Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-08-12
lcapital Journal Special Service }


corded all the honor due his station and
service. His antithesis, the dove-like
William j., also came, and he received
no lesser courtesy, besides being given
a drink of loganberry juice. Now comes
Simon Benson, Oregon's most distin-
guished citizen, and he, like other con-
quering heroes, is to be given the best
the exposition has in stock. August II
is the date on which Mr.. Benson and
Oregon will be honored, and it is certain
that Benson day at the exposition will
go down in history as the greatest of
the great. You see, California recently
spent eighteen million dollars in one
lump for good roads, and has spent
treble that amount at various and sun
plete and maintain system of first
fornians discovered mat the Oregon
ian selected for special day at the
exposition had been spending much of
his time and money for the very thing
that most interested them-good roads
they Immediately threw their hats
into the air and determined to show
the world just exactly how the earn
est good roads advocate should ever be
treated by the state and nation. When
they learned that Mr.. Benson is now
fathering movenI~nt to bond the
state of Oregon for $l0,000,000 to com
purchased the bonds for much of its con-
class highways, they Immediately de-
cided that the exposition officials
should don their silk tiles and with
gaily decorated autos meet him on his
arrival and parade him through the
grounds just like they did Mr.. Roose.
welt. Then they became acquainted
with the fact that this same Mr.. Ben
son has spent thousands of dollars in
vestigating good roads and through as
sistance employed for this purpose alone
gives this information TO the public
without cost; that he also gave $l0,.
900 spot cash to build the road around
Shell Rock; that he now serves as
chairman of the advisory committee to
the state highway commission. This
caused them to enlarge on that parade
and determine that gold braid and brass
buttons in gorgeous array should aid
military dignity and inspiration, and
that there should be elaborate exercises
in the Court of Abundance, the most
beautiful of all the courts at the eXposi'
ton. And when the officials finally
got onto the fact that Mr. Benson real
ly fathered the Columbia river high
way, the greatest scenic automobile
road in the United States, that he then
dollar hotel in Portland, had given the
struction, they enlisted the support OF
the Automobile Association of Califor
mia, representing 5000 machines. That
organization took hold of the matter
with a hearty good will, determined
that the parade on Benson day shall bC
more elaborate than any heretofore o.
yet to come, and went the limit by ar
ranging for banquet at night that i
expected to eclipse anything ever at
tempted in the Golden cate City. Whei
Oregon friends added the information
that Mr.. Benson had built n millioI
little desire to be in the spotlight. rhi
city forty magnificent bubbling foun
tains, has recently given the Portlan,
School of Trade 100000 and that dur
ing the past several lears his philar
thrOpies have been many but modest
ly kept from the public, these same eS
position officials agreed that Governo
Wthycombe s committee of nine had il
deed selected one of the greatest of tn
great, one whom the exposition wOul
be delighted to honor in the most elat
crate way possible. President Moor
added that, in addition to all the thing
mentioned heretofore, he desired t
give Mr.. Benson luncheon, and at tn
special exercises in the Court O
Abundance would present him with
commemorative medal All of thes
things will be done to Mr.. Benson o
August II, and it is also expected tina
there will be special doings at the Or,
gon building that day or the next. Whe
the detail Of the preparation here wa
made known to Mr., Benson at Portlan
he is said to have shown disposition
balk and not play the game. Thoug
several times millionaire, Mr., Benso
is just plain, ordinary, every day cit
zen, modest to the last degree and ha
little desire to be in the spit.light. TIL
exposition stunt really did not appel
to him, but he was made to feel that
was up to him TO lend himself to am
thing that would make it possible fC
Oregon to get into the lime.lght her
SO the preparation continues and Or,
gon and Mr.. Benson are coming in fC
unlimited advertising. While Oregon
most distinguished citizen may not |
personally interested, that is exact
what all this Oregon effort is for, and
is doubtful if any other man in ii
state would have Offered such an o.
portunity for extensive mention Of II
state and its resources. August II wi
be a hummer.
All Oregon Week.
The Benson day celebration will end
week of festvity ae the Oregon bull
ing. Monday, August 8, was "a
Oregon Day." with rousing speeches b
number of distinguished Oregonien
who boosted the good old state in wa
that caused the natives here TO sit d
and take notice. Hundreds Of Orego
ians and former.o .oregonians came TO I
honor to the occasion. The program f
the rest Of the week included Rogl
River Valley day, Tuesday; the Sout
ern Pacific had worked up special I
terest in this day and more than SEQ
came down from Mcnrord, Ashland al
way points to be in attendance. We
nesday was given over TO eastern Or
gon and the plan included the giyir
away Of 10000 sacks Of popcorn. Thur
day belonged to Coos Bay, Friday
Tillamook and Saturday to the Willar
cite valley.
New Exhibits,
An interesting and highly instruct,
addition has been made 10 the Coos ar
/ -. 1a..l d. ..... E..u g..4 a...,t !,