Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-08
GOV. HENDERSON
: FOR STATE EXHIBIT
Alabama Chief Executive Be-
Iieves 1t Would Unite Com
sc
..monWealths More Closely.
MUCH WORK DONE ALREADY
Special From a stan Correspondent

Special From a STAT Correspondent.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. February s.
There should be a permanent exhibit
orr all the states maintained in the Ma
,tional Capital. / believe that such an
exhibit would do more than anything
else to bringing these states into closer
relationship in our great Union. GOV.
Charles Henderson of Alabama made
this statement in his office in the old
capitol building, on the portico OF
which Jefferson Davis took the oath of
office as president of the Confederate
States of America February IS. 1861.
and looking toward the old yellow
building in which were the Offices of
the Confederacy from which were is
sued the orders to fire on Fort Sumter
This statement was made by GOV.
Henderson to a representative OF the
state societies in Washington and the
Federation of Citizens Associations of
the District of Columbia. under whose
auspices has been arranged confer
efIce of the governors in Washington
March 6, the day after inauguration,
for the purpose of taking united and
formal action looking toward the es-
tahlishment of such exhibits.
This is an important matter. 1t has
strong educational value. 1t gives eX-
nression to state pride, of course, but
that is of minor consideration in COM
parison with the wealth of information
that will be given to the people of the
country in entertaining way, that
will impress it in a lasting way upon
their memories. continued the gov
ernor.
:. =. Exhibit Would Be Authentic.
This exhibit from each state would
be official, authoritative regarding the
resources and the industrial products
Many published statements about re-
sources and products of the states are
not authentic Certain states and GER
tain sections have an unflattering repu-
tstion they do not deserve. Some states
have important natural resources the
people of the country know little about.
Al the states have historic material they
WOULD be proud to show their fellow
countrymen.
"sThere would be real meeting
ground of the states, and by their
fruits would they be known. 1t would
be a concrete, concentrated Vlsualiza-
tion of what each state has done in
growth, what it stands for in terms of
industry and skill of its citizens 1t
would be a comparative lesson where
each state could learn something from
the others.
"aI am heartily in favor of the prop
osition and will be glad to cooperate
with the other governors for its ac-
complishment. 1 believe firmly that we
Should have such an exhibit where
every visitor to our seat of national
government might have chance to see
the best that each individual state is
doing and how it is fulfilling it's part
Ia the concerted life of the Union"
~. ~. States Wonderful Progress.
sAlabama has for nearly two score
Years been making remarkable indus
trial, agricultural and educational de-
velopment. The state is we'll fitted to
make interesting exhibit, for it
naintains four state organizations that
are constantly abreast of the times in
preparing just such matter as would
BEST portray the state in such a COM
pendulum of the states
"'James A Wade, commissioner of agri-
culture and industries. has an exhibit
now in his offices in the state capitol
mat IS worthy of place, and in
SsSe ntaIly, this contains the Carnegie
laying cup valued at $1,000 which Mr.
ME- himself won with the title of
worlds champion grower of short
stap1e cotton. an Alabama boy. Walker
Ice Dunson. is the champion corn grow
er. He raised 232 1856 bushels of corn
on one acre of sandy loan soil in ITALIA
poosa county.
,''Dr. Thomas NJ. Owen, son-in-law, of
senator Bankhead, is curator of ar
ch1ves and history and has one floor of
a.,wing of the Capitol stored full of his
eorical records and state herlooms. These
include, for instance. the Bible on which
Jefferson Davis took the oath of office
* complete museum of state curios and
valuables and gallery containing the
portraits of all the noted men of the
state attract the attention of many tour
ISIS and if part of this was in Wash
iagton it would come before the attention
o. many times more interested persons
.,a Other State Exhibits Ready.
In'Two other state departments that
have interesting data and exhibits al
ready prepared are the bureau of i'm
migration and markets, in charge of
Emmett A. Jones' and the department of
Education, in charge of William F.
Fergin, state superintendent of schools.
Gov. Henderson expressed the hope
that the United States Congress would
set an example for the state by making
an appropriation for central building
TO house an exhibit of the work of the
various government departments and
that then the individual states. as soon
as they could. would feel encouraged to
house their exhibits in state buildings
conforming to an unit plan of architec-
ture.
cit may be interesting to note that
Montgomery is the birthplace of the
Southern Commercial Congress Gros-
Senor Dave was secretary of the Cham
her of Commerce when he conceived the
fuea that terminated into the South
Frn Commercial Congress- DIR. Clarence
j. owens. whom he called to be COM
missioner of agriculture of the con-
&ress, and who succeeded him DIS
managing director. was at that time
president of an agricultural college at
Aboeville, not far from Montgomery