Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-03-29
FAIR FOR ALL STATES
Project For Permanent ExpoSt'
ton In New York City.
TO UPHOLD STATEHOOD IDEA

Vast Building to Cost S14,oo0,ooo Pro-
posed-Congress and Each Common
wealth to Provide Funds-State So
cieties In the Metropolis Interested.
A permanent national fair to contain
exhibits from every state in the Union
and to be housed in Sli,0OO,OOO build
ing In New York city is being planned
by some of the state societies having
headquarters here, says the New York
Times. The plan includes cOntinu-
Gus exposition, comprising the best
features of worlds fairs of the past,
and also luxurious clubroomS for The
state societies.
Congress at the next session will be
asked to appropriate $J,OO0,G0O toward
this enterprise, and each of the state
legislatures Will be asked for 100000.
The leaders i'll the movement, which
began in the Michigan society, say
they have already been assured by
many members Of congress and by scy-
eral state legislatures of support for
their plan, and they believe they can
carry it through
The members of the Michigan society
who planned the scheme took il to the
executive committees of several other
state societies for approval. The plan
was heartily received. and the NiChi-
gan men We're assured of the backing
OF the other societies. An interstate
organization is being formed which
will take charge of the movement
Robert G. Aud of ITO Broadway.
New York, member of the Michigan
society. is one of the most enthusiastic
of the advocates of the plan. He says:
THE building we propose to erect
Will be without a parallel in the world.
1t Is premature to give ont details ut
this time. for many things must he ac-
cOmplished, but it is only matter of
time when the project wi he in full
swing. By-neXt autumn We shall prob
ably be able to announce the site of
the building and the time when con
struction will begin. OF course there is
no question that we will be able to
raise the necessary S11OCOGUO
The building will not only serve the
practical business interests Of the
states. but it will at the same time he
an enduring monument to the idea of
statehood as conceived by the trainers
of the constitution. once it is com
pleted. no American citizen will die
content without seeing it. 1t will ad-
veTtise the existence of our common
wealths. too often forgotten. beyond
the metropolitan limit"
Ralph Folks. another of the promot-
ers. expressed the opinion that it was
time the idea of statehood should be
emphasized. The building to be erect
ed. he said. would do thar. and in adj
ditiOn it would be Il distinct business
asset to the city.
Backers of the project have laid
down as n prOviSO to insure their par
ticipation in the plan that it shall have
the full backing OF the federal govern
ment and that congress shall regulate
its operation and maintenance
AS to getting money for the project
from the states it is argued that if a
state can give 100000. the average ap.
preparation for the erection of Il state
building at a temporary fair which is
forgotten in "A few months. there is nc
reason why a similar sum should not
be expended for the perpctuation of the
pride of each state. In the aggregate
the 100000 to be derived from state
grants, it is argued, would be sufficient
to guarantee. the stability of the en-
terprise.
William J. WOrden OF Michigan is
the father OF the project. 1t was dis
cussed briefly at a recent dinner OF
the Michigan society in New York