The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-21
ALABAMA AT ST. LOUIS.

The Lewis and Clarke Exposition to be held in St. Louis in 1904. will afford to the States of the Union a splendid opportun- ity to make known to the world their na- turai and artificial advantages, and 1t will not do for Alabama to be left be- hind. Many of the States have already made liberal appropriations. and when our Legislature meets in January, the subject will come up for action. True, the occasion is some time ahead, but as we are not likely to have another sss- sion before the time for the Exposition to open, it will devolve on the members lately elected to make such appropria- tions and regulations as will set our State and its resources fairly before the world.
 The Advertiser will not undertake to recommend the sum which should be pro- vided to make a suitable display. That must be decided after full reflection and discussion, and must largely depend on the ability of the State to spare the money. One thing we will say unre- SrTNcuiyp hJNcNSLs lildl IS thdI WS had rather Alabama had no display at all than for it to be of such contracted and niggsrdly proportions as to be dis credit to our great State. It is well known that our exhibit at Buffalo was not at all creditable, and that the lack of room and means was the drawback. If we go to St. Louis as a competitor of other States and other sections, we must have such space as will afford ample room for a full display, and money to pay for 1t. Whether the Legislature shall decide to appropriate a large or small amount is to be decided when it meets, but We repeat that it will be better to have no display or exhibit at all than to have one which, in the language of the day. will make Alabama Hook like thirty a skinny exhibition.
 We know the argument is already be- ing made that Alabama, as a State, has nothing to exhibit, and that money spent for that purpose will be spent for the benefit of individuals and corporations who will be exploiting their own claims, but that is an illiberal way of reasoning With equal propriety. we can say that the State has nothing to offer immigrants. yet it will certainly not be contended that we offer no inducements to immi- grafton, or that the State is not benefited by it.
 As general rule, the most desirable class of settlers will go to a region which offers the most and greatest induce ments. If we had nothing to offer home seekers but land to grow cotton on, we should add but little to our population, and so it would be as to any other single inducement, but we can offer such a variety and extent as will be a surprise to strangers. A full. complete and we'll assorted display of our mineral, agricul- tural and timber resources will open the eyes and attract the attention of stran- gers as nothing else would. IT to such display is added plenty of the right kind of literature, the result cannot be other wise than good.
 There is room in Alabama for a large number of good people in addition to those we now have. Whether they come here to purchase farms and become agri- culturists, or invest their money in min ing and manufacturing. either will add to the population and to the taxable property of the State, and thus Alabama will be benefited by increase of popula- tion and by the increase in values.
 It may be that the Legislature when 1t assemblies, and all the conditions are discussed, will find it prudent to appro- priate as much as $5O,OOO. and 1t may be less, but the amount set apart should be adequate to enable us to have cred itable exhibit. We should have ample space to show what we have and are, and what we offer as inducements to others. Alabama is a great State and can make such an exhibition as few other States can if a spirit of parsimony doesn't con troI her actions.