The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-04-27
OPPOSES.
Doesn't Want Money Appropriated for
Expeditions.

Washington, April Representa-
tive J. D. Bowersock is opposed to the
expenditure of the governments
money in behalf of the jamestown ex-
position to be held in Virginia next
year TO commemorate the three hun
dredth anniversary of the settlement in
America.
Mr. Bowersock's objections come
with considerable force since he is a
member of the committee on Industrial
arts and expOsitions of the house Of
representative
The objections to governmental aid
to expOsitions generally on the part of
the Second district representative ex-
tend even so far as the proposed Semi
centennial exposition to be held in To-
peka in 1911 to commemorate the nrst
fifty years Of Kansas as a state. How
ever. as Mr.. BoWersock smilingly says,
@I shall not then be in congress-
Mr.. BOwersock believes the principle
to be wrong. He says that it is not
just and proper for congress to vote
away millions with such frequency in
behalf Of every exposition that comes
along 1t IS getting to be too much Of
a drain on the treasury he thinks. Be
sides, he does not believe that the re-
turn amounts to much. There is Occa-
sion, he stated today. to the State Jour
nal about every quarter of century,
perhaps. for some big exposition, ma
1919 $500
it may be all right for congress to vote
some aid; but as for every ''jim-crow
exposition that comes along-nOt for
Mr.. BOwersock.
Talking about the matter, he said.
why, here is Kahn of California
representative from San Francisco
who wants US to give four million dol
lars for a proposed exposition in his
city to comm emorate the discovery Of
the Pacific ocean
Here is the jamestown project. IN
1920, there viii be the exposition to
commemorate the settlement at Ply
mouth Rock. Nobody pretends to
know how many viii intervene between
now and that year.
we just got through with a bunch
of expositions, and in every case 1t re-
suited disastrously to the government.
Just think Of the number since the
Worlds Columbian exposition at Chi
cagO, which was all right. I may add.
There was the Cotton States exposition
at Atlanta. right on the heels of Chi
cage. Then there was the Transnissis-
sippi at Omaha Next came the Pan
American at Buffalo, Then there was
the Midwinter at San Francisco, or did
that come in earlier2 Another was tie
Charleston exposition; and following
closely on that was the Louisiana Pur-
chase exposition at St Louis Last year
was the Lewis and Clark exposition ct
Portland Now comes jamestown; after
that the Pacific Ocean exposition-such
a listl
Il take the stand that after a while
every state fair viii be coming to con-
gress for aid.
Uncle Joe Cannon. the speaker Of
the house. GOES farther even. He says
It VIII not be long until every county
fair in the country win expect an ap-
propriation"
AS for the Topeka exposition, planned
for 1911 Mr.. Bowersock says he does
not wish It to be understood that he is
antagonistic. Far from it. he is heartily
an favor of the exposition. He will help
20 make it a success. But he thinks
the state should do the work; not ask
congress to help
Mr.. Bowersock evidently does not be-
neve with the late President Mckinley
Tt was he who. on the day he met death
at the Pan-American at Buffalo, com
menced one Of his best speeches with
these words:
'Expositions are the tinekeepers of
progress"
Anyway, the Second district represen-
tative has no use for congressional aid
and support to every exposition that
happens along.