Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-23
INTEREST MONTANA IN THE SHOW.
purcnu of Promotion Proposed Ia
Rnisr priNnIc SmhsCr inIiOns.

HELENA, Mont, Feb. 22.-(Special Tele'
it was Washington's
birthday and legal holiday, the Omaha
delegation that is now visiting the west in
the interests of the big exposition in 1898
was accorded a reception by the state lesls-
lature here today, the meeting having been
arranged by telegram when 1t was tohna
that the party could not reach Helena III
time to attend the meeting last Saturday.
1t was a joint informal session, at which
all the members were present There were
addresses by Gilbert Nj. Hitchcock, President
Wattles John L. Webster, Captain II. Il.
Palmer and w. S Poppleton, and aftei that
Governor Smith, who was in the audience,
was called upon for an address. He re-
sponded briefly
81 am sure of these propositions, he said,
that II Montana has the natural resources
we claim the world will only find it out by
our advertising ii, and that the proper time
to advertise is during periods of depression.
| am sure that the exposition at Omaha is
going to be of more Importance to the people
of the west than any of the eXpositions ;hat
have been held in the history of this coun-
try. At the Worlds fair our exhibitions
were overshadowed by those of elder and
richer states. | do not believe there is Il
state in the union of more varied natural
resources than Montana, and as | view it no
time could be more favorable for the adj
vancement of the interests of cur state than
1895 Montana could not afford not to be
represented then.
"This assembly should at least provide for
an organization to advance the interests Of
Montana. If it does | am sure that the pub
lie spirit of our people will not fail and II
this assembly sees fit to make a small ap-
preparation it would meet with the approval
l believe, of the people of the state
After the session of the joint assembly
| there was a meeting of the senate commit
| tee on finance and claims, and the commit
| tees on appropriations and ways and means
| of the house, at which the members of the
| visiting party went more fully into detailt
I as to what they thought the state might do
| They said, after the condition of the finance!
of the state had been discussed pretty gen
orally, that they thought an appropriation o
| $4,000 would bring many times that amour
| in results in the future.
The committees adjourned without taking
definite action. but it is generally under
| stood that hey will recommend small ap
| preparation, perhaps of $4,000, to assist IL
| the organization of state bureau of promo
| ton. The commissioner, or whoever is ap
| pointed, will be charged with til,
duty of interesting others in tn,
exposition, as it is believed
creditable amount could be raised by per.
sonal subscriptions if the expenses of rails.
ing 1t were paid and man selected to at
| tend to 1t. The appropriation would be ex.
| pected to cover only the expenses of the
preliminary work There is no prospect thai
an appropriation of any considera bic
amount would find favor with the legis
| lature.
TIE members of the party left the city
this afternoon at O'Clock on the Montana
| Central for Butte They expect to visit the
| Boise legislature tomorrow and will e
from there to Olympia, Wash
Owing to the pied condition of polite!
in Oregon they do not expect to accom-
plish much in that state except in inter
esting the people Of Portland as individuals
They will visit Sacramento the latter par
| of this week or early next