Evening star., 1919-05-05

or education the most important capl-
tai city in the world.
Instead of the big conventions of
the day-such as steel, paper. lumber,
etc.-being held at the large indus
trial cities of the country, they would
be held hero in Washington. where
the Industries and the progress of the
country could be viewed and studied
at close range.
The facilities of Washington as
city would have to be expanded to
their utmost to care for foreign and
domestic travel that would wish te
see this notable exposition.
Benefits to Individual States.
Every state has something to sell
lands. lumber. cattle hides, minerals.
homesteads. climate. water powers
or the products of it's industries-out
very few states are so advantageously
situated geographically as to attract
the travel of great numbers OF peo-
pie.
The prosperity and advantages
state can give it's own people depeno
entirely upon it's growth. The state
advertising possibilities are almost
beyond comprehension when you stop
to consider the great number of peo-
pie they would be able to reach from
all over the world at their own state
building located here in Washington
State publicity agents could eX-
ploit the natural charms and re-
sources of their respective states to
great advantage and industrial lead
ers could make the most of the con-
slant presence of people from all over
the world.
Benefits to the People as Whole.
''while all the statistics and data
that one may wish to obtain can be
had from books compiled and pub
lished for that purpose. what can
compare from an educational stand
point, with a symbolic 'bird's-eye
view Of all these things that would
be constantly undergoing change to
meet changing conditions Of the
country. The benefits to be derived
walk of life might be. In times past
worlds fairs have been created. at a
cost of millions. only to be dismantled
afterward. This would be a continual
national exposition, the exhibits sim
ply changing with changing condi-
tions. The buildings permanent and
a monument to the creative genius of
the people of each state.
A Word in Behalf of the Plan.
1T believe a careful analysis of the
plan will reveal its great possibili-
ties and its many practical ramifica-
tions. as well as it's great benefits
to the people of the country as, a
whole. have but briefly attempted
to touch upon its many merits and
virtues. but I believe along this or
similar lines lies. the only natural
and logical direction for the devel-
'The plan may seem colossal at
drst glance, but stop and think what
private enterprise has accomplished.
Take one of our most recent examples
-almost a city in itself underground
beneath the Grand Central station.
tho Biltmore and the Commodore
hotels. Compare that with the bur-
den of this task being distributed
among all our states of the country
and benedting them all.
1T Will require time, patience per-
severance, and money to carry out
a plan Of this kind. If It is started
at all think you will all agree that
the preliminary work should be done
here in Washington. To do 1t ef-
fectively and systematically calls for
an organization of interested men
and women. possibly legally or
ganized. with offlces located here in
Washington, with able secretaries
and a clerical force to care for the
mass Of detail that will have to be
properly handled. The merits of the
plan will have to be suitably presented
to Congress. Governors and legisla-
lures. business and big manufacturing