The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1909-10-14
THE. STATES SE|nECE|lIENN|AL
\ CELEBRATION IS ENDORSED
State Board of Trade Sets Its Approval Upon the
Proposition Advanced By Col. John E. Day to
+ Observe in the Year 1913 the 5Oth Anniversary
of the State of West Virginia.

scope Of your organization, and the
very reason for your existence in
the proper promotion and advance
ment of the States interests and
progress. ..-.. .
Before going further I wish to
bear testimony to our distinguished
governors prompt action, and the
lively sympathy he has manifested
in the proposed golden jubilee. He
Is loyal and appreciative son of
West Virginia, and, as an evidence
of his interest in this event, he has
assumed the responsibility Of ap-
pointing a commission to prepare
scheme which may aid him in sug-
costing the action Of the legislature.
The functions Of that commission, as
understand it; are entirely advis-
DRY in character. Whatever it may
do will not bear fruit until 1911,
and it will relate almost wholly to
the representation OF the State in
the celebration of the event. The
State cannot stand alone in this mat
ter. 1t is not sufficient to obtain
official sanction, governmental par
ticipation and, incidentally, an APP
propriation.' The people OF the State
must have direct personal interest
to carry 1T to a successful terminal
ton, and ITO secure this cooperation
this body suggests an agency through
which 1T may be accomplished. This
board Of trade should do something
on its own account, and may pro-
coed on educational lines to keep
| this matter always before the public.
1T can so act without in any manner
interfering with the commission; in
deed, it can be helpful to it. You
are the proper body to take hold of
| this matter, nurse it and father it,
so that 1T may have some intelligent
exploitation.
We are in favor of celebrating the
semi-centennial of the State, and the
thing for us to do as soon as posi-
BILE is to support and promote that
feeling. This board should stand
| sponsor for the creation Of a semi
centennial society, which can be re-
| cruited Or started within it's mem
bership. The endorsement Of such
| a society by the State Board Of Trad
will at once inspire the confidence
of the people Of the State, and, it
! seems to me, that If the patriotic
spirit and State pride of our people
were properly aroused almost every
citizen in the state would become a
member in this enterprise" This
suggestion is made in case it may be
decided to- hold, q commemorative
4 exposition 90. celebrating the. attain:
ment cf fifty years Of statehood.
am not here to present any plan
or outline Of the character of the
proposed celebration, but this is the
golden opportunity to show the out
side world what we are, and who we
are, and this can be done in no bet
ter way than providing for an ex-
h1bitlon Of our products, and dis
play Of our resources and the pro-
gress we have made in the fifty
years Of our existence as a separate
State. We have been talking of our
marvellous resources and advantages
long enough; let us now show the
country and the world what we
have been talking and Dragging
about in the assem- bling Of our at
fractions under the name Of an ex-
! position, such as have been held in
the various parts Of the country of
late. That exhibition will, necessar-
lily, be OF modest pretenSions COM
pared with jamestown or Seattle,
! but 1T will not be less in import
ance.
Equally important with making
, the State known abroad is the OBJ
Dortunity this occasion will afford
us of knowing our own State better
| than We do. I venture to say that
very few have complete knowledge
! OF what Is going ON in the way of