Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-04-13
The South at the Worlds Fair.

In it's issue for last week the Manu-
facturers' Record, of Baltimore, makes
this urgent appeal to the South to pre-
pare for the Worlds Columbian Elk
position:
s'The display of apathy regarding
preparations for the Worlds Column
bian Exposition that is being manifest
ed in several sections of the South is
greatly to be lamented. In the alb
sence of constitutional obstacles, the
refusal of any Southern legislature to
make liberal appropriation for State
representation at Chicago is false econ
omy of the most conspicuous kind.
Neglect to make ample provision for
this great event is short sighted pol
icy that is sure to react i'll an injurious
manner upon the whole South. The
older industrial sections of the North
are making liberal preparations fo1
representation in the Worlds Fair,
and the West is providing for the oc-
casion with wonderful display of prod
igality Money appropriated for this
purpose does not indicate extravaganza
in any respect, but the Indifferent pol
icy that has been adopted by few OF
the Southern States must be regarded
as either parsimony or failure to ap'
preciate the importance of the oppor
tunity.
''There is not, to our knowledge, any
other use to which reasonable appro-
priation could be devoted with bet
ter results than in the provision OF a
suitable exhibit of the resources and
industries of any Southern State in
this great exposition. Advertising is
the life of industry in these days, and
States that desire to attract attention
and promote development might as
well enclose their borders with high
fence as to neglect any good opportun-
ity for making their advantages known
to the world. The business man who
does not advertise confines his opera
tions to narrow field, and this rule
applies equally well to a town, county
or State. The Worlds Columbian Elk
position is a huge advertising enter
prise, and those who do not participate
in it will feel the effects in an unfOr-
tunate manner.
"There is peculiar necessity for the
South to utilize this opportunity to the
fullest possible extent. There are
thousands of people in the North, i'll
the West, in New England and across
the ocean who have invested largely il
various enterprises for furthering the
development of the South. Nine out
of every ten of such investors have
never been in the South and will never
visit that section of the country. They
have read and heard much of the won
derful resources of the South, its rap
idly growing industries, its mines, for
ests, mills and furnaces, and when
they go to Chicago next year they will
naturally expect to see Southern eX-
hibit proportional to the wealth and
resources of that section. They are
fully justified in such an expectation,
and the responsibility for fulfillment
rests with the South-with each State
as well as with individuals.
'.We earnestly hope that all consid-
Grafton of false economy will be set
aside in this matter, and that all the
Southern States will act in unison in
providing for a liberal display at Chi
cago. 1t is not a matter of willingness
or inclination, but of necessity
necessity that is Imperative
Let there be no delay, no differences OF
opinion as to plans, but let there be
everywhere united and determined
effort to place the South on an equal
footing with the entire world in the
Worlds Columbian Exposition. We
have no interest whatever in this eX-
position apart from its bearing upon
the South, but we fully appreciate the
Importance of the occasion, and warn
the South not to let such an opportuni
ty pass unheeded.n