Show U. U S. S to Observe J 1 l Oth Birthday of off I f Bill of pf Rights Rights' WASHINGTON While armies are engaged In the death struggle t to determine whether the democratic democrat Ideal or totalitarianism ultimately Is to rule Europe and Asia the thet t I American people are arc preparing to observe the anniversary of ot the Magna Charta of ot their liberties the liberties the Bill BUI of Rights I The Office of ot Civilian Defense a athe at atthe atthe the request of ot Archibald MacLeish librarian of congress through Its state and local defense councils throughout the land and with the collaboration of national state am and local agencies will lead the nations nation's I observance of Bill of ot Rights day dayon on December 15 As requested in ina I a Joint resolution of ot the senate and the house of representatives President President dent Roosevelt's proclamation fix fix- fixing fixIng fixIng ing that day as the one on which the Ule whole nation na pays its respects to the source of its liberties gives liberties gives the event special significance I II I I In schools throughout the United States there will be exhibits demon demon- demonstrating demonstrating demonstrating the participation of the school in the observance of the an an- Local celebrations are arc to tobe tobe be under the auspices of ot the local defense councils and will demon demon- demonstrate demonstrate demonstrate strate that that the ceremonies in com corn I of the Freedoms guar- guar guarI guaranteed I an teed under the bill biU of rights could be achieved only in a free so so- The Library of Congress Is preparing a syllabus telling of the origin of ot the Bill of Rights defining j i the th liberties it guarantees and con con- contrasting contrasting the position of the Amer- Amer can people with those of the occupied pled pied countries which once were democracies as well as those In the totalitarian states Special w l Program Outlined Director F. F H LaGuardia of the theOffice theOffice Office of Civilian Defense has sug sug- suggested suggested that each local defense ense council initiate formation of ot Information Information mation committees to get the facts about bout the total defense program to develop local Interpretation of the facts to make them more meaning meaning- meaningful ful Cul to develop locally programs and campaigns important to de de- defense defense de- de tense and to provide speakers on defense subjects for local In his statement requesting the collaboration of the Office of Civilian Defense and local defense councils Mr MacLeish said The precise event signalized by I these ceremonies will be the ratification ratification ratification tion of ot the Bill of Rights by the State I of Virginia whereby the assent of the I the necessary three fourths of ot the States was secured and whereby it became a part of the Constitution I The Constitution written at the Federal Fe cral convention in the summer I r w ri jill y 1 i 41 r S S f 4 S SS S'S S 'S S S S George Mason the Father of the Dill iiii of Rights Living In his home Gunston Hall lIall only five miles below belo the home of his bis friend George Wash Washington ington he wrote the Virginia Bill Bm of Rights and was largely responsible for the drafting of the national Bill of Rights of 1787 did not contain a specific declaration of individual rights In Inthe Inthe Inthe the opinion of the delegates such a declaration was unnecessary it would either reaffirm rights already I existing or it would merely pro pro- prohibit I hibit the national government from Interfering with them Nevertheless less when the draft was submitted for tor adoption it was discovered that many shared the view of Mr Jef Jet Jefferson Jefferson ferson that a bill biU of rights is what the people are entitled to against I every government on earth gener gener- general genera I al a or particular and what no just government should refuse or rest reston reston reston on inference Massachusetts Vir Vir- Virginia Virginia Virginia ginia New York and other states ratified the Constitution but with the recommendation that a Bill BiU of Rights be added This recommendation recommendation recommendation dation was accepted by the first congress in the form for of ot 12 proposed amendments which were passed on September 25 1789 Of 01 these 10 were declared ratified on December 15 IS 1791 They relate to 1 the freedom of religion speech and ind the press 2 the right to establish state militia 3 the quartering of troops in private private vate houses 4 the security of ot per per- persons persons sons against unwarrantable searches and seizures 5 capital crime 6 criminal prosecutions ons 7 trial by jury in law common-law cases 8 bails fines and punishments 9 the relation of constitutional and natural rights and 10 the pow pow- powers powers powers ers reserved to the states They are arc today ingrained in our American natures |