The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-18
Citizens of the Commonwealth Are
Taking a Lively Interest I'm LOUISE
ana Purchase Exposition.
WORK ON EDUCATION EXHIBIT
1T WILL BE ONE OF THE STATES
CHIEF ATTRACTIONS.
The Indiana Commissioner Attend
Banquet i'm st. LOuis-Men That
Represent Indiana.

One of the busiest departments that toll
early and late at the Statehouse these
autumn days is located on the second floor
on the west side OF the building. 1t oc-
cupies the big. luxurious apartment that
the State set aside for the Lieutenant Gov
ernor. 1t is the Louisiana Purchase Ex-
position Commission of Indiana. It's bust
ness is to see that the Hoosier State is
st. Louis next year.
1.-THE people of the State are taking a
lively interest in this matter" remarked
A. C. Alexander, assistant secretary of the
commission, looking up from pile of letters
and newspapers on his desk, an accumula-
ton of mail sufficiently large to make one
suspect half the people in every county in
the State had written a letter to the COM
mission that day. i've been away a
day over at ST. Louis at meeting of the
commission and here's the result Of day
away from the desk"
Early and late, day after day, the work
in this department goes on, for the secre-
taries and clerks realize that there is not
mich time in which to prepare the things
that will do the State proud. Clicking type
writer's that never seem to be idle prepare
hundreds of letters daily in reference to the
exhibit. Everybody in the State is sup
posed to be interested-the banker, the
merchant, the mechanic and the carpenter,
and it is the plan of the commission to
keep in close touch with every branch of
industry from now until the gates of the
great exposition swing open to the public.
General Harrison once said, indianapolis
ic cit Had fn hat
distinguished man he might as readily
have said, Indiana is no mean State"
and it is on this theory that every man
and woman connected with this commission
in any capacity is working.
REPRESENTATIVE MEN.
The commission is composed CT a repre-
sentative man from each congressional dis
trict and two at large. Lieutenant Gov
ernor Gilbert is president of the commits
sion. He has been taking an active interest
in the work, but for the last few days has
been confined to his room in a sanatorium
at Battle Creek. The vice president is
Henry w. Marshall, of Lafayette. j. w.
Cockrum, of Oakland City, is secretary. A.
c. Alexander of Marion, is the assistant
secretary and is in active charge of the
office The commission has subcommittee
which keep themselves in touch with every
industry in the State In addition there are
a force of men known county agents,
whose duty it is to assemble exhibits from
their. county. They will have charge of
these exhibits and will be held responsible
for them until they are put in charge of
the commission here in this city.
One of the chief features that will attract
people to what Indiana has to show at the
worlds fair will be it's education exhibit.
F. A. Cotton, state superintendent, has
charge of this department, and is in COM
munication with every county and school
superintendent in the State. Every school
pupil in Indiana has an opportunity of
making himself famous at the exposition,
for 1t is the plan to exhibit everything &C
complished by schoolchildren in a meritori-
Gus way. Every city and county school has
a chance to be represented. Every new
idea and system employed in carrying on
the public schools Of the State will be given
publicity at the fair. A feature of the edu-
cational exhibit will be reproduction of
the old "deestrict school," 1t will be the
purpose to reproduce school Of the kind
described in the ''Hoosier School Master"
The comparison between the old Indiana
ScnOOl ana the one Oh To-Day Will undouDt-
eddy be marked.
LIBRARY DISPLAY.
Another important feature of the Indiana
exhibit will be the library display, which is
being arranged by w. E. Henry state Ii
brarian. While Indiana has no intention of
entering into a competitive exhibit with
other States in the way of literature, it is
the plan to display the work Of some of the
States best writer's. The committee on
literature and fine arts has this matter in
charge.
The women of Indiana are not to be in the
background at the exposition. On the con-
trary they are to be given every oppor-
tunity of show how clever they are. They
will be asked to contribute specimens of
needlework, china painting, etc., the work
of gathering this exhibit being in charge
of Mrs. w. L. Bergman, of Upton. Mrs.
William Coleman, of this city, is a mem
Der of the national body that has charge
of the exposition. There are no women
members of the Indiana commission.
One of Indiana's great natural resources is
her building stone, and this will be given
much prominence at the exposition. Another
of the States great industries is the mining
of coal, and this, too, will be prominently
displayed. Gibson county has promised ia
come to the front with a monument OF
coal eleven feet high. 1t will be taken out
of the mine in one solid piece.
The Indiana farmer this year declares
that corn is king, and taking the farmer
at his word the commission has decided to
make a special corn exhibit. Clore e. Over
street, corn growers OF Johnson county,
have been employed to arrange the corn
exhibit. Different suggestions as to the
style of this exhibit have been made. One
man presented the idea of reproducing the
soldiers and sailors monument, in min
iature size in corn. Another suggested that
a log cabin be constructed of corn.
ATTENDED A BANQUET.
Last week the Indiana commission held a
meeting at St. Louis. and the members were
guests at banquet given by the Indiana
Society of that city. In fact. two meetings
We're held. one in the morning at the Plant
ers' Hotel, and the other in the afternoon
In the Indiana building. which is now rap
idly assuming attractive proportions. The
commission was presented to President
Francis, of the exposition enterprise, who
was very gracious in his manner of receiv.
ing the Indianians. He addressed them
briefly complimenting the commission on