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Show Statehood Day "Wiarflis Vnews Progress By DAVE ROWLAND Chronicle Staff Writer Dr. J. D. Williams, Head of the Hinckley Institute of Practical Politics, Pol-itics, "resurrected" Thursday many of Utah's pioneer forefathers to obtain ob-tain their views on Utah's progress cf the past, get their opinions about the present and ask for their suggestions sug-gestions pertaining to the future of - the Utah State government. Dr. Williams, speaking at the annual Statehood Commemoration Day program in the capital rotunda, called on such Utah historical figures fig-ures as Brigham Young and Orson Pratt in his mind's eye for answers and reflections on the future of Utah and her progress. Williams began his presentation by stating the idea that perhaps states "are born accidently." "I wonder if people have ever thought of creating simply a temporary society, one that will last but a short time and then be disolved?" he asked. Williams asked his audience, of approximately 200 people, to listen to the account of the colonizers of Jamestown, Va. in their initial ef-fcrt ef-fcrt to colonize the new world for England in 1607 In the account, Dr. Williams pointed out the optimism that prevailed among the first colonizers, col-onizers, and the later optimism when the colonization seemed doomed doom-ed to failure. Pioneer Accounts Continuing with accounts of the pioneers' entrance to the Salt Lake Valley, Williams quoted Orson Pratt's and Brigham Young's confident con-fident writings concerning their the citizens to "cross new plains and be restless until all plains were crossed!" Among those present at the Commemoration Com-memoration were Senate President Haven Barlow, House of Representatives Represen-tatives President Franklin Gunnell, General Morris Watts, State Treasurer Treas-urer Lynn Baker, State Auditor Sharp M. Larson, Utah Supreme Court Justice J. Allan Crocket, Milton Mil-ton Wylin of the Utah State Historical His-torical Society, Secretary of State Clyde Miller, Attorney General Phil Hansen, N. Eldon Tanner of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Governor Calvin Rampton, who in brief remarks to the crowd, pledged "to nurture the same type of foresight that our forefathers had when they fought so valiantly for statehood." faith in the future of the land they "had come to inhabit." They had the foresight, according to Dr. Williams, to make permanent homes for themselves and their posterity. Years later, the famous statement of the valley "blossoming "blossom-ing like a rose" was penned. Dr. Williams asked the audience what they, as the present citizens of the Beehive State, could do to make sure that the desert will continue to blossom instead of bringing forth weeds. If the old pioneers could rise from their graves, "they would not believe the sights that their eyes would behold. They would be proud of many things in the present pres-ent state of Utah," said Williams and he then listed statistics which p'aced Utah highest in educational stress, the lowest of all 50 states recording deaths from lung cancer, the eleventh state from the bottom in the consumption of alcoholic beverages, and in the top six states since 1920 for voter turnout in National Na-tional elections. The Pioneers would be concerned, Williams continued, "at the lack of civic pride and the low turnout that prevails in most local elections" elec-tions" as well as the almost superstitious super-stitious fear that the people have in voting for a progressive government. govern-ment. "They would chortle at the complaint of many people that Utah is unable to become a first class state." As far as probable recommendations recommenda-tions to Utah from her founders, Dr. Williams predicted that they would have us "stop grumbling about how poor we are and have us start counting our blessings." They would also advise citizens to institute in-stitute a Utah voter turnout campaign cam-paign so that Utah would get the chance to "vote for America" at every possible opportunity. The pioneers' final words, according to Williams, would be to encourage |