The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-10-16
WORLDS FAIR TALK.
Editor Free Press:

Editor Free Press:
The editor of the Reuie,o might
spend with profit the time necessary
to carefully read and digest the letter
of the Hon. Jay. La Due to the Globe
on the Worlds Fair subject. 1t con-
tains lots of common sense, very much
needed ia the editorial department of
the Recie,c, from which the editor
might derive benefit if he had any
capacity in that direction. And it
really should have some effect on the
editor, the writer having been life
long Democrat and was representa-
tive of the twin party in the legisla-
ture that passed the Fair bill, and
labored to secure larger appropria-
ton, without supposing probably
for an instant that the Blue Earth
county organ of the twin party which
carried water on one shoulder for one
twin, and taffy on the other shoulder
for the other twin, land kindly acted as
paternal counsellor for both, would
turn upon and abuse him as boodler
if he accepts an appointment from the
Governor as one of the State Commits
sionerS to manage the collection and
display of Minnesota's exhibit at the
Fair, or would denounce the Govern
or's action in appointing him as parti-
zan or as reward for party political
services rendered. Mr.. La Due says
boldly the appropriation is insufficient
to make such an exhibit as Minnesota
should make. Not fair minded, pub.
lic-spirited citizen of the State sup
poses it is. Yet the Rerieao denouhces
the commissioners as extravaganza for
asking more money. Mr.. La Due says
the Commission will not plan an eX-
hibit till the question of an increase
is decided and then plan to suit the
amount. The Revie,C says they should
plan for a $4,000 exhibit and no more.
Mr.. La Due is right on both these
questions. The Rerie,c seems to for
get that the State Fair exhibit is all
placed on exhibit and cared for at the
expense of the exhibitor. 1t would
have been very difficult to persuade
the exhibitors to transport their eX-
hibit 500 miles to Chicago and care for
it for two months or more at their own
expense and should do as he says could
be done, buy the entire exhibit and
transport it to Chicago to the Worlds
Fair for the $4,000 The State
fair must have been very slim fair
or he would be under the necessity of
appealing for State aid to care for it
and get it home again. Such talk is
unworthy the pretensions of the Re
uieeC, land exhibits low estimate of the
States capacity and resources as well
as moderate degree of State pride,
and desires that Minnesota should
take proud rank among the states of
the Northwest in the great competi-
tive show. Just think of our little
two year old sister, Washington, APP
propriating $75, 000-admitted in 1891
then of that little revolutionary
Quaking earth Republic Costa RIGA,
giving 100000 and threatening to as
tonish the world with her exhibits
Let US not make the greatest posi-
bic display OF niggardly parsimony in
this case, lest foreigners should think
that Minnesota's greatest production.
If we cannot make such an exhibition
as our age, prosperous condition, re-
sources and wealth demands, let us
not make any; and so long as the
Reciear'S twins have four Of the six
commissioners, and the Republicans
but two, | would like to suggest that
the RecieeC'S harpings on the partizan-
ism OF Governor Merriam in their APP
pointment is in decidedly bad taste.
Yours, B.