Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-02
WEST VIRGINIA DAY
Great Turnout at Jamestown
Exposition.
CORTELYOU MAKES SPEECH
Immense Crowd Around the Lee
Parade Ground.
SENATOR ELKINS PRESIDES
A Well Trained Chorus Of Two Hun
CORTELYOU MAKES SPEECH
SENATOR ELKINS PRESIDES
A Well Trained Chorus Of Two Hum
dred Children Sings Patriotic
songs-Reception by Dawson.

NORFOLK. Va, July "A great MILL
eary spectacle on the Lee Parade Grounds,
the dedication of the West Virginia coal
column, erected in front Of the West Vir-
sinla state building. showing the various
grades OF coal as mined in the little noun
tain state. and formal exercises In the
auditorium were the features Of the cele-
bration Of West Virginia day at the
jamestown exposition today.
Inc weather was clear and hot. The
exercises opened at IL am. with a mon
ster military parade. the line including
West Virginia, South Carolina, Kentucky
and New York state troops, together
with the entire federal forces now In
camp at the exposition. This was re-
viewed by Gov. Dawson Of West vir-
ginia. accompanied by a distinguished
party of West Virginians, Secretary Of
the Treasury Cortelyou, Gen. Fred D.
Grant and others. Brief speeches by Gov
Dawson and Secretary Cortelyou. who is
chairman Of the national jamestown COM
mission, occurred at the reviewing stand
Address by Secretary cortelyou.
Mr.. Cortelyou said:
4 am to speak at some length later in
the day, and so will at this time make only
brief acknowledgment of the courtesy ex-
tended to me by the representatives of
West Virginia. and gladly avail myself OF
this opportunity to assure Gov. Dawson
and his associates, as well as the many
citizens OF your great state who have come
here, OF my deep interest in your celebra-
ton, and of my desire to cooperate in
making 1t one of the most successful occa-
sions Of the kind arranged by the expo
sitiOn authorities.
The Jamestown exposition. while In
many features unlike its predecessors, is
like them in this respect, that there have
been at the outset some unfavorable COM
ment and some adverse criticism. Like all
great undertakings. it has had its initial
endorsements. and from time to time we
have heard from the critics. some at least
Of whom belong to the class of individuals
who believe that they must lend encourage
ment only to what is an achieved success
rather than to that which has in 1t the
elements of success.
I'VE have seen others of our expositions
pass through these stages. and we have
seen them develop into enterprises Of great
national and international worth.
But the pessimist Is always with us.
While we easily shake him of. he may dis
turb us for time. for he thrives on the
beginnings of great undertakings. He tells
us-and of course he always knows what he
is talking about-that this time the particu-
lar enterprise upon which he has set the
seal of his disapproval will be failure. or
at best an Indifferent success. Government
is not as he would have it. Administration
of the peoples affairs in the nation and in
the state would be mere childs play to
him. There would be honor and success
and sweetness and light If only everything
were done differently--that is to say. ac-
cording to his program. And expositions are
his particular aversion. Why. 1t Is not diff
cult to discover. They evidence progress.
and substantial progress in any line Of hui
man activity leaves him without text and
with rather poor material for respectable
audience. He would be woefully out of
place here today. for believe from what
have already seen. and the enthusiasm
manifested by the loyal people who are
coming here in increasing numbers, that
the country Is realizing that we can have
in this beautiful southland an exposition OF
unusual significance and of great CONNER
cial and educational value.
II am especially glad to join you in this
celebration both in my official and indi-
vidual capacity, and to have the opportu-
nifty Of greeting in the persons OF NAL Gen.
tives Of two of the other great depart
ments Of the government. The army and
the navy Of the United States are among
the agencies which make for national and
international peace. and they have the
hearty support of our people everywhere.
1 congratulate West Virginia upon her req
resentation here today In the persons of
Der governor and other state officials, as
well as her representatives In the National
Senate and House of Representatives.
Your presence shows not only your loyalty
to your state. but your faith in this expo
sition."
At the dedication Of the coal column.
which followed, ex-Gov McCorkle of West
Virginia presented the column. and the
acceptance was by President Harry st.
George Tucker OF the exposition company.
Gov. Dawson spoke again, and the princi-
pal address of the day. by Secretary Cor
telyou, concluded this feature.
The official West Virginia day exercises
in the auditorium occurred later in the
day, the program including United States
Senator Elkins as presiding officer, with
speeches by President Tucker Gov. Daw-
son Of West Virginia and Gov. Swanson Of
Virginia, interspersed with the rendition
by a children's chorus of 200 voices Of the
songs MY Country. 'Tis of Thee" Co
lumbia, the Gem of the Ocean," '"The West
Virginia Hills and Virginia, the Mother
of States"
From to T. m. Gov. Dawson will hold
reception in the West Virginia state
building in honor of Secretary Cortelyou
and other distinguished guests.