The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-08-30
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DEPENDENT ON CHARITY,

DEPENDENT ON CHARITY.
Uuless private aid is Forthcoming
Montana, n of the sfcliest of the
states carved out of the LOU ,iana
purchase, will have no representation
at the st. Louis exposition next yea
which has been especially arranged
to celebrate the centennial of the II
chase. The reason for this is that
the legislature last winter failed to
make an appropriation for the states
participation in the event. The man
ayers of the exposition are particu-
larly anxious to secure the Treasure
states cooperation in order to assure
the complete success of the big fair
and to that end have addressed a
letter to Governor Toole asking him
to appoint the states exposition COM
mission at an early date so that a
representative of the exposition may
meet the chairman of the commission
as soon as possible.
In reply to the letter the governor
was compelled to give the facts as
they exist and expressed his regret
at his inability to appoint a commits
sion, for the reason that no arrange
ment had been made by the legisla
lure for the appointment of such a
body. He assured the managers, how
ever. that the state took a lively in
~terest in the great undertaking a,ia
promised to give the matters suggested
in their letter early attention He also
assured them that he hoped to be able
through the generosity of the citizens
or otherwise, to devise some means by
which the important preliminary work
III connection with the states repre-
%sentation could be inaugurated at an
ea rly date upon such lines as will Prob
ably meet the approval of the next
legislature.
AS the legislature Upon which the
governor must rely does not meet until
in January Of the year in which the
exposition will be held it will be seen
that he has agreed to undertake a job
more or less difficult. Here is an op-
portunity of a life time for some of
the many wealthy men of the state to
show their loyalty and regard for the
commonwealth in which they have
amassed the fortunes which have
made them famous, by coming for
ward and advancing the money need
ed. 1t would be but little short of
disgraceful were Montana alone of all
the states included in the Louisiana
purchase not to be represented. The
failure of the legislature to make
provisions for participation was a sad
mistake and those responsible for it
are now no doubt beginning to realize
that the joke which they thought was
so exceedingly funny at the time of
its preparation is not nearly SO funny
as it then seemed. Through the work
of these legislative humorists the gov
ernor of a great state now finds him
self in the humi1iating position of be-
ing an applicant for charity, in that
he must make appeal to private pur-
ses for the accomplishment of an OBJ
ject that is strictly a public affair, and
trust to the moods of a coming legis-
lature for relief for those who may
respond to his call. 1t is to the great
credit of his excellency that he is will
ing to undertake the thankless and diff
icult task of appealing to private gen.
crosby to help the state and it is to be
hoped that those to whom he may ap-
peal will manifest the same loyalty
and patriotism that prompts him in
the effort he has assumed and respond
promptly and literally. The people of
the state want it represented and if
their wishes are respected the coming
legislature will not fail to reimburse
those who may advance the much
needed assistance at the present time
and also make ample provisions for
continuing the. work the governor
hopes to be able to accomplish through
the aid of those upon whom he must
rely for the necessary funds to inaug-
urate the preliminaries.
..Hra-. ..-r.r.