The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13
BEGINNING WORK OF' RAISING FUNDS FOR EXHIBIT AT FRISCO
State Commission Places Souvenir MedalliOns On Sale-COwart Ex-
 plains Method

Sale of the official souvenir of the Alabama Panama-Pacific exposition commission has commenced with II. c. Stradford in charge of the sale in Bir- mingham and north Alabama As a method of raising funds for the erec- ton af building and to make an ex- hibit of the resources of Alabama the commission has adopted medallion made of bronze On one side is repro duced the great seal of Alabama and on the other the following inscription, Alabama at the Panama Pacific Ex- position" The price of the medallion is $l and the commission Is calling upon every citizen of the state to purchase one of these souvenirs in order to cres~c a fund for making a suitable exhibit at the exposition.
 Lee Cowart, state commissioner of
 bama- Pacific exposition commission, in an interview yesterday said:
 "The Panama Pacific international exposition opens at San Francisco Feb ruary 20, 1915, and closes December 1, thereafter. 1t will be the greatest ex- position ever held in the world and | is the official national and internation- , al celebration of the opening of the l Panama canal the greatest physical achievement in history. Senator John | F. Morgan of Alabama was the nov 1 ing spirit in the canal construction, the completion of which will open up op-
 portunities for growth and develop
 ment in Alabama undreamed of in the t.. Alabama's most distinguished states man.
 Thirty mine foreign countries and practically every state in the union
 will have buildings and exhibits com
 mensurate with their importance. The
 foreign countries are spending from 1 $300.00 for the smallest to $1,500, 900
 for the largest for buildings and ex- | hibits. The states outside of California
 are spending from $50,00 to $700, ,000 1 each, the largest amount being spent l by any state outside of California Is New York, $700,000, having been sap- propriated by the legislature of that state for building and exhibits. Illinois | is next with $300,000 state approprfa- .
 ton. the other states following with from $50.000 to $150,000 and in states where the legislature has not been in l
 raised by private subscription. ] Alabama, Rhode Island and New Mexico are the only states which have
 not completed their arrangements for buildings and exhibits at this great exposition.
 | "Knowing the part Alabama took in 1 the construction of the canal and the benefits to be derived therefrom, are
 the patriotic citizens of Alabama going
 to say that this great state shall not
 be known at the exposition? Shall she
 alone stand desolate and homeless at
 the marriage feast of the nations? Yes
 or no?
 1 "ft is up to the people of this state
 to answer. Our Legislature met nearly
 four years ago; we have had no op- portunity to get legislative help and will not have the building must be
 completed and exhibit installed be- | fore the legislature meets again in regular session.
 | "It would be disgrace as well as
 a crime for Alabama not to have a
 creditable display at this exposition showing her matchless resources. 1 "As one of the methods of raising
 funds for building and exhibit the Ala
 bama Panama Pacific Exposition com mission heretofore appointed by the
 governor have adopted as the official souvenir for Alabama bronze medal
 lion the size of silver dollar. The gov. ernor of the state has issued his of
 ficial proclamation asking the people
 of the state to aid the commission ir
 raising funds by purchasing these
 souvenirs. Every patriotic citizen is
 asked to help Alabama make a cred itable exhibit at the exposition by con l i il,utine one dollar--the souvenir fl i your receipt for the dollar and evidence that you have aided in this great move
 ment.
 ', The money raised will be used under the direction of commission of nin' of Alabama's leading citizens. I These souvenir medallions are now
 being offered for sale in the city O.
 Birmingham as we'll as other parts O of the state by authorized agents of thu
 commission, who will call on the peo- | nle to aid in this laudabie undertaking by purchasing same. and the commis.
 sion bespeaks for them a courteous re- ception and praisworthy liberality or the part of the public in aiding the com
 mission to raise the necessary funds te make an exhibit for this great state. H lC. Straford, S13 Farley building, vii have general charge of the sale of tho
 medallion in Birmingham and nortf Ala bama."
 Commissioners Adjourn
 Tuscumhia August 2-(Special. )-COun