Omaha daily bee., 1897-12-01

Ottumw9 Democrat: Twonty-four states
In the transmssissippi belt are making ar
rangements for an exposition at Omaha in
1898. This exposition is to represent the
best that these states produce, end the Iowa
Legislature has already appropriated $4,000
as an earnest or pledge that 1t will put its
best foot foremost at the exposition. Ten
thousand dollars, of course, iS not enough,
to pay the expenses of preliminary work,
erect a suitable building and carry the
states part through to the end successfully.
1t has been estimated that $4,000 more
will be required. but without any suggestion
as to whether this amount or more or less
is necessary or sufficient, the people of Iowa
will look to their representatives in the leg
islature to see that no disgrace shall attach
to the state by reason of niggardliness in
appropriations 1t Is true that the state is
in debt now beyond the constitutional limit,
but there must be cutting down of expenses
in other directions rather than where the
honor of the state is involved. The coming
Omaha exposition is of more Importance than
has generally been conceived; it is to be an
exhibit where twenty-four states of growing
possibilities are to contest before the world
as to their capacity for further development
1t would be sorry sight to the eye Of any
citizen of Iowa If our own great state should
go limping into the arena, half made up
slouchy in appearance, with the garb OF pow
erty hiding its nakedness. 1t would be un-
fair to the people who make 1t their home
its borders, Better far that the state should
not be represented at all, rather than to see
1t behind any of them iC such display as
the wealth of the state warrants. If the
finances OF Iowa are in such condition that
It will require sacrifices to advertise 1t at
this time it is not the fault Of the people,
but of those who have been in charge of
state affairs; the soil is rich and the people
generally are industrious and prudent; there
fore, the people have a right to demand
that those In authority shall contrive in some
way to bridge over the temporary embarrass-
ments and save the state from stain that
may be of irreparable injury during this gen.
GRAFTON.
The republican press Is sensitive and some
what reluctant to speak out on this subject
after the stinging criticisms of the demo-
cratic journals during the recent campaign
on eXtravagant appropriations, but this mat
ter is o1e of state pride Involving the ma
terial interests Of the people and all man
ner OF parrish nship should be dropped in
considering what to do. The democrats Of
Iowa will not take mean advantage OF their
Opponents in matter OF this KIND where
the honor OF the state is involved.
If a general and free exchange Of views
could be made are confident that the
consensus of opinion would be: The legis-
lature should cut down expenses in other
directions and In this way save enough to
enable the Iowa commission to erect such
buildings as will be credtable to the state;
such buildings that a citizen of Iowa will
not be ashamed of, but rather that he may
be proud in ponting to them and say: These
are the buildings of the Iowa exhibit. They
are the buildings Of my own state!