The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-07-21
SOME SUGGESTIONS.
r. s. Brigham Would Have an
Exposition.
Edward Wilder Believes Some
thing New Should Be Devised.
New Conditions Will Exis t
In 1904.

centennial Of the organization of Kan
sas as a territory in 1904 meets with
general appreciation. But while nearly
every one thinks there should be some
kind OF big celebration in connection
with the event, the ideas as to what it
should be are many and varied.
The general idea prevails that it
Should be something in which the entire
west can participate, but that it must
be different from anything that has yet
been undertaken in the United States.
What it ought to be is the idea that
the brains of Kansas will have to work
out.
In regard to the proposition President
Brigham of the Commercial club said:
I think the idea is an excellent one
Kansas should certainly celebrate its
fiftieth anniversary, and Topeka should
celebrate at the same time. AS to just
what the celebration ought to be is a
difficult question to determine without
considerable thought, but in general L
should say it should be an exposition.
Omaha made a huge success of her ex-
position last year, and I believe Kansas
could do well with an exposition
made up of new ideas. There will be a
vast advancement made in the next five
years. This will not be the same world
five years from now that it is today.
The things that We're new and wonder
full at the Omaha exposition will be old
and common place in 1904. There will
be new methods of rapid transit and
the progress made in electrical lines
will be wonderful The electrical exhib-
it at Omaha was far superior to that at
the worlds fair simply because of the
great advancement that had been made
during the intervening time. And the
advancement during the next five years
will be greater than it has been during
the past five years.
L think the Omaha. exposition was
really more of success than the
worlds fatr-that is, it was more sat-
isfactory- It was not so overwhelming
Iy large that people could not cOmpre-
hend it, as the worlds fair was, and the
consequence was that it did Omaha and
Nebraska a world of good and was such
a huge success financially that the man
agement thought the world was encOr-
ing them and they are repeating the
performance.
THE thing for Kansas to do is to de-
eide to have such an exposition and
then get the whole state united as a
unit in working to that end. With the
same aid from the national government
that was given Omaha and a suitable
loan from the state, Kansas can sur
prise the world"
Edward Wilder, treasurer of the San
ia Fe, is in favor of the celebration
but he does not look with favor upon
the idea of an exposition anything like
that given at Omaha.
This worlds fair idea is overdone.' -
said Mr. Wilder "By the time the
Paris exposition is over with there
won't be much left in the exposition
line. But I heartily endorse the propo-
sitiOn to have some kind of a celebra-
tiOn in 1904 in COmmemOratiOn of the
fiftieth anniversary of Kansas 1 am
not much of a man for fire crackers or
pyrotechnics. but like noise of the
right kind. I should like to have
whole lot of music in connection with
the affair. My idea of the celebration
would be to erect a permanent building
in which the state could make a last
ing exhibit OF it's resources to show
visitors. I would not want to have
show of a few bundles of wheat and
some corn stalks, and wax apples, and
other things of that sort, left in the care
of some cOlored janitOr for the dust to
cover but something that could be kept
permanent, and in care of an enthus-
last who should devote all his time to
that work. Then let the opening of the
building in 1904 be the occasion for big
festival 7 would not want to under
take something too big, but a celebra-
ton that could be carried through sue
cessfully. It is better to do something
smaller and make huge success of it
than to attempt worlds fair and make
a huge failure
Henry Allen, private secretary, said:
"An exposition Of the right kind would
be grand thing for the state, if it
could be made a success. And it would
be success if the people of the state
and the newspapers were aroused to
take hold of it"
Major T. J. Anderson said: kansas
could get up a magnificent exposition.
/ would be in favor of getting the presi-
dent here and bringing up the president
of Mexico, and drawing on Texas and
the southwest for many of the features
The Santa Fe takes in all the territory
to the southwest clear to California and
down into Mexico. Get the governor
general of the Philippines, and Hawaii
and Cuba here, and show the advance
ment that will have been made in these
Islands since they came into the possess
sion Of the United States. 1t will be
great We can surprise the world if
we go at this thing and spend the next
five years working it up
Postmaster Guthrie: Il believe Kan
sas ought to celebrate her semi-cen-
tenniaI in some way, and an exposition
might be good way to so do it,
nDnTOOnc, UrC