Omaha daily bee., 1896-06-19
BACKING UP THE DIRECTORY
Enthusiastic Meeting Of Business Men to
Discuss the Exposition Project,
ALL READY TO LEND A HELPING HAND
Officers Given 10 Understand in an
Emphatic Manner that Their
Efforts VIII he Sustained
United for one

In the Transmississippi and international
exposition. to be held in 1898. Omaha is to
have the greatest exposition hat the west
has ever known, one Of the grandest that
has ever been given in the United states
and one that will rank way up in the list
of the expositions Of the world. City bars,
state bars and even western bars are to be
thrown down. and while the exposition will
be distinctively western, it will DC national
and even international in its scope. II is
to be second only TO the worlds Columbian
exposition Of Chicago.
This is the way the business and moneyed
men Of the city decided at a huge mass
meeting held in the Commercial club rooms
last night at the call Of the directory Of the
exposition company. The decision is equal
to a promise signed in black and white by
the capitalists and business men Of the city.
The majority OF these were there and they
stood up like men aud promised it in no
equiyocal way.
The meeting has never had its parallel
In the City's history. No such band OF
business men, bankers, capitalists and men
OF prominence has ever gathered together
for one purpose before since the city was
founded, not even in the days OF the boom.
There were over 300 present, more than the
parlors of the club could hold. and they
represented considerably more than the ma
jority Of the business and capital OF the
city.
More than anything else, they were all
of unanimous opinion and that was OF en-
thusiasm over the project. All the speak
ers expressed surprise at the object OF the
meeting, which was to discover whether
the money and business OF the city would
back the officers of the company in their
huge project. They felt and said that the
exposition was a go and must be a success.
Those present cheered and clapped the SEN
timents of speakers continuously, a very
unusual procedure for soberminded business
men considering a business proposition
where large amounts OF money are in the
balance.
STATED WHAT WAS WANTED.
1t was shortly after S o'clock that Presi-
dent Wattles OF the company called the
meeting to order and explained the object
that had led to the call. He stated that the
officers did not feel competent to take the
burden upon their shoulders without being
assured that the business and moneyed men
of the city were with them unanimously.
All the various personal and political inter-
ests of the business world would need to be
submerged for the general good of the COM
munity rule If the project was brought to a
successful close. The officers were actuated
by that belief, and therefore at the present
time would not even consider the question of
a site, thinking that the time had not
come for that.
MI. NaJtleS continued TO the eUect tnat
the officers did not desire that the money
to be expended should pass through their
hands, and therefore suggested that a fin
ance committee of business men be selected
to handle and eXpend it. He said that a
great deal of money would need to be raised
in this city. IL a proper spirit was shown
by the business men and capitalists in this
regard, he felt confident from the conversa-
ton he had with prominent congressman
that the government appropriation would
hn ultimately nnraauaH = ar last SEnp Onn
The speaker stated he did not believe that
Omaha realized the Importance of the project
of the exposition as much as the other
western states. He said that in the recent
trip of the exposition committee through
the west it was found that the states looked
upon Omaha as the future metropolis of
the section, and upon the exposition as an
immense advertising medium of their re-
sources. Each state visited had promised
ample aid from the legislatures for the
project.
Mr.. Wattles then spoke of the cost of the
recent eXpositions held throughout the
country, and then went on TO the Omaha
exposition. He said that the state would
be asked to make a large appropriation,
the city another, the county another, but
that it was necessary to obtain money to
begin work at once and to get the govern
ment appropriation. Therefore, il was pro-
posed TO ask the citizens of Omaha and
the surrounding country to subscribe to
$3.50. 900 worth of stock.
This being the situation, it is now for
you TO decide once for all whether the ex-
position will be held" said Mr.. WattIes.
"Unless each and every business man and
capitalist is willing to lend his support IL
would he needless to put the burden of
the exposition on the directory"
President Wattles' remarks were fol-
lowed by several minutes of clapping. Speak
ers were at once called upon.
HAS FAITH IN THE PROJECT.
Herman Kountze was the first. He spoke
conservgtiyely from a capitalists stand
point, but was very favorable to the project.
He said that in his opinion the exposition
was a matter of the greatest importance
to Omaha and he believed that with proper
effort the amount desired from the city,
county and citizens. about $500, 900, could be
obtained. He was very urgent, however.
that in order to make the affair the sue
coss it was desired all business men should
lay aside the idea of personal aggrandize-
ment and work for the general good. He be-
lieved that no thought should be taken of
the location until the money to be sub
scribed should be obtained.
He made two suggestions. One was that
the project should not be made a stepping
stone to position and that therefore no man
should be employed who was not fully
capable of performing his duties. The other
was TO the effect that the business men
should be ready 10 sacrifice not only their
time but their business to bring about a
success. He said that If they were not ready
10 DO mat IL was OF no use 10 carry on the
project. as a few could not carry the bur
den.
Frank Murphy responded in but a few
words TO a call. He said that he was not
then ready to make any lengthy remarks,
but stated that he desired to see the expo
Bition forwarded to the great success il
was planned TO be.
George Il. Wright of Council Bluffs was
one of the most enthusiastic. He pointed
to the demonstration in Council Bluffs over
the passage of the congressional bill as an
evidence of the way the people of the city
across the river felt over the project. In
this connection he read the GLOWING reso-
luton that had been passed at the meeting
Resolved. That the people OF Iowa, and
more particularly of Council Bluffs, hereby |
extend hearty CONGRATULATIONS TO the di-
rectors of the Transmississippi and Inter
national exposition and people of Omaha
upon the final passage Of the exposition
bill by congress. We also pledge ourselves
10 give, wherever the exposition site may
be located our earnest cooperation and
our due and full quota OF that substantial
cid necessary and that shall be required
TO make II the grandest exposition ever {
and held by the states OF the
American union, at all times relying upon
the assurance given that in everything
,NIr.,rIa tbarauf.k opar ngarautg a,l y.,I /