The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1893-07-14
SOUTH DAKOTA AT THE FAIR.

OF SCUM DakOta'S showing at the
Worlds Fair in the press of the state
during the past few weeks, both by edi-
tors who have seen it and those who
have not, and The REPUBLICAN itself
owns up to having borne down so,ne-
what heavily on the fact six weeks ago
that matters on the grounds were
not as far as advanced as they should
have been. But it has been left to
the editor OF the Argus-Leader, who
has just made personal inspection of
the state building, to devote column
and half roast to the arrangement of
the same, some OF which may be deserv-
ed but much of which is entirely un-
warranted, giving as it does the inn
preston that all the showing the state
makes is confined to this building. This
critic makes the following sweeping as
sertion: e..
In the grandest, most varied, most
brilliant exhibition which the world
has ever seen, South Dakota has sue
ceeded in holding herself up to ridicule
and so far as she has attracted attention
at all has incurred injury. This is not
my opinion alone. 1t is shared by the
great majority of South Dakotans who
have visited the fair. Most of them
come here. as came, enthusiastic over
the long list OF splendid resources with
which the state is endowed and expect
ing to see the products in variety, quail
ity and quantity sufficient to command
respect and admiration. They are sad
ly disappointed.
The reader of average intelligence
would infer that all the exhibit South
Dakota makes is that in her state build
ing and that she asks that her wonder
full resources be judged therefrom.
Whether the Argrls-Leader allows its
sense of fairness to be overcome by a
narrow desire to make party capital out
of the expenditure of an appropriation
made by Republican legislature or not
we are not prepared to say, but it has
laid itself open to suspicion. 1t seems
to us that the only deserved criticism
which can rest against the South Da-
kota commissioners in the arrangement
of the state building is that they should
have adopted one distinct plan or the
other-they should either have made no
attempt at display of products and have
devoted the building wholly to social
and business purposes, as is the case
with many of the other state buildings;
or they should have made more COM
~ all n re
its, and rivalled the splendid showing
made by North Dakota, Iowa and other
sister states, as they could easily have
done. That their time was limited and
that there was an uncertainty about the
appropriation being made is possibly a
reason for the present unsatisfactory
state of things though it is not a valid
excuse. ....
Be this as it may, however, the fact
remains, and in all fairness the Argus
Leader should have set it forth, that in
Agricultural hall, in the Mining build
ing and in the Womans building South
Dakota holds herself proudly among
her sister states, whether young or old.
The agricultural display occupies an at
tractive pavilion in a prominent place
and gives very comprehensive idea of
our resources; while in the mining
building the Black Hills section is
thronged by appreciative visitors daily.
Whether everything has been done in
all directions that the size of the ap-
preparation warranted, only a scrutiny
of the vouchers can determine when
the Commission makes its final report.
We prefer to believe, however, that the
men and women who volunteered their
services at the outset and devoted time
and money to the work without Ger.
tainty or even hope OF remuneration
have administered their trust honestly
and intelligently; and we believe, too,
that except in the particular above re,
ferrea to South Dakota's showing in the
Worlds Fair is wholly creditable and
will prove of great benefit to the state,
--
When one considers the number and
variety of dire calamities that have
marked the first six months of 1898, in
cluding also the very recent frightfu
disasters in iowa, and at the Worlds
Fair grounds, the awful query naturally
suggests itself: ''What neXt?" The
sinking OF the Victoria, the total des
truction of the town OF Pomeroy, anG
the horrible loss of life by what seemed
an insignificant fire in Jackson Park