The Cordova daily times., 1921-07-25
HARDING TOBE CENTENNIAL'S
 HONOR GUEST
By International News Service)

ENaAANSEASs Nli shN-t Juig ~o.
 Missouri will celebrate her Tooth birthday as state on August 10. Proud of her record, her growth and her progress, she is making plans Co commemorate the event by a monster centennial celebration to be held in connection with the state fair at Se- dalia from August to August 20.
 It was on August 20, 1921, that Missouri was admitted to the union as a state. And assurances have been received that on August 10 this year President Warren c. Harding will he the guest of honor of the Missouri Centennial Exposition and deliver an address in the amphitheatre i'll Sed. alia. It is expected that General John J. Pershing, Rear.Admiral Robert E. Coontz, General E. II. Crowder and other prominent Missourians will also attend on that day,
 Two hundred and thirty-nine years ago, an April 9, 1882, the French voy- ager and explorer La Salle, having slowly made his way up the mighty Mississippi, Father of Waters" and crossed westward through the Ozark country, claimed what is now Mis- sour in the name of the King of France. The territory was part of Louisiana" and it was sold to the United States on December 20. 1893. In 1894 congress divided the territory into the upper and lower Louisiana, and in 1S2l Missouri was organized as a territory with Assembly and Gov ernor.
 In ISIS Missouri applied for admis- sion as a state. but two years of bit ter controversy followed during which were evolved the "Dred Scott D"rt sion" and the famous Missouri Com promise" Finally after three years of ccascless effort Missouri won her statehood.
 The centennial exposition commcm- orating that event will he featured jy The Pageant of Missouri" which rep. resents in fifteen episodes the growth of Missouri from a frontier community to great sovereign state.
 To Strike Centennial Coin.
 The pageant will depict all the i'm portant episodes in Missouri history with great scenic settings, wonderful lighting effects. and with more than I. 1000 characters taking part attired in the costumes representative of the various periods of Missouri history. of the pageant have al ready begun, a corps of thirty scenic artists are at work on the pageant settings.
 Invitations have been extended 10 all native Missourians and former residents to return to Missouri for the exposition. Special trains are com ing from all directions-one from as far as Los Angeles, to bring Missouri ans back home"
 There have been fifty-two govern. ors of Missouri They have approx imately 1000 living descendants. All have been asked to be special guests of the exposition on Descendants Day" August 9.
 Two hundred and fifty thousand centennial half dollars will be struck off by the Unittd States mint at Washington in commemoration of the event. These coins. of the regular size and value, wil be cut from spec ial die. On one side will be the state seal of Missouri, while on the other side appears a pioneers head, with the inscription: Missouri Centennial -1S21.1921." The coin was designed by Robert Aitken of New York City. and the pieces will be issued as change at the ticket windows at the exposi- ton.
 Tn addition to the historical feat ures and exhibits thera will be many other attractions. including horse rae es, an aerial circus. auto races and special exhibitions of fireworks. Sedalia is busily preparing for the entertainment of visitors. Every home in sedalia. from the most hum
 ble to the most palatial, will be thrown wide open for the entertainment oi visitors" says Mayor F. F. Hatton
 of Sedalia. More than million arc
 expected to attend the event