The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-30
IS II A MISTAKE ID ATTEMPT THE CENTENNIAL NOW? Prominent Men in Tusca- lOOsa Doubt Its Ad-
 visibility
ALABAMA TREASURY
 CANNOT AFFORD IT
Think Exposition Should Not Be At tempted Unless It Be on Scale to Reflect Credit on the
 State
By RALPH R. SILVER


 Tuscaloosa, October 9.-(Special)-Ha Birmingham gone off half cooked in regard to the Alabama state centennial proposition in 1919, to commemorate the admission of the state to the union of tho Stars and Stripes?
 As the meeting of the state centennial committee held last week in Montgomery fades farther and farther into the past, sentiment appears to be forming about what is being argued by many of the most prominent men in the state as a fact
 It is that Alabama cannot afford to hold centennial In 1919 or even for the next 15 years and that Birmingham alone or any other civic community in the state cannot, by the means of small amount of assistance from different sections of. the state, hold a centennial exposition worthy of the state nor of the cause.
 Several prominent men of the state seen in this city today talked freely of the centennial proposition pro and con, but refused to allow their names to appear in connection with their statements be- cause, as they said, they did not wish to be misunderstood and branded as knockers or reactionaries,' and further more that If any man had anything to way, especially against the centennial, he should go before the state centennial committee recently appointed by Cover nor ONeal and say 1t there." Following Is the statement of one of these men, high in the councils of the state govern ment and holding one of the most im- rortant positions in Alabama:
 Alabama Cannot Afford It
 NO, sir, do not believe that we should attempt to hold a centennial in 1919. With the present depleted condition of the state treasury, Alabama cannot afford such a movement
 More than that, I firmly believe that if the attempt is made it will be failure. l think one of the best and fairest ex- pressions I have yet seen on the whole matter is the Ned Brace article that ap- peared in The Age-Herald last Sunday. Tc be candid, that sounded like sense. l say the centennial would be a failure and i do so because I do not believe Bir- ininghafn nor any other city in the state can raise enough money to put on such an exposition as the occasion will de- mand if we do anything at all.
 tAlabama Is now entering upon what history will relate as one of the states greatest strides in progress. Every thing everywhere in the state Is boom ing If we attempt the centennial l can even go so far as to fear 1t will re- t:ird and perhaps delay this prosperity march altogether for a few years. ii such is the case we can't afford 10 do it.
 "Of course the sentiment of the prop osition, the glory of the exposition and the name it will make for the state and for the city in which it is held appeals to every patriotic man and woman. But it is going to cost money. hard, cold cash, and lots of it. So much of it that I do not believe with the present condition of the state treasury and in face of the fact tha nothing can be secured from the fed eraI government. that even Birming- ham in all her greatness can hold an exposition worthy of the cause. How 1auch better will 1t be not to hold any centennial exposition at all rather than to hold one that Is a failure for lack of financial backing"