The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1909-10-14
(By Col. John T.. Day.

IN presenting the matter to the
Last June while engaged in pen
ming some reflections on the forty
sixth anniversary Of the birth of
West Virginia it suddenly occurred
20 me that in four years this State
would be fifty years of age, and that
1t would be eminently proper to en-
phasiZe half century Of existence
with celebration Of that event in
q manner worthy Of it's Importance
II any credit Is attached to the sug-
5estion l made Of this celebration
through the columns Of tho newspa-
per / am connected with, it lies
wholly with the early agitation of
the subject obtained through the
publicity given it.
1t is more than likely as the event
was almost upon us many Of you
would have been struck with the
propriety Of its observance, but at
time too short to properly prepare
or an adequate celebration. So 7
contend, that the main merit is con
lined to the ample time VIC have for
preparedness. We will find that
three years is little enough time to
arrange for an exhibition and an ex-
plo1tat1on Of the resources and pro-
Sress or West Virginia, for it is 60
ing TO take d tremendous amount Of
nard work to successfully carry this
project through. What We want to
10 is to get at it, and keep everlast-
lngly at it if we expect to accom-
plish anything worth while. To do
ihings on time we must begin in
lime. This observation is made i'm
pressive when we remember that
he great Columbian worlds fair
was held in 1898 instead Of 1892,
Or in spite of the enormous energy
engaged in that work it was impos-
s1ble to open the gates at the time
| set; and, when they were opened,
one year later, the exhibition was
not complete in all it's Details A
more recent instance. of unprepared-
ness was the chaotic state Of affairs
at the Jamestown exposition. If the
State Is. to be properly represented
III this celebration it will fall to the
OF of the legislature of 1911 to
make some adequate provision for
such representation, and settle other
| matters Of detail, and, as the meet
ng of that body is but fifteen
| months in the future, we have but
short breathing spell to decide on
ust exactly what we want, and how
| wv Wv W t3SI 1I' udI l6SlSldCuT9
promises to be a very busy one, and
among the distractions, will. be the
| redistricting Of the State for legis-
| latiVe and congressional purposes,
| and the election of a United States
! senator, and it behooves us to pro-
vide for some method of obtaining
| early recognition of the importance
IT the semi-centennial, and prompt
action before it is lost in the politi-
cal shuttle.
And now comes the question. who
| is to organize and direct this activ-
lty At present the proposition
stands out as beautiful thought
clothed with an attractive and com
peling sentiment, but we are not
going to accomplish anything by sit
| ting down and admiring it, and spec
ulating on the magnificent possible.
| lies it contains. You may build a
steam engine and spend your life
admiring the beauty Of its outlines
nnd thinking Of the machinery it is
| capable Of driving, but 1t will remain
absolutely useless until some force
s applied to set it in motion. That
is the condition of. the semi-centen-
nial celebration. 1t is awaiting the
force, the power and the energy to
1rive it to a elimination, and 1 know
Of nowhere to look for these NOV
ing and driving factors than in the
West Virginia Board Of Trade, as
this project surely comes within the