The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-06-19
virginia's Appeal.

. d i T. Is 4
10 the yirginlan who visits the st. T.ouli
Exposition two things are apparent
Nirgnia's magnificent Industrial exhibit
In the great show palaces and the III.
Significant part she Is playing In the
role most Of all suited to her ten1peral--
lnent and her reputation, that OF host
and entertainer. k
At the opening Of tho exposition OF,
April soth, attention was first directed by
a stan correspondent Of The Times D.
patch to this anomaly, the cause OF 1t
pointed out, and q remedy suggested. Re-
turning visitors nre enthusiastic over the
exposition and over virginia's industrial
exhibit, but express themselves as being
ashamed OF the internal appearance Of
our state building. which Is meagrely
furnished, unacceptable, and utterly lack
ing In those comforts which every visitor
would naturally expect to find.
The General Assembly Of Virginia orig
inally appropriated $4,000 for q state
Industrial exhibit at the exposition This
was afterwards supplemented BY $4,000
for n State building a portion Of which
was made up by popular subscription "A
commission was appointed to prepare
a suitable exhibit and the work was be-
gun IN good earnest. 1t was with the COM
mlssioners labor Of love and the
money appropriated was disbursed as
a sacred trust fund. Not one OF the COM
missloners, save the superintendent re-
ceived n cent of pay for his work, and
several OF them bore their own travel
ing expenses in order thatno part Of the
appropriation might be diverted from Its
main purpose Other States were expefld-
ing large sums in entertainment, but tho
virginia commissioners resisted all such
temptations. The result of their. thrift
and economy and good business manage
ment Is shown lii the exhibit which In
point Of scope and excellence compares
favorably with that Of any other State.
THE commissioners OF some States who
had five times as much money at their
command do not make @ better display.
But the sum appropriated for the re-
production of Monticello was utterly In
adequate, and while there was no waste
OF money, while every dollar was expend-
ed to the best advantage, the building
as furnished is a discredt to the State,
and Virginia cannot afford to let 1t re-.
main as It Is. The commissioners are
In no sense to blame. They have done
49, <bot 11}t1,
In hand, and they can do nothing more
unless and until they receive more money
for the purpose The Virginia building
should be handsomely furnished and put
in shlp-shape for the Virginia day cele-
ktation. when the Governor and hundreds
Z OF representatives from the State will
be present to take part In the ceebra-
ton. TO this end the sum Of $4,000 Is
needed. and 1t should be Forthcoming at
the earliest possible moment This sum Is
glnla to- contribute, and 1t ought to be
raised within the next week. We have
gone too far and we have too much at
stake not to supply the balance now
needful to make our exnlpit a complete
success. 1t Is call upon our State pride,
upon our State love. and Virginia has
never made such a call upon her sons
and daughters In vain. Let this call be
no exception to the rule. Let us contri-
but this money. not grudgngly, but
cheerfuly, as a gift Of affection. and let
us give it MS promptly as the urgency
OF the OCCASION demands.
The Times-Dispatch will gladly cons
tribute Its share. and receive contrlbu-
lions from others.
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