The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-09
Afternoon Session.

?. m.
 Afternoon Session.
 The Commission reconvened at D. m President Poole presiding.
 The committee appointed to wait on the Governor and ascertain his views as to the possibility of the State making an appropriation for the aid of an exhibit at the Worlds Fair, reported.
 MT. Gibson made the report that the committee had seen the Governor and he had said that he would approve d bill giving Sl0.000 for the purpose of an exhibit and would give all moral sup terprise.
 Mir. Gilbert asked Mir. Gibson what he thought or the plan prepared for raising money by subscription.
 With some hesitation MT. Gibson said he seriously thought the Commission might raise si5ooo by tine plan and with the s1o0o0 from the State there would be $25,000. and very creditable exhibit might be made fin some departments. and it would be better to have a full and good exhibit in some departments than. a discreditable exhibit in all.
 MT. Wilson said he thought the Com mission could raise from sSO000 to s40,00o bS push and hard work. They would to the patriotism and generosity of the people he thought the necessary money could be raised.
 Mir. Poole said there was no division
 
 desirabiity of an exhibit at St. Louis, but he did not take as roseate view of the matter as MT. Wilson If the effort was made to raise the money and it failed he was afraid it would put the Commission in bad odor. He thought it would take a great deal of money to make such an exhibit as ought to be made. The State had spent for the ex- hibit at Buffalo between S5.0O and S7,000, but the State cannot afford to go to St. Louis for less than $25,0O0.
 And" MT. Poole added, eff we can't get that amount we'd better stay at home"
 An appropriation by the Legislature he said, was as uncertain as raising the money by the plan proposed. He thought a failure to raise the money would kill ing. He proposed that if a. sufficient amount was not raised it might be given to the Old Soldiers Home.
 MT. Henderson. of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad Land Department rho was present said he did not think the Com mission ought 10 put any string to it's plan. but that they ought tc go in to get what was wanted He knew that 1t was going to take a great deal of money.
 If you can secure the $10,000 from the State and aid from the Agricultural De- partment," said MT. Henderson. "enough money might be raised by an appeal to the people. A great many people are in favor of an exhibit and every Alabamian who goes to St. Louis will be disappoint-
  from his State.
 If he was in the mineral district. Mir. Henderson said. he would not want any advertising or care to let other people others to compete with their plants. but the people want all to come to Alabama who will and it Is Alabama's interest to let the world know what it has here.
 MT. Henderson said he wanted an ex- hibit in any way that the money could be raised. He could not be convinced that Alabama Is poor State by any means. He thought MT. Wilson was a asked him If he was willing to undertake it.
 MT. Wilson said that if it was gone into there must be no idea of failure. but 1t must have the earnest and jealous CO., operation and support of the members of the Commission. He had made an esti- mate on the cost of raising s50.0o0 as fol- lows: Commission 5000; printing. travelling expenses and the like s5,5OO. which would be $10,500. The newspape would be liberal and very reasonable in their charges, but they would have to be depended on to do the best part of the work end they could be depended upon to do their part in every particular. The day of the canvass could be thoroughly and systematically brought to the atten- tion of the people.
 Mir. Rice said that proper organization could not be had without a great deal of assistance. It would take one man at least week in each county to properly organize and bring the matter fairly be- fore the people. It would take at least thirty men sixty days to do the work and there would be a great deal of expense in the preliminary work.
 After much additional discussion of the plan and explanations on the part of Mr. Wilson. as to the practical workings of his proposition MT. Craighead suggested that to put the matter before the public the expenses of those engaged in doing khnf TAa1e 6s amount to 5000. He thought the Com mission should raise that amount of money to start with.
 MT. German, of Opelika, said he thought the money ought to come out of the agricultural fund.
 MT. Poole said the Agricultural De- partment had the money if the Governor would authorize the expenditure in that way.
 MT. Poole asked Mir Wilson to make some suggestion as to the beginning as 1t was generally understood that he would be entrusted with the work.
 MT. Wilson said he was willing to do as much as any one or give as much of his time as any one else, but he would have to have money to pay his actual expenses.
 MT. Craighead moved that a committee of three be appointed to see the Cover nor and ask that the Commissioner of Agriculture expend out of his monthly | allowance an amount sufficient for the purpose Of expenses of carrying on the I work.
 MT. Wilson suggested the adoption of the plan trst and then to ask the Gov | ernor to make the expenditure from the | Agricultural Department.
 MT. Craighead moved to adopt the plan l and ask the Governor to make the al- 1 lowance for the expenditure.
 On putting the motion the vote was in | doubt and a rising vote was called for | The motion was lost by vote of to g. | Messrs. Craighead. Gibson and Lay Xot- l ing aye and Messrs. Falkner, Estes, ]Gor- | man and Gilbert voting nay.
 A resolution was then offered by MT. | Craighead, in which the Commission of- | Tered to resign the duty imposed upon it. |
 Mir Lay said he did not see any ad- 1 vantage to be gained by such action He did not think any one had any real grievance against the Governor or any one else. He knew that any member of the Commission would gladly do all in his power to help along an exhibit and h. hoped the resolution would not be adopted. The State administration, he said. was facing new conditions and the Commission had better hold on and per- haps something might yet be done.
 Captain Falkner asked if the resolu- l