Omaha daily bee., 1896-06-21

More illumination on This AII-Inter-
esting Question.


OMAHA June 16-To the Editor of The
Bee: / read with pleasure the article in
The Sunday Bee Of June Il. giving the
history OF the progress OF the Transmisss-
sippi exposition and do most willingly com
mend your most earnest and active approval
and support of this enterprise, not only
individually. by your personal effort and
substantial aid, but the solid, vigorous sup
port OF your paper. The Omaha Bee. through
its local. telegraphiC and editorial columns,
and ! am frank TO say that in a very large
measure the success of the exposition so
far is due TO your individual effort. I
think the article referred to IS in error in
this, that it claims the original suggestion
of the exposition through an editorial in
The Bee OF November 25.
You will remember that ! had the honor
TO be one of the delegates TO the congress
at its session in St Louis, November. 1894,
and our delegation at that time SAW an
opportunity 20 secure the next session OF
the congress for this city. !, as chairman
OF the delegation, telegraphed TO this effect
TO Mayor Bemis, and his answer came to
secure the session If possible and Omaha
would royalty welcome the congress. With
this reply and the support Of Hon. W. J.
Bryan. who had many strong friends in the
congress Omaha secured the prize. Fol-
lowing this, and during the months Of
August and September last year, II was
necessary to interest our citizens that the
arraE -Eutnts might De eHeCleQ 10 properly
receive and entertain the congress al its
coming session IN November following. Our
people were very much interested at that
time in the success Of the state fair and
the financial burdens that It imposed.
The Commercial club hesitated TO assume
the responsibility OF meeting the expense
necessary 10 entertain the congress and
would shift the burden OF this upon the
mayor, who had extended the invitation, and
the individuals instrumental in bringing the
hlV he
looked rather gloomy for this city 10 be able
10 fulhll its promise 10 properly entertain
the congress Judge Bradley, head OF its
executive committee for Nebraska, and my
self having the honor to be vice president
for this city and state, called upon his
honor, Mayor Bemis, 10 consider the situa-
tion. ! suggested al this conference that a
letter OF invitation be sent to 100 or $50 OF
our leading business men and citizens, set
ting forth the object interest and inpor-
tance OF this session OF the congress.
suggested as a drawing card the idea Of a
Transmississippi exposition; that as our
people were deeply engrossed in the state
fair enterprise that IL would be ripe to
suggest an exposition OF this kind and as
Omaha would entertain the congress at its
coming session, it might secure the loca-
tion OF the same, This suggestion was
promptly acted upon and the mayor stated
that II ! would draft the letter he would
have II printed and mailed This ! accepted
and enclose you a copy Of the original
draft which was mailed ! think by Private
Secretary Mlllar, to more than l25 Of our
leading citizens, which brought together a
strong representative meeting at the mayor 5
office With the success which followed this
effort you are familiar
do not desire in the least TO suggest any
controversy or claim any undue credit but
relying on your high sense OF justice
believe you viii give credit where same Is
properly Cue. ] am yours very respectfully
ROBERT w. RICHARDSON.
COPY OF THE BLANK
Mr.. .........., City-Dear Sir: have