Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-23
BROADEN THE EXPOSITION PROGRAM

mississippi Exposition association is en-
titled to commendation for the progress
| it has made toward securing the CO.
operation of our congressional delega-
| ton and the endorsement of the eXposi-
| tion by the Legislature of Iowa. There
| seems to be imminent danger. however.
| that the members of the board may
fail to give full scope to the great en-
terprise which they are seeking to pro-
mote.
1t should be constantly borne in mind
that the proposed exposition is to be
not an Omaha exposition nor II Ne
braSka fair. but an exposition represent
ing the whole transmississippi region.
covering the greater half of the con
tinent. Omaha is not holding an eXposi-
ton for the twenty-four states and ter
ritOrieS this side of the Mississippi. but
the people of those states through their
representatives have selected Omaha as
the most available location for an eX-
hibiton of their vast and varied re-
sources and products. The general SUI
pewision Of such an exposition should
not be monopolized by II purely local
board. To enlist the active interest
and full participation of the people of
the transmssissippi states, the pro-
gram must be broadened.
In our judgment this can be best ac-
complshed by Il board of commissioners
appointed by the president of the
United States or by the governors of
the respective states and territories.
Such commission would occupy very
much the same relation to the eXposi.
ton company that the State Board of
Agriculture occupies to the Omaha
Speed and Fair association. While in
the very nature of things the brunt of
the work of financiering and supervis-
ing would devolve upon the managers
of the Omaha corporation, the board of
state commissioners would render in
valuable service in helping to fOrmu-
late the general plans and features of
the exposition and in arranging for the
special wants of the different states
and cities.
A board of state commissioners would,
moreover exert far-reaching infiu-
ence in promoting appropriations for
state buildings and state exhibits. In
this respect the vice presidents ap
pointed for each state by the Omaha
corporation would, we fear, prove mad
equate. These vice presidents can and
should cooperate with the commission
ers, but having no recognized author
ity to represent anybody's wishes eX-
cept the corporation which named them.
they could not expect to have the same
standing at nome tnat men duly COM
missioned by the national or state eX-
ecutive would have.
Another advantage to be derived
from II board of state commissioners
lies in the interest which from the out
set will be manifested in every trans
state and territory in its
personnel and the consequent general
discussion of the project by the press
in general, and more particularly In
the localities where the appointees re-
side.
From the strictly local standpoint
whatever will contribute to the success
of the exposition. whatever agencies
will increase the number and variety of
exhibits and add to the attendance, in
fact. whatever divests it of the char
acter of Il purely Omaha or Nebraska af-
fair and goes toward making it of in
terstate and international magnitude |
will rebound to the advantage of this |
city and state and incidentally enhance
the reputation of its projectors and |
local managers.