The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-01-28
REUNIONS GALORE.
Preparations for State Days at the Column
bian Exposition.

Worlds fair-reunions of states, and OF
cities, and of nationaities, and of fami-
lies, and of societies and organizations
in fact, reunions of about everybody and
everything that desires to reunite. Some
thing of this kind was attempted on
small scale at the Centennial in the way of
state days, and the idea proved success
full one, for the state reunions brought
out some of the biggest crowds of the
season-Pennsylvania's day, if my men,
DRY serves me Alright, drawing to Fair
mount park the banner throng OF the
entire Centennial period.
The efforts of the Centennial manage
ment in this direction, however. were
spasmodic, while those Of the Worlds
Columbian exposition are to be well or
gained, well equipped and well directed.
Some time ago the national commission
adopted resolution turning over the
entire matter of state and society days
to the department on ceremonies, and OF
late, as natural result, the duties of
Secretary Culp are about quadrupled.
And yet, according to the secretary, only
beginning has been made.
Were it not for the fact that so many
state executives have been going out
during the past few weeks, and so many
new ones coming in, it is probable that
by this time every commonwealth would
have had definite day of its own selec-
ton entered. Now that the brand new
governors, however, have gotten off their
little inaugural speeches and in meas
ure rid themselves of the horde of Office
seekers it is expected that they will lose
no time in designating date upon which
the people of their region may rally In
their tens and hundreds of thousands
upon the banks of Lake Michigan.
Many of these reunions will have a
wider and more farreaching significance
than the mere coming together Of large
numbers of people who are one family
by reason of geographical lines. North
Carolina, for instance, through Governor
Holt, asks that the 18th day of August
may be set aside as North Carolina Day
because it is the anniversary of the birth
of Virginia Dare, the first white child
that saw the light in America. The
Badger State asks for and has been
granted the 23d of May, upon which day
Wisconsin celebrates the forty-ffth ami
versary Of her statehood, while Nevada
is partial to Oct 81 because it also re-
ceived it's commission as state on that
date. Utah will celebrate on July "a,
Washington on May 81.
Altogether fourteen states have def
initely given their assent to the idea of a
state day, in many cases leaving the ex-
act date to the discretion of the cere-
monies committee. The other states, re-
garding which definite action has been
delayed by the advent of new executives,
include Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri and
Kansas. All of them will be heard from
in due season. The Buckeyes have gone
so far as to formulate their programme.
They propose to bring half or more OF
the regiments composing the state mill
tia, all their members Of congress, the
state senate and assembly entire, and
representative citizens Of every one of
its municipalities. A feature of the day
will be the dedication of a monument to
the men of Ohio whose names are en-
graved on the war history of the nation,
and which, at the conclusion of the fair,
will be removed to Columbus and re-
erected within the statehouse grounds.
Organizations of various kinds, secret
as well as open, are also entering into the
idea with vim and enthusiasm. Two
events in particular have already been
assigned to~defnite dates and are ex.
pected to be memorable days in the mat
ter of total attendance. These are the
commercial travellers reunion on July
is and the rallying of the Ancient Order
of Foresters on the 18th of the same
month. Those who are engineering the
roundup Of the knights of the grip are
sanguine of being able to corral any
where from 100000 to 10000 members
of the fraternity, and as drumnners above
all people know how to enjoy themselves
and to have a rip roaring good time it
will be worth travelling long distance
to be inside of Jackson park on July 16.
Somebody has suggested that each
drummer should spin characteristic
yarn, or each pair of them swap stories,
but if this programme were carried out
the reunion would have to adjourn from
day to day, and might still be far from
final dissolution when the gates were
closed and the machinery ceased to re-
volve. A single day seems altogether
too short for hundred thousand drum
mers to get in their work, but they will
perforce have to be content to adapt
themselves to the old adage anent
short life (ti1ne) and merry one.
The Foresters, too, believe they can
roundup close to a hundred thousand
strong, while the Knights of Pythias, the
Royal league, the National union and
other of the secret beneficial associa-
lions, whose ramifcations extend pretty
well all over the country, have each de-
ter1nined to have it's own day of festivi-
ty. There is talk also Of reunion Of
old Centennial visitors, and especially of
the remnant of that gallant band of
women and men whose pens and pencils
told the story of the first international
exhibition of the young republic to the
world. The grim reaper has decimated
their ranks, but enough remain to recall