemo ration of the American Sesquicentennial and the Jefferson Centennial during this year. 1. Jefferson's gig pilgrimage.-It is planned to invite private and public automobile parties to come from all parts of the country to Monticello, thence escorting to Philadelphia Jefferson's one-horse gig or carriage, in which he rode 150 years ago to the Continental Congress, at which he drew the Declaration of Independence. This patriotic caravan should leave Monticello in ample time to stop at Washington and other appropriate points and arrive in Philadelphia early in the morning of June 28 in time for the "Echo of the Liberty Bell" demonstration. 2. American independence week.-To be observed nationally in accordance with the plan proposed by the national educational committee. 3. Jefferson memorial day.-Commemorating on Sunday, July 4, the centennial of the death of Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, first Secretary of State, and third President of the United States. 4. American Independence Day.-Celebrating the sesquicentennial of the Declaration of American Independence and the birth of our Nation on Monday, July 5. 5. United States birthday party tour to Europe-A private tour arranged and sponsored by the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation. Open to all United States citizens approved by the board of governors of the foundation. I hope that this plan will meet with your approval and with the approval of the United States commission recently appointed under act of Congress. Respectfully submitted. Mr. STUART G. GIBBONEY, BRECKINRIDGE LONG, National Chairman. NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL COMMITTEE, President, Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation, 115 Broadway, New York City. MY DEAR MR. GIBBONEY: On behalf of the national educational committee, I beg to submit and heartily recommend the inclosed program for "American independence week." We are all deeply concerned with the appropriate celebration of the Nation's one hundred and fiftieth birthday and the commemoration of the coincident centennial of the death of the author of that great document, the Declaration of Independence. Indeed, some of us believe that the hand of Providence joined these two occasions for our inspiration. Realizing that the celebration should be sincerely inspirational and thoroughly patriotic and educational, we have outlined a program that may be readily, uniformly, and effectively followed in every town, city, and State throughout the country. The several parts of the program, we believe, afford splendid opportunities for dramatic expression by concrete activities on the part of old and young alike that are best suited to inculcate the lessons of patriotism we all wish to teach. I hope the program meets with your approval and if adopted, you may feel assured that our committee will cooperate with you in every way. Sincerely yours, JOSEPH MILLER, Jr., Chairman. AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE WEEK FROM JUNE 28 TO JULY 5, 1926 Celebrating the One Hundred and Fiftieth Birthday of the Declaration of American Independence and Commemorating the Centennial of the Death of its Author, Thomas Jefferson Monday, June 28. Patriot's Pledge of Faith Day. A. In honor of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the day the Declaration, drafted by and in the handwriting of Thomas Jefferson, was first presented to the Continental Congress. B. Under direction of the President of the United States; the American Sesquicentennial and Jefferson Centennial Commission of the United States appointed by the President and by Congress; governors, mayors, and American independence week committees. C. Procedure: 1. Echo of the Liberty Bell. At 11.11 a. m. a bell may be rung by the President of the United States in Washington. At the same time each governor and mayor may do likewise in their respective States and cities, the mayor of Philadelphia ringing the Liberty Bell. The ringing of these bells will be the signal for the ringing of bells in schools, churches, and everywhere throughout the Nation as the "Echo of the Liberty Bell." 2. Flag salute. A formal "Flag salute" should follow at all gatherings that may be arranged to attend the ceremony of the Echo of the Liberty Bell." 3. Patriot's Pledge of Faith. Immediately following the "flag salute " every man, woman, and child should be afforded the opportunity to pronounce the official "Patriot's Pledge of Faith." Tuesday, June 29. Universal Education Day. A. In honor of the great American system of free education which Thomas Jefferson aided in establishing as the foundation stone of our Republic. B. Under direction of educational authorities, organizations, and committees. C. Procedure: Special patriotic and educational exercises in all universities, colleges, schools, and libraries, and by educational bodies and groups. Wednesday, June 30. Founders' Day. A. In honor of the founders of America. B. Under direction of patriotic societies and committees. C. Procedure: Special meetings of patriotic societies and kindred bodies with a public roll call of our founders, including Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, and all the other notable founders of America. Thursday, July 1. Greater America Day. A. In honor of the Louisiana Purchase by Jefferson. B. Under direction of commercial organizations and committees, such as real-estate boards, chambers of commerce, merchants' associations, banking groups, etc. C. Procedure: Patriotic public meetings reviewing American expansion and growth in the past and the hopes for the future. Friday, July 2. Signers' Day. A. In honor of the brave and noble signers, who proclaimed to the world the immortal Declaration of American Independence. B. Under direction of National Society of Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, historic societies, and other patriotic groups and committees. C. Procedure: Patriotic meetings, pageants, or performances recalling the signers and their heroic work. Saturday, July 3. Monticello Day. A. In honor of the establishment of Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, as a national memorial to the author of the Declaration of American Independence and as a patriotic shrine for the children of America. B. Under direction of all National, State, and local committees. C. Procedure: Parades, outdoor or indoor meetings, and other functions, according to local conditions. A greeting should be sent from all gatherings, either by telegraph or by mail, to Monticello, Charlottesville, Va., for the centennial record. Sunday, July 4. Jefferson Centennial Day. A. In honor of the one hundredth anniversary of the death of Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence. B. Under direction of Jefferson centennial committees and all civic and patriotic bodies. C. Procedure: National services at Jefferson's grave at Monticello, which all are invited to attend. Floral tributes may be sent to Monticello, Charlottesville, Va., to be placed on Jefferson's grave. Services in churches of all creeds and denominations and public memorial services throughout the Nation. Monday, July 5. Sesquicentennial Independence Day. A. In honor of the one hundred and fiftieth birthday of our Nation. B. Under direction of the American Sesquicentennial and Jefferson Centennial Commission of the United States and all affiliated and cooperating civic, patriotic, and educational bodies. C. Procedure: National exercises at Philadelphia and at Monticello. Patriotic exercises and celebrations everywhere. Formal proclamation of the Declaration of Independence at all public gatherings followed by the official "Patriot's Pledge of Faith." SCHEDULE 3 MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE SESQUICENTENNIAL OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE AND THE THOMAS JEFFERSON CENTENNIAL COMMISSION OF THE UNITED STATES Held at the Office of United States Senator Royal S. Copeland in the Senate Office Building, Washington, on June 18, 1926, at 11 o'clock in the morning Present: Vice President Charles G. Dawes, Senator Simeon D. Fess, presiding, Senator Royal S. Copeland, Stuart G. Gibboney, Claude G. Bowers, Felix M. Warburg, with Manny Strauss, assistant national chairman of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation, and Theodore Fred Kuper, national director of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation, assisting. The secretary reported regarding the "Address to the American People" promulgated by Hon. Calvin Coolidge, President of the United States, together with the plan for American independence week as published by order of Congress and also by the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation. The secretary also reported that pages for the Nation's Birthday Book and a Patriot's Pledge of Faith had been planned and printed to carry out the nation-wide observance of American independence week. On motion duly made, seconded, and unanimously carried, the report of the secretary was in every way ratified, adopted, and approved. Mr. Gibboney reported that one of the most important matters for consideration of the executive committee was the patriotic offer made by Mr. Felix M. Warburg to President Coolidge for the donation of a total fund of $300,000 for the establishment and preservation of Monticello as a patriotic shrine by three donors, one a Catholic, one a Protestant, and one a Jew, each donating $100,000, to inculcate the lessons of religious tolerance so nobly championed by Thomas Jefferson. This proposal was fully discussed by those present, and on motion duly made and unanimously carried, Senator Copeland was appointed a committee of one to present this thought and plan to other members of this commission and other persons who might be inspired to join with Mr. Warburg in this splendid patriotic testimonial to Thomas Jefferson and the ideals of our country. The committee thereafter adjourned, subject to the call of the chairman of the commission. CLAUDE G. BOWERS, Secretary. SCHEDULE 4 OFFICIAL PLAN FOR THE NATION-WIDE CELEBRATION OF THE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ADOPTION OF THE DECLARATION OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE ADDRESS TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE Promulgated by Hon. Calvin Coolidge, President of the United States, on behalf of the Sesquicentennial of American Independence and the Thomas Jefferson Centennial Commission of the United States as required by the act of Congress creating the commission The 4th of July, 1926, marks the sesquicentennial of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by which the American people declared their purpose to throw off the yoke of foreign control and establish their independence. The historical importance of this immortal document is measured by the progress of the Republic which was the fruit of its promulgation. In its enunciation of the fundamental principles of liberty and representative government, it has taken its place with Magna Charta as one of the outstanding pronouncements of all time that have made for the liberties of men and the advancement of the race. Its preamble sets forth with clarity and force the American conception of the relations of men to governments, which, in the intervening century and a half has constantly gained strength throughout the world. After more than a century and a half these heroic signers of this immortal document, who in the enunciation of the principles of liberty, equality, and representative government, challenged the power of the mighty empire "on which the sun never sets _have constantly grown in the appreciation of the Nation. When in sup |