The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-01-13

9Th of June, 1885, when the Democratic
convention was called to order, and the
, following day was hotter yet.
Chicago has been the basis for munich
pal comparison in St. Louis for many
years, and the chief consolation the St.
Louisians have had since that memorable
convention of 1888 was the experience Of
the Democrats at Chicago in 1892. A
more sultry, oppressive, wet and utterly
unpleasant experience than that of the
Chicago delegates is not recorded in the
annals of national conventions
But for the uncertainty and occasional
1oathsomeness of her climate St. Louis is
an ideal convention city, and even Chica-
go, which was too proud to bid for the
Republican convention, is willing to adj
NIT this. In fact, the petty jealousies
which so long existed between the two
cities, which date back to the time when
Chicago was the inferior, have begun to
disappear recently under the influence of
st. Louis hospitality.
Not long ago st. Louis merchants in
vited many of their Chicago business
friends and competitors to visit this city.
They came, they were entertained hand
somely, and they went away singing the
praises of St. Louis. So it happened that
a leading Chicagoan said to me in Wash
dngton not long before the national COM
mittee metz
MANY of our people are saying St.
Louis would bo good place for the con-
vention''
And there are wise men who expected
that state of feeling to develop only with
the coming of the millennium.
The truth is, St. Louis, while maintain
ing her business conservatism and conse-
quentIy her commercial prosperity, has
branched out in unexpected directions I'M
der the leadership of some of her younger
business men. Starting some Is years ago
with the idea that their city was not we'll
enough known, these men have advertised
systematically, much as they would have
advertised their own business.
How st. Louis Has Hustled.
Instead of handsomely decorated shop
window they have offered a free exhibition
each fall like that of the Mardi Gras or
CARNATIONS in New Orleans. This attrac-
ton has developed from single night pa
rade into two parades-one given at night
and one in the daytime; a brilliant illumi-
nation of the oitys streets every other
might for several weeks and fine exposi-
ton running for 40 days and nights in
the fail Of each year This work has been
done in recent years under the general Su-
pervis1on of the Autumnal Festivities as
ISOLATION. The attractions have been ad-
vertised literally, and they have given St.
Louis a reputation all over the United
States.
This disposition to be hoSpitable has at
4raoted the notice of the men who are at
the head of national institutions which
hold delegate conventions. AS result,
the Grand Army of the Republic and the
knights Templars have met here two ma
tional conventions have been held in the
city, and cattle conventions, Populist con-
vGntions, silver conventions, Mississippi
river improvement conventions and a
great many other gatherings have given
st. Louis wide reputation a cOnven-
ton city. No one who has attended these
conventions or any of them has had Sc
rious cause to complain of lack of enter
tainment.
There have been other complaints, how
@ver-complaints which were well ground
ed-and 1 am glad to say the causes Of
these complaints have been removed. The
men who were at the Democratic conven-
ton of 1885, with the exception of the
newspaper correspondents, will not be
here in June next, but if they were they
would find St. Louis much improved.
The facilities for getting into the city
have been improved greatly in the last
eight years. Prior to 1874 people coming
to ST. Louis from the east left the trains
at East st. Louis and took ferryboat to
CROSS the river. They landed half a mile
from any street car line, and if a carriage