Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-01-16
OREGON AT THE EXPOSITION.

NNE of the most important meas
" ures to come before the legisla-
ture this session, is the appro-
priation for Oregon's exhibit at the
Panama exposition, and it is a meas
ure Of profound interest to every
thinking person in the state. While
the exposition is not held in our own
state, It is close to home, being at the
metropolis OF the Pacific coast in our
nearest neighbor to the south. 1t al
so marks the dawning Of a new era,
the elimination Of continent to the
mariner, the making Of our whole
coast esily and cheaply reached by
the immigrants Of Europe. 1t Is be-
lleved to herald the dawning Of new
business life, of unequaled prosperi-
ty for the coast, and 1t Is up to us to
take advantage of it. Oregon, with its
vast area, its unlimited advantages
and it's comparatively small popua-
tion, offers ideal opportunities for the
better class of immigrants, and 1t Is
up TO us to show them the advantages
we can offer them. To do this will
require q good showing Of our pro-
ducts, our grains, vegetables, fruit,
stock, fish, lumber, all the varied
products Of our rich state, and to pre-
sent them attractively. We should,
in addition to this, have an abund-
ance of descriptive literature, provid-
ed by and under the authority of the
state, II possible, and by the counties,
with the official endorsement thereof
on said literature. The immigrant
has proper respect for government
AL official statements, and every
county should see to 1t that it is rep
resented thoroughly in this line,
They should each show what they
have to offer the settler, the new
conner in their midst, and the state
should do the same thing.
How much will 1t cost to represent
the state thoroughly not eXtravagant-
ly, is the quqestion to be decided, and
the fixing Of this sum should settle
the amount of the appropriation. We
do not want to expend money foolish
~, but we do want to make a show
ing Of which we need not feel ashamed
and Of which every 0regonlan would
be proud. What amount Of money it
will take to do this is for the legis-
lature in its wisdom to say 1t Is a
matter that cannot be decided offhand
by the everyday citizen, because he
has no information on which to base
any estimates II $t5O,OOO or 100000
IA enough we'll and good, but II 1t
takes more, the state cannot afford to
spoil the exhibit by any spirit Of nlgr
gardliness, or false economy, II 1t
requires S5O0OOO to do IT, It will at
least be money well spent
In this connection II might be men
toned that there Is more or less Of n
rumor In circulation to the effect
that the appropriation may be made
small because Governor West Will
have the naming Of the gentlemen
who will have charge Of the expend-
ing Of the money, and managing the
exhibit, and that for this reason the
legislature, which is strongly Repub-
lican, will cut the appropriation
down to minimum We cannot be-
lieve there Is any truth in this ru-
NOR The Legislators are broad
minded, brniny men, who have the
best interests Of the state at heart
and even to intimate that In a matter
Of this kind they would let politics
have any weight, is an insult to their
Intelligence and patriotism Demo
crat and Republican, Socialist and
Prohibitiouist, we are all here togeth.