New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-05-14
TIE CONTENTION or COEGRESSMEN.


A ST. LOUIS COMMITTEE PROPOSES TO RUN THE
THING-ALL THE TIME TO BE ABSORBED IN RE-
CRPrIoNs AND EXCURsIoNS-No BUSINESS POSI-
BILE.
tPRoH AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF TRIBUNE
ST. LOUIS, May 10.-Beyond doubt st. Louis
is great city. 1t il especially great in the matter OF
eating and drinking pleasure riding and junketing gem
orally and greatest Of all in windy Oratory Through
its procivty for these entertainments this city man
ages 10 defeat nearly every gathering for the consdera
ton of public interests If that gathering is 80 unucky az
10 occur at st. Louis The unfortunate results OF this
propensity have been repeatedly illustrated ana IL
seems likely that the coming Convention OF western and
Southern C0ngresmen will fare no better than previous
assembages nc this point for the discussion OF business
questions For St. Louis wants TO show herself. When
ever she gets body Of strangers within her gates she
insists that they shall do nothing but look at her, admire
her taste her wine and listen to her oratory.
The people OF the West have become deeply interested
in the question OF transportation. Railroad combina
tons and charges for freight have made the moving OF
products from 10 consumer so expensive that
strong efforts made in several Western States
to control freight charges by legislation. But since local
legislation reach the rates charged on the great
through lines men looking anxlousy for improved
lines of water transportation by which such competi-
ton in the transfer of freight eastward may be pera-
nenty maintained push down the railroad charges
TO a minimum. The Western method Of solving any
problem is to have a convention about it, Accordingly
it was proposed to invite Western and Southern Con-
gressmen 20 come together here and 10 consider in
sort of what relief TO the interests of producers
could he obtained through national legislation 1t was
hoped that upon consultation and comparison Of views
they would agree upon definite plan Of action and
mature some well-adiusted and practicable measures
upon which they could unite next Winter. sectional
aspect given TO the proposed gathering from the
outset because IL was imagined that Eastern members
would be too much under the influence Of the great rail
way corporations The fact that elections of Senators
and Members in Iowa. Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota
aud other Western States have been influenced by rail
road quite as often as Sinar elections IN
Eastern States does not TO have been considered
nor the other fact that Eastern aborers and consumers
are quite anxious reduce the cost OF the food they
eat as Western producers cut down the cost of getting
their grain to market.
The Convention having been called 81. Louis straight
way began tn manifest herself The appointment or a
Committee to make arrangements the first step.
Then it ordered that the Convention should re-
ceive welcome, grafton, excursion, and banquet in
genuine st. Louis style. The Mayor must " welcome"
the Convention in speech In behalf Of the city. The
Governor must have chance to "welcOme"
the Convention in O speech in behalf Of the State Then
certain other individuals formally selected and In
yted 10 deliver addresses" TO the Convention namely
the Hon. Henry I. Blow, the Hon. j. B. Henderson, the
Hon. f. A. Stannard. the Hon. S. T. Glover. and the
Hon. Jas s. Rollins It is said that Mr.. Glover has had
the good sense decline but there remain six speeches
on the programme. two "welcomes," and four
"orations" What for1 Was the Convention assembled
merely to hear St. Louis people talki
But this was but the beginning OF the aOOrs or this
Committee. II resolved that the Convention must ride
about the city usual, and visit shaws garden Also,
it resolved that the Convention must view the city from
the water, ride up and down the river in boat and
examine the iron works at Carondeet. NO distinguished
stranger is allowed to visit this city without the ride on
land and the ride the water the visit to Shaws garden
and the admiration Of Carondeet furnaces One thing
more remained. No body of distinguished strangers Is
suffered to visit st. Louis without having inflicted upon
1t a banquet and a deluge OF Ike Cooks wine. pan
Ouet at the Southern Hotel where sundry persons who
have not before may make speeches, aud supply OF
Cooks champagne, made from Missouri grape-these
are 81 Louis Institutions not In any case % be omitted
Accordingly the banquet ordered. Then, lest the
Convention should be unable the exercise Of its own
riding boating dining, and wning the Committee re-
solved that It should meet at II M on the 18TH and
aud stonnard; that IL must convene ~ 10
a. m. on the 18th, and hear oratOns from
Messrs. Henderson and ROlns that may occupy the
rest OF the time until o'clock according to the language
OF the Committee IN other business and adJournment
and that at D. II shall ride 10 Shaws garden. On
the lith the Convention shall start on river excursion
at O'Clock and cannot get back before late hour
drink and listen 70 speeches at the banquet aforesaid
Fancy the feelings OF an Illinois farmer red hot win In
dgDation at railroad monopoles, who has been led TO
hope for good result from this meeting OF Western
congressman, when he learns that st. Louis proposes
that the Convention for his relief shall spend the first
day I'm hearing four set speeches the second day hear
ing two more speeches aud seeing Shaws garden the
third day in boat excursion and banquet and ON tine
fourth day. bright and early shall start on railroad ex
cursiOn TO Texas, In the splendid palace ears amply
stored with victuals wine and cigars furnished by the
courtesy OF the railroad officials
Did st. Louis really mean 10 make II utterly imposs
BILE for this Convention to do any busnessf Not al all
81 Louis merely wished 10 show herself as usual, ana
had a prevailing idea that convention or Congress-
men would not know what TO do with itself when 1t
assembled. Accordingly, for fear that the Convention
should be Incompetent 10 select its own President the
kind and thoughtful Committee resolved That Mayor
Brown OF st. Louis should be Its President, ana hs
private secretary Secretary. What mpudence some
will say Not at all; 10 was happy thought 10 snow
that the Mayor OF st. Louis Is capable OF pfedhg over
Senators and Representatives. As for the Oraohs tney
are 20 instruct the Convention, and INFORM ~ what IL
ought 10 do Presenting that its members VIII Know
nothing che wishes the interests OF their oOhsutu
ents aud will be utterly unable 10 make speeches Tor
themselves, have provided for IL six lecturers,
chairman. and secretary; and taken care thHt IL sha
nave time to do anything not previously arranged
by the Committee, lest IL do something FOOLISH. Ihere
Is "A sensible way OF doing these things convention
having called, somebody ought 10 provide proper
place IL meet and then modde no Iufther with
It's business II tho Convention proves ridiculous
farce, II agrees upon practical measure the people
OF tue West thank the sonsoloss vanity OF b. Louis