The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-11-05
ABOUT THAT EXHIBIT.

w ~~s
sn extra session Of the Legislature
2:u a large number Of the members
Of that body on record as willing Il
attend without cost to the state, Il
would now seem that nothing exists
to prevent speedy action In the mat
ter of legislative enactment for Mon
tana's representation at the Louisiana
Purchase exposition. AS stated, how
ever. by the governor to The Gazette
a few days ago, his excellency Is not
inclined to act hurriedly, preferrine
to take his time and ascertain the
wishes Of the people in regard to the
question. While personally favorable
to an exhibit, the governor desires
to defer his wishes to those Of the
people Of the state. II he becomes
convinced that a majority Of the peo'
pie really want an exhibit and that 1t
shall be made at the expense Of the
commonwealth, he will call the legis.
lature in extraordinary session with
a recommendation that it pass a bill
apropriating a suitable sum ofNmoney
for that purpose.
While not wishing to be understood
as assuming to speak for every per-
son in the county. The Gazette feels
safe in asserting that a large majority,
If not all the people Of Yellowstone
county are in favor of making an ex-
dustries, believing that it a but be
resultant of much good, as 1t will adj
yertaise the wonderful our and
natural wealth of Montana as 1t could
not well be done in any other n
Judging from the expressions contain
ed in other newspapers Of the state
the same feeling exists elsewhere.
Just now The Gazette is unable to re-
call a single paper that has expressed
itself as adverse to the proposition
and as the newspapers may be relied
upon as voicing the sentiments Of
the communities in which they are
published it would seem that so far
as can be judged there is practically
a unanimity of sentiment on the ques.
ton and all favorable. If the gov
ernor becomes satisfied Of this he
will no doubt call the session and the
apprehension which has existed in
SO many directions that Montana
alone Of all the states included in the
purchase will not have representation
at the exposition will give way to a
welcome certainty that such Is NOT
to be the case. .
In this connection The Gazette
again feels called upon to urge mod
Grafton and due observance Of the
states ability in the matter of bearing
the expense which such an exhibit
would entail. This paper Is on rec
ord as opposed to the expenditure of
SO large a sum as some of those whose
opinions have found their way into
print have seer fit to advocate. As
The Gazette has remarked on several
occasions, it canot understand the ne.
cessity for an appropriation Of $780,.
900, believing that amount to be en-
tirely beyond the actual requirements
involved. Half that sum will, In the
opinion of this newspaper, be found
to be ample to make a complete and
creditable display of everything we
may wish to show. beside leaving a
sufficient margin for the erection of
a state building and also to defray
the incidental expenses. While heart.
lily in favor of an exhibit, The Ga.
zette does not believe that the occa-
sion is n that will justify the reck-
less and needless expenditure Of the
public money.