The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-18
WORLDS FAIR APPROPRIATION

The present extraordinary session of
the legislature has got far enough away
from the simple program Of nothing but
tax legislation to make it incumbent upon
it to consider any emergency measure.
Such measure will be bill to appropri-
ate funds for the Louisiana Purchase Ex-
position. We presume that scarcely any
one will oppose the proposition that the
great state of Minnesota ought to be well
represented at this exposition.
1T is our exposition more than any of
it's predecessors, more than Buffalo or
Chicago. Minnesota is the third state In
the Louisiana purchase in point of popu7
lation and wealth. Missouri leads and
Iowa is second. Perhaps If we were to
leave out Of consideration that part Of the
state lying east of the Mississippi river,
which was part of the Northwest Ter
ritory, the state might not rank above
Kansas, but that would be mere bubble.
Minnesota is to be classed as Louisi-
ana purchase state. This fact Is so we'll
recognized that visitors to the st. Louis
exposition will naturally expect to see
the state adequately represented. To
have poor or hasty or incomplete ex-
hibit at st. Louis in 1903 will be to do the
state great injury. We must see to 1t
that the varied resources of the state and
it's great achievements in agriculture, in
dustry and commerce, as we'll as in edu-
cation and enlightenment, shall be so
presented to the millions who will visit
the exposition that the state will be ade-
Quately advertised. Other states will do
their part. If we do less than our wealth,
shall suffer by comparison and shall lose
rather than profit by what we do.
There has been much talk Of postponing
the exposition, and once it was an
nounced, without authority, that it would
be postponed, but there is now every rea-
son to believe that it will take place IN
the centennial year Of the purchase, 1908,
as originally planned. This brings us tic
considering the necessity Of action by the
present session Of the legislature. If an
appropriation is not made now it cannot
be made until year hence. Then We will
~
to erect a building; to rush exhibits to
st. Louis, to proceed with more dispatch
than order, and the same old program OF
opening up two or three months late. II
an appropriation be made now and com
missioners appointed at once, there vii
be time to draft symmetrical plan Of
representation, to apportion the appro'
priation carefully and effectively, to &C
| on with the work without that haste
| which makes waste. Then, when the ex-
| position opens, Minnesota will have its
| exhibits ready and they will be exhibits
| that will do credit to the brains Of tbs
state; to it's management and foresight
as we'll as to it's" progress, prosperity
| wealth and development.
| AS to the amount of the appropriation
| there is ground for considerable differences
of opinion. The delegation from st
Louis which is to visit Minneapolis to.
| morrow, is understood to be of a mind tt
ask for 5000, 000. Certainly such sun
| would give the state magnificent col
lection Of exhibits and the best advertise
ment it has ever had. While 1T is doubt
full whether the legislature can be pre-,
! vailed upon to give any such sum, L
J. u rn a l would strongly advise tina
the appropriation be not less than $780,,
| 900. At any rate the legislature should
| take favorable action upon the reques
for an appropriation at this session.