The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-10-21

Special Dispatch to the Intelligencer,
NASHVILLE, Tenn, Oct, 2O,-West
Virginia, though one of the smallest OF
the southern states, celebrated her day
at the centennial to-day. In a manner
that was alike interesting to the West
ylrginians who are in Nashville, and to
the visitors at the exposition to-day
The weather was perfect, the balmiest
breezes were blowing and the clear,'
blue skies OF Tennessee were never
bluer; In fact, dame nature and the
hospltable citizens OF Nashville seem
ed to vie with each other In showering
attentions upon the distinguished party
which was paying the respects OF the
state whose material resources are ex-
ceeded by no other state in the south
next to Tennessee. Material resources
are not all that West Virginia posses
ses. Some Of the men who have made
the history OF the nation were born
among the hills OF West Virginia.
AZ 1920 o'clock tho governor and ms
party were met at the Tulane hotel. by
the two hundred and twelve cadets
from the Virginia Military Institute,
who are in camp at the centennial, and
by a number OF NashVille's leading cit
izens.
The procession which was formed was
headed by the Virginia band. which
played n number OF patriotic airs on
the march to the grounds. The first
| carriage in the procession was occupied
by the reception committee, of which
| Mr.. Justl was chairman. In the sec
ond carriage were Governor and Mrs
Atkinson, Miss Bessie Atkinson and
| Judge A. NJ. Barton, OF the chancery
court of appeals. A dozen other car
riages and tailyho followed these and
carried the members OF the governors
staff and the party.
At the New York building, where the
exercises we're held, the cadets formed
n line and as the carriages drove up e
the steps the occupants were received
by the reception committee and escort
ed into the building.
SPEECH OF WELCOME.
Fishers band rendered q selection
after which Hon. Ran. stalnuker, pres
ident OF the West Virginia commission
called the meeting to order, and intro
duced Hon. John Thompson, speaker OF
the Tennessee state senate, who well
coined the visitors to Tennessee.
Senator Thompson said in part:
II has fallen to my lot to welcome tho
representatives OF West Virginia.
regret exceedingly that you are to be
deprived OF the pleasure Of welcome
By our eloquent and ndlnimltable governor
None have heard him but regret that
they have lived so long without hear
ing him. None have heard him bul
wish to hear him again. While this Is
true, and while he has charmed with
hls eloquence and wit those whom he
hns welcomed 20 the white city" in the
name OF Tennessee assure you he has
not been more earnest in his express
ions than / in welcoming you. You
have come, 30 to speak, 20 see our cen
tenniaI on dts last legs, to see the cat
| die, as 1t were. We have welcomed
everybody here during the past slS
| months from the aurora borealis to the
equator, from the rislng OF the sun &c
| the setting thereof, hut to none have
we been more sincere than we are ir
the welcome wo extend to the men ant
women OF West Virginia. We are
proud Of our state and the page we have
added to the history OF this great re.
| public, but this story has been told 81
often ! shall not tax your patience by
| telling II again, but content myself witt
| giving you n welcome again nnd agaln
and nsk you to abandon yourselves t
the pleasure Of the hour
Mr.. Thompson then introduced Gov.
ernor Atkinson, OF West Virginia. The
governor was greeted with cheers. ant
the splendid and admirable sentiment
which he expressed In eloquent words
were frequently interrupted bg ap'
plnuse.
| GOVERNOR ATEuNsoN's SPEECH
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies' and Gentle
men: West Virginia greets her sister
state ofTennessee to-day, and oongrnt.
ulntcs her over this splendid exhibit oi
her own and other southern states re.
sources. In the name of the people oil
my state ] thank you for the generous
and hospItablc reception you have
given us on "West Virginia Day" W,
came down here TO greet You and e
cheer YOU on the splendid work you
arc doing. These stan officers OF mine
these commissioners and these Wosi
Vlrglnians who are standing all about
mo to-day, arc only a fair sample OF
my people, and take II that these no,
bic Tenncsseoans win admit, with thcli
noble southern frnnknesg ana gcnorOH.
ity, that In good looks and stately hcnr'
ing, you cannot easily duplicate them
Ny friends you have a great state
down here In Tennessee. ] Know con
siderable about your state, because
have been In most every county In IT,
For years ! have regarded II nB The
Empire State Of the south In area, eli.
mate In location, In beauty Of scenery
In hoallhfulnCsa. IN coal aud In timber
resources, doubt II there iB nny
state In the Union can rival II, except
onc West Virginia. In area alone YOU
RurpnRa uR II you only knew II ~ wei
ag we ourselves know II, you would
fnnlly admit thnt West Virginia car
boat the world In coal and oil ana gai
aud timber We Arp the eternal centre
Of all these commodities. We are mol
bonalful. We only speak the truth,
But my fellow uOuntrymun, We arf
not hero 10 deproenio the great state oI
Tennessee ON the contrary, we arc
hero to oSlol her Thla exhibition il
proof positive that Eho ~ both enter.
priHnE and great doubt n this OK.
position has hccn cQunllcd - certainly
not nurpDsucd=hy any Ike undrrtnl,nr
IN this country, except the Chicago Con.
tohnlnl, nl Chicago, uud thnt was m.
ilounl not a state denomination. N
! this great exposition you have acqult.