Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-04-11
[Bv ora WilIiams.l

by Ora WilIianns.l
Des Moines, April 11.-Iowa has put
a good foot forward; it remains but
to follow with appropriate footsteps.
and the splendid repute which the
Hawkeye state has long enjoyed will be
enhanced wherever there Is compare
son of states and nations.
The exchange Of compliments and
mutual expressions of pleasurable sur
prise at San Francisco the past week
were not perfunctory but there was
genuine sincerity and heartiness in all
that was said and done. An informal
and practically voluntary committee
from Iowa, Of which the writer was
one, acting without authority but in a
truly broad minded spirit of real pat
riotism. spent four days with the rep
resentatives OF the Panama Pacific
international! exposition, having in
mind to find out just what is proposed,
what has been and is being done. and
to report TO Iowa people thereon. AS
a result they laid The foundation
promptly for Iowa participation in the
coming exposition.
The Iowa delegation journeyed to
San Francisco representing fairly the
frame of mind of the average busy
Iowan, that of comparative indiffer-
ence born of lack of information as
to anything so far away But at the
outset they made the important dis
covery that celebration by an inter-
national exposition of the completion
of the Panama canal Is not 10 be in
any sense San Francisco or q Cali
fornia booster meeting, not at all. but
truly world exposition in the class
with the familiar ones al Chicago and
ST. Louis. They also made the sur
pristng discovery that II is to be par
ticipated in by more foreign nations
than either of the eXposi;ions named
and that already n great majority OF
the states have definitely arranged for
state buildings.
Then they made another real dis
covery. namely, that the coast coun-
try. which is so well leaveaed with
good Iowa Hood. is deeply and earnest
~ concerned about Iowa at the Elk
position. not out OF love for the state
many Of them have adopted. but be-
cause of the cid love, Tor Iowa. Ths
Iowa contingent is a big factor out
there and Il is ready 10 help Iowa II
Iowa will oEly do some helping of IL
self.
The delegation easily found out these
big facts among others
That the Panama Pacific exposition
is genuinely world affair
That there is q great deal more OF
the altruistic spirit among the people
of the BAY district than one would
have supposed
Tina, in San Francisco and all Call
fornia there Is desire that the exposi-
ton year and its wonderful possibili
ties be taken advantage Of by all states
of the canal building nation,
That everywhere there is hope that
Iowa will. in some way come forward
to be flttingly represented at the expost-
ton, and confidence that in the end
Iowa will acquit herself well.
There were some surprises, also. on
the other side. and il is beyond ques-
ton that the Iowa committee. aided in
many ways by good neighbors from
Nebraska. made a very favorable i'm
preston on the energetic managers OF
the exposition project. 1t was no idle
compliment which the president OF tbs
exposition paid TO the governor q
Iowa when he stated at the time OF the
dedication Of the Iowa site. that thu
governor had at luncheon few hours
before, given the finest epitome of the
larger idea of the great exposition that
ne had ever heard. Another gentleman
followed him for, the exposition whe
said that ne had been very much i'm
pressed by the eloquent remarks OF
Governor Clarke. who had struck thu
high keynote of the exposition. ina
was before the governor delivered hi'
really best speech. They referred Il
what had been said at luncheon g!vef
by the exposition management at the
Palace hotel
That which was a surprise to tht
| western people was that out OF Iowa
! and from Nebraska. also-there mac
come a hastily gathefed-together In
formal delegation having such clea
perception Of what an exposition ough
| to be. and some Of them so well abb
i TO express the fact.
| There were seven occasions wnen TN
Iowa delegation was called upon for =
! few brief remarks
| Before the party reached San Fran
cisco, on the Overland Limited Messrs
| Kendrick ard Wilton. cultured bust
| ness men Of San Francisco. who pilote'
| the party, gave fine dinner whic
was much appreciated.
The party had lunch at the CONNER
cial club rooms at which time GoVerno
ernor McKelvie of Nebraska, resopnd
ernor MceKlvie. Of Nebraska, respond
| ed to words of welcome. When "
came down the valley this morning,
said Governor Clarke. I'VE felt We ma
entered an enchanted land. and whe
&c met your people here and locke
l pom what hey are doing we realize
| that we were with men who nav
achieved something worth While.
seeing that here we have men who ar
the very best of the goth century an
who represent The hopes and aspira
lions for the future OF all people
What you are doing is a great work 10
J your city and state. but also for all tn
Estates 1t is for -he betternient OF a
humanity. for that Is. after all, VIVA
lit comes to in the end. I assure ~
that Iowa has started now to u
you. and we can not stop. we Will nc
stop but we will be here with you nea
year."
This was the spirit which appeare
all through. 1t was at the Palace hota
luncheon, where generals OF the arm!
admirals OF the navy. high city. stat
and exposition officials, gathered, this
Judge Deemer also struck high not
He brought greetings, as he said. ffoi
the old home folks, and assured thos
OF the Iowa colony that the old foil
back home are well, prosperous an