The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1895-12-20
INDIANA CENTENNIAL
COMMISSIONER SHiRIEv's IDEA OF
WHAT " OUGHT 10 DC.

"e revors Ssksog Seplctly = Sta
AaAis ssd rhishs That Isd,sss AIe..
Should rssvids All Necessary Issds.
Hon. G. c. Shirley Of Kokomo
member OF the Indiana centennial com
mission for the Tenth congressiona
district. thinks that the proposed cele
bration should 10 Q Reat state anal,
rather than an interstate enterprise. In
expressing his views regarding the mat
ter he says: -
After considerable reflection rnor
sne SUBJECT Of the proposed entennisl
celebration. l have formed in NV mind
N outline Of what it seems 70 ma ~
event ought 70 ba. The details. how-
ever. are 70 indissinct and imperfectlv
formed that ! lind il difficult to exprscs
my conception Of the affair. Soma gem
eral conclusions I have reached thongh
are ~ follows:
II believe the event shou,d Ia
sericfly . state affair intended TO exhibit
the growth. development and resoures
OF . hundred years Of The
territory now out Of the state. but which
formerly constituted Q part OF The orioi-
M! territory Of Indiana, ought perhsns
20 De urged 20 join us in the movement:
Inc other states and the world AZ l,rsr
We shAll of c0urns invite TO participase-
out rather - guests than othervisa
! am not disposed TO LOOK favorably up- !
On tne proposition to make il cit her ia
name or In TACT . mid continent exposi-
taon- 10 make II such will be e ono
20 invite comparison with the World's
ar. the National Centennial n Phila.
and the more recent expoei.
lions ~ San Francisco and ATLANTA
nat We want Il 70 bring the greateet
possible good 70 he state. and in the
sreatest possible degree to spread its
anne This. l think. can only be done
y preserving. in its name and in its
cope and purpose. the central idea Of :
.Ate event.. q the greatest state event
It's KIND that ever occurred.
- 40 not believe that we should b.
70 enlist federal aid to promote the
nterprise. 1t IL true. the general gov.
snment has contributed 4 the Atlanta
xposition. but fhe conditions there were
xceptionAl. The general feeling that
wou D gracious thing 10 do b.
ause the event vas strictly souehsrn
largely 20 it, and After III
was regarded ~ wonderful schieve-
'ent to have induced congress TO VOTE
D appropriation for anything less than
strictly national affair. !
II approve the suggestion Of .Judoa !
that ont Of the even should
some permanent memorial.
hich l am inclined to think should ~
building in which should be collected
10 treasured whatever NAV b found
such vast interest and value As TO a..
rye perpetuation. This memorial 4
'ouid OF itself be . thing that would
nfer lasting credit upon the state. In
construction IL should suggest The !
story, the progress, the Art, the edu. |
taon, the industries and the wealth a \
Q state; and upon IL. II the idea - 10
successfully carried out, should b
pended . Sufficient sum of money! "a
ecs . structure 20 beautiful and ~.
Anent in it, character a "a in ~.
9 admiration Of the whole counerv
lis necessarily means that I do not b..
70 ~ other suggestion, also OF Judes
that the building now oc.
pied BY the institution for the blind
ouid De utilized for this purpose. is
.cticeble. II 10 . shabby old structu re
the best, and the permanent build.
! IN which u 70 be housed the best
ults Of the century's growth muse b.
creation and the offspring Of thu Fl
minafing event The grounds Of e. =
titution Tor the blind are ADMIRABLY
ted 20 our purpose: but Il the STATE -
devote II 70 our purpose. the 6rp1
provement l would suggest would s. IN
raze the present structure 70 t.
und. So
IL would be impossible % enlist me
ncient interest. or raise sufficient da
ney 70 nttinRly celebrate the event. -
wen % construct the memorial above "a
unless the occasion il 20 f>r br'
'ulariEed - TO arouse the intereae Of
the people Of the state. particularly
common people. There viii have
y . certain amount Of pageantry and
which viii necessarilv
the form. in . general way, Of some
FORMER exPositions. upon which.
accomplish the purpose Of ous
creation, We shall Be- able
improve. at least. in some derYee.
these ends We must have I lav
hitting cities and counties 70 VOC
for the purpose Of makfns ~
ioass OF their own peculiar resources.
IN addition seek from the leeisla.
The brosdest possible e~ncoura9e.
e . patronage. Then there shoeld
'sceu . tumcsent amount OF stock in
company charged with the exec ~.
on the plan among the s~nterpiing A
= q ne seass. and -pastcalarly the -
q Indianapolis. - was done a4C,hi. -
20 raise soch . fund = the libsrnl 4
upon which this scheme muat -
q out II carried ous q I'll. Win r.
. 10 promote and effect this pur-
10 my notion the duty 20 which
indiana centennial commision ~
= dedicate itself earnestly and IN 0d
John h. Weathen of
c0worth. says: The state of Indf-
"a never had IN exhibition Of her
rces that did her credit. While
'oas states about her and the mas
hear her have spent time and en- M!
10 holding celebrations and cxhf- -
OF their resources and growth.
- has failed in thae respect We
, great state. All she needs 10 ID.
osnG 70 b brought into public M
No mere atting way 70 do this In
b sagRested than ~ che cDutsm-
Centennial. Her history, her
.. her commercial Importance,
thus shown and the public eye
} nation dise0ted 10 hes rootnese.