The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-17
THE PROPOSED INDIANA CExTEy-
NAL CELEBRATION.


Many papers throughout the State
Indiana centennial celebration in the
year 1900. The propriety of the sugges-
ton Is obvious. and II is generally con-
coded that if properly carried out the oc-
casion might be made interesting and in
structive in a historic way and advan-
tageous In advertising the State. At the
same time there is a feeling that unless
the idea is to be carried out in a broad.
liberal and creditable way it had better
not be undertaken at all. The Lafayette
Courier voices this feeling thus:
The proposition looking TO the celebra-
ton of Indiana's centennial b. an expo
s.tion to be held at indianapolis in 1900 is
not meeting with Encouragement, and the
indications are that thee hopes or the pro-
motors OF the proposed enterprise VIII not
be long sustained. If an attempt should
be seriously made to carry out the scheme
1t would necessarily be with the under
standing that the people of the State were
10 be taxed for an immense sum or mon
cy 20 provide for the expenses such as the
exhibition would require, and ii may be
set dow as a certainty that public opin-
This feeling is not the outgrowth of pro-
vincial prejudice or niggardliness, nor lack
of State pride, but is based on the stub
born fact that ouch a large expenditure for
spectacular effect cannot be afforded.
= . Indiana cannot afford to go into
the exposition business except on an elab-
crate plan and scope, and that would
mean an expenditure greatly in excess OF
what the people are able or willing TO pay
for the luxury. A second-rate affair would
be worse than nothing. and inasmuch as
there is no Intermediate ground, the only
way to decide the matter is to abandon 1t
in its infancy.
The Journal is of opinion that 1t is
much too soon to urge the abandonment
of the proposed celebration. In fact, he
movement has a legal status which pre-
cludes the. adoption of that course, at
least until the next Legislature shall
meet. The last Legislature. by Joint
resolution Of both houses. directed the
Governor to appoint a commission of
thirty members. (which shall, after full
investigation and consideration. report
sembly it's recommendation Tor the
proper realization of this project" The
resolution does not contemplate the
possibility of abandonment Of the project
by the commissioners. They have no
authority to drop the matter nor even to
report in favor of its abandonment. Its
function Is to formulate a plan for the
celebration and report to the x Legis-
lature. Then If that body should de-
eide that the matter had better be
dropped it can so order or can kill it by
refusing to make any appropriation. The
action of the Legislature will probably
depend largely on the attitude of the
press and people in the matter. and IN
the character Of the report submitted by
the commission. If the press and people
do not show the requisite amount Of in
terest. or If it should appear from the
report of the commission that the cele-
bration would cost the State more than
it could afford, the Legislature could
drop the matter without dishonor.
though the Journal is decidedly Of the
opinion that it would be a mistake to
do so.
The Courier says "the movement is not
meeting with encouragement" but does
not give any reaso for this opinion.
Certainly the first meeting Of the COM
missioners was full Of encouragement,
and many of the papers have spoken Of
the movement IN terms of warm APP
prevail. The Kokomo Tribune of the 18th
inst. says:
This great historic event is of the high
est Importance TO the people of Indiana,
aud they Will favor COMMUNICATING It on
a grand scale, commensurate with the dig
nifty and prominence of the State. Already
popular interest In the event Is sro~lng,
heartily with the commission, and their
mandate will be to make the most of this
great occasion.
What reasons the Tribune may have
for thinking that popular interest in the
movement is growing the Journal does
not know any more than it does the
Courier's reasons for thinking that it is
not meeting with encouragement. The
truth is. there has not been time yet to
ascertain the feeling of the people. much
less to create a favorable popular senti-
ment on the subject. The fact that the
last Legislature of its own motion man
imously adopted a resolution putting the
movement on foot shows that the peo-
pies representatives thought well of it,
and the Journal believes that when the
matter is fully and fairly placed before
them the people themselves will in
dorse il.
We need IN Indiana more State pride
and less sectional and provincial
jealousy. We are a great State and a
great people, but we do not always rise
to our opportunities. The proposed cele-
bration is really a great opportunity to
do something worthy of the State. but
it will be a lost one unless the press and
people give the movement united and
hearty support. So far as the Journal is
concerned it is not actuated by local con-
siderations. If the celebration can more
appropriately or more conveniently be
held in some other city than Indianap-
oils so let it be. The Journal will abate
nothing of its hearty support OF the
movement. Meanwhile, it remains to be
seen If there is enough State pride in
the press and among the people to in
duce them to favor the holding of a CEN
tennial celebration anywhere.
THE FIRST FRVITS-