The Washington herald., 1907-07-03
WEST VIRGINIA'S DAY
Secretary COrtelyOu Orator
at the Exposition.
HE CONDEMNS ITS CRITICS
Slow Progress I'm the Beginning the
Rule with Worlds Fairs, He De-
clares, and Not Peculiar to the
jamestown show-Praises the State
and Touches on National Issues.
Special to rhs Washington Herald

Special 10 Ths Washington Hsraid
jamestown Exposition. Va. July q
George B. Cortelyou, Secretary of the
Treasury. made the principal address
George b. Cortelyou. Secretary Of the
great column OF coal, 123s feet high,
erected by the State Of West Virginia.
Gov. Dawson. the States representative
In the National Senate and House. and
many other public officials attended the
celebration
After speaking In terms Of highest
praise Of the progress made by West
Virginia along the lines Of industry and
commerce. the secretary, touching upon
national topics. said:
our people continue prosperous. We,
Of course, have our occasional setbacks,
and quite recently have had some rather
sharp reminders that wrong-doing and
improvidence and imitation have an in
evitable result-disaster in greater or less
degree. The readjustment Of values In
certain lines OF trade, whether OF securI-
ties OF other holdings. will prove a bles-
sing II restricted within reasonable
bounds but it must be understood that
the American people are alive 70 their
rights and privileges, and however much
opinions may differ as 20 policies ard
methods in securing honest government.
clear politics and straightforward busI-
ness, this much is certain-the people Will
have those things. and they viii make
short shrift Of any man in public life
whose career points in a hostile direction.
while there are some disquieting
features in the business world, the out
look Is growing steadily brighter, and If
we but keep our heads, and approach
our State and national problems with
courage and common sense. We shall
have in the future. a prosperity not only
material but moral. greater even than
that which has made memorable our
recent past"
Condemns the Pcssimists.
In a short talk at the parade ground.
preceding his official address. Mr. Cortel-
you severely condemned those critics who
have endeavored 70 describe the exposl-
ton He said
THE jamestown Exposition, while IN
many features unlike its predecessors Is
ike them in this respect that there have
been at the outset some uufavorabIe com
ment and some adverse criticism Like
an great undertakings. Il has had It's
initial embarrassments. and from time %
time We have heard from the critics. some
at least OF whom belong % the class OF
individuals who believe that they must
lend encouragement only 20 what is an
achieved success rather than 20 that
which has IN IL the elements Of success.
We have seen others Of our oxpositions
pass through these stages. and we have
seem them develop into enterprises OF
great national and international worth.
"But the possimist Is always with us.
While we easily shake him OF. he may
disturb IS for a time for he thTives on the
beginning Of great undertakings. and ex-
positions are his particular aversion. They
evidence progress. and substantial prog
ress In any line Of human activity leaves
him without q text and with rather poor
material for a respectable audience. He
would be wocfully out of place here to-
day. for I believe from what I have al
ready 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 un-
usual significance and Of great corgmercial
and educational value.
Your presence shows not only your
loyalty 10 your State. but your faith in
this exposition"