The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-09-26
A BIG SHOW IN 1900
1T WILL BE AN INDIANA CENTEN-
NAL ON A LARGE SCALE.
Meeting Of the Commission appointed
by the Governor-Eli Lilly
Elected President.

Inc meeting OF the centennlal ann.fer-
sary commissioners appointed by Governor
Matthews. under authority of a joint reso-
luton of the last Legislature. was held
yesterday afternoon in the Statehouse par
lor. with all but five of the thirty members
present. Four Of these were Defoe Skin
ner. Charles T. Doxey. James N Huston
and Frank McKeen. all of whom notified
the Governor of their inability TO attend.
George W. Matthews, OF South Bend. who
was appointed one of the commissioners.
died since his appointment. The Governor
has not yet appointed his successor. The
meeting was very earnest and the project
met with an almost enthusiastic reception.
The members had apparently given the OBJ
ject Of their appointment some thought. and
many of them contributed timely and peril
nent suggestions as to what should be
done. Governor Matthews called the meet
ing to order saying that the duty before
the commission, under the authority be-
slowed upon 1t, is to provide the best means
of honor:ng the one-hundredth anniversary
of the founding of the Territory of Indiana.
He expressed his approval OF the idea and
gave Colonel Eli Lilly. Of this city. the
credit of first suggesting the celebration.
He explained why four of the commission
ers could not be present and said that the
fact that SO many were present or had
sent letters expressing regret, was an evil
dence of the large interest already felt on
the subject. The Governor said that he
had not reached a conclusion as to what
the celebration would be further than that
it should be on scale commensurate with
the merits of the occasion and the great
ness of the State. If not well done. he
said. 1t is better that II be not done at all.
without fattery to any one of YOU" con-
tinued the Governor. II think can truly
say that the interests of the event may
be safely trusted to your hands,"
The Governor then threw the meeting
into the hands of the commissioners. Eli
Marvin. of Frankfort. suggested that the
selection Of president of the commission
would be the first thing in order and that
it would be fitting and wise action to
make Eli Lilly president. He moved that
the sense of the commission be declared in
favor of Colonel Lilly. and this was at
once put into effect Colonel Lilly was de-
clared the permanent president of the con-
ventson and was installed in the chair by
the Governor Governor Matthews was
elected an honorary member with advisory
powers. Colonel Lilly, in assuming the
chair. said that the position is not one that
he would have sought. knowing as he does
the arduous labors of the celebration, II it
is to be done on the proper scale. He said.
however. that he would devote himself with
all his strength and earnestness to the
work. He explained that 1t was while
reading Dunns contribution TO the Ameri-
can Commonwealth series. with the history
of the State. that the idea came to him
that Indiana ought TO commemorate the CEN
tennial anniversary of the founding of the
Territory. Indiana, he said, is the sixth
State in the Union in point of material
wealth, but 1t has not taken the proper
measures in the past to place itself prom
inentiy enough before the Nation and the
world. Here. he thought, was the oppor-
tun.ty to advertise the greatness of the
State and its people. he thought that not
only Indiana, but also the other States in
the Unions and as many of the foreigners
as could be interested. should be asked 10
learn. there is no other such event con-
temDlated in 1900 in any part of the coun-
try. and none abroad except at Paris: In
diana was born on July 4, 1900. and William
Henry Harrison was its first Governor.
John Gibson was its first Secretary. and
Henry vanderburg. William Clark and
cluded at that time the territory that after
wards became Illinois, wisconsin and the
west peninsula of Michigan. 1t had been
handled back and forth from Spain to
France previous to its purchase from Ma
pcleon l at a cost of $15.000000. Colonel
Lilly dweit upon these expositions as great
of great deal of good He advised that
the event be made such as would bring the
State TO the front indianapolis, he said.
had been overshadowed by the great cities
of Indiana is taking her proper place
among the cities of the West. The EXPOSE
ton must be one unexcelled and worthy Of
the people of Indiana.
THE MID-coNTINENr EXPOSITION.
He suggested that it should he of such
scope as to deserve the name of the In
diana Mid-continent Exposition. 4 He
thought also that what can be preserved of
the show should be preserved. The most
distant county in the State from his city
is just as much interested as the capital.
John Weathers. of Leavenworth, was
made temporary secretary and the selec-
ton of a permanent secretary was intrust-
ed to the president OF the commission.
Governor Matthews explained that while
the resolution requires the commissioners
to serve without pay, Ii Is unworthy Of the
great State of Indiana to expect her citizens
to pay their own expenses in addition. He
urged, therefore, that the commissioners
keep an account Of what their expenses
are ana report 10 MIN SO tndt ne may, III
his next message to the Legislature, recon-
mend that the expenses be paid. The reso-
hutton authorizing the commission was then
read by Charles l.. Jewett, and the ROD
was called. showing the following gentle
men present:
Philip Frey. James Burkett, Thomas B.
Buskirk, John Weatners. Charles l.. Jew
EFT. John H. Russo Will Cumback. John
W. Cravens, Joseph !. Irwin, Arthur w.
Brady. Thomas J. Mann. Eli Marvin. c. e.
Shirley, NJ w Hathaway, Joshua C. Had
ley, Harry B. Smith, K. L. Goldthwait,
Charles McCulloch, Sol. A. Wood. Eli Lilly,
z. b. Martindaie and Hugh Doherty.
The commissioners then adopted motion
with the president as chairman. should re-
port to a future meeting OF the commits
sioners a plan for the event: This committee
is to formulate plan for consideration of
the full commission. The members Of the
commission are expected to submit 10 Ii
their suggestions in writing. so that from
the mass of suggestions those which
practicable and pertinent may be incorpor-
ated in the report. The commissioners were
called on TO give expression of their con-
ception of the exposition.
Mr.. Martindale spoke of the magnitude
of such a work, based on his personal ex-
Columbian exposition. He deplored that
these events as a rule have resulted in SO
large a waste of money. Enough has been
expended and thrown away after the period
of the exposition 10 have bought the Cana
dian provinces, with Cuba thrown in. The
exposition. he said. will draw upon the peo-
pie far beyond their expectations. and IL is
not wise to proceed unless something better
in the way Of plan is found than those
-