The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-02-12
SOUTH CAROLINA
EXPOSITION

| EAROS1TlON
The State officials and the Leeis
1ature Give 1t New Name.
Mr.. A. M. Carpenter, special cor
respondent of The State, writes as fol
lows in regard to the visit of the Legs
lature to Charleston lastsweek:
Proclaim it to all the world. 1t shal
be DO longer known in the prints ol
any newspaper, or upon the lips of AN,
man, as the Charleston Exposition
From tonight until it closes 1t shall be
known as the South Carolina EXPOSE
tion. For today the peoplegof South
Carolina, through their representatives
in the General Assembly, came to
Charleston, inspected the Exposition
and claimed it as their own. Claimed
IL as their own with pride and love, for
this Is really AID truly magnificent
Exposition-an exposition of the re.
sources of South Carolina and her chief
city, old Charleston. This afternoon
aud tonight have talked with scores
of members of the Legislature, and with
unity they have sad: "Thisis big
ger, grander, more beautiful Exposl-
tion than L had dreamed of. Why
haven't we been told beforehand what
TO expect? 2" This is the unanimous
verdict of every member of the Legis.
lature who came here today.
1t was happy thought on the part
of The Exposition company and the
people of Charleston TO invite the
Legislature to visit the Exposition in a
body, and an equally happy inspiration
on the part of the Legislature to ac-
cept the invitation. For the people,
or their representatives at least, have
seen the splendid Exposition here open
to the public: have seen how wisely
expended was the appropriation of
$4,000 to aid the Exposition, and
having seen this the greatest good to
all the State will follow.
Every member of the Legislature
who has been here today, whether his
home is in Oconee, or Spartanburg, or
Richland, or Orangeburg, or Marion,
or Georgetown, or Beaufort, or Char
lesion, or any other county, has been
filed with enthusiasm and State pride
at the beauty and splendor and excel
lence of the Exposition. The grounds
are magnificent, the buildings are
beautiful-and above all, and best of
all, the exhibits are numerous, varied
complete, comprehensive, splendid. A
report has spread over the State that
the exhibits have not all been placed
in position, but this is no longer the
case. The exhibits are all here, the
Exposition is all complete, and as
stated at the outset, it is no longer the
Charleston Exposition, but the South
Carolina EXpositson.
Practically all the members of the
Legislature came to Charleston today.
There were 81 out of the DO Senators
and 81 out of the 120 Representatives.
Besides there was tie Governor, most
of the State officers, practically all the
employees and attaches of the General
Assembly, and number of distinguish
ed citizens Of the State. There were a
number of ladies in the party and In
all there were between 500 and 600
persons on the legislative special.
The trip down from Columbia was a
pleasant one, and there was nothing to
mar the pleasure of the occasion, al
though The train was more than an
hour behind the scheduled time. 1t
was l O'Clock when Charleston was
reached.
The train was carried direct to the
Exposition grounds, where the welcom-
ing exercises were held. President f.
w. Wagner, of the Exposition com
pany, called the assemblage to order
and intre duced the speakers.
The iilst speaker introduced was
State Senator Jos. w. Barnwell, VIII
welcomed the visitors to the city AM,
to the Exposition in particularly
earnest manner. lie sad he felt that
the people of the State would feel more
pride and sympathy in Charleston and
the Exposition after they had seen the
Exposition, and said the people OF
Charleston felt a great deal of p, ide
In having the members of the General
Assembly as their guests. lie SAID he
felt that their coming marked a new
era in affairs in the State; that there
would be no more arrangements be.
tween The people Of the sections of the
State.
Lieut.. Gov. Tillman was intro lucet
and made brief but graceful response
TO the address of welcome. He sale
III behalf of the General Assembl,
hat 1t was a great pleasure 10 visi
Charleston and the Exposition at thi,
time and under the present auspices
1t is matter of surprise to see what ,
splendid Exposition that Charlestonha,
wrought with such small amount O
money at her disposal. Rut the who'll
State feels q pride in it, he said, an,
we feel that tits our Exposition as wei
as yours.
| Speaker w. f. Stevenson was the
introduced and responded on behalf @
the members of the House of Repre-
sentatives. The magnitude and bea,
tu nf tho EvNna;t;o,xs;a -. = ...-..-..