The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-08-27
WEST MUST SPEAK
Open Letter to Wichita CON-
merciaI Club.
BY HON. SIDNEY CLARKE
Oklahoma Member of Trans
mississippi Congress.

Hon. Sid Clarke, the Oklahoma member
of The executive committee Of the Trans
Mississippi commercial congress, has for
warded to the Eagle the following open
letter addressed to the president OF me
Wichita Commercial club. In view of the
fact that Wichita has been designated as
the place for the next session Of the
commercial congress, all Oklahoma and
Kansas viii read the letter with inter-
est:
Oklahoma City, o. T., Aug. "a.
To the President Of the Commercial Club:
Dear Sir-The termination Of the war
between the United States and Spain
opens the way for a highly important
session Of the Trans-M Mississippi CONNER
cial congress in your city the coming fall.
The fact that the congress is to assem-
bic in the central section of this Trans
Mississippi country, and in the city of
Wichita, which eXemplifies to a remark
able extent the wonderful energy and
Progress Of western civilization, is in it's
elf an assurance that it will be the me
dunn Tor the accomplishment Of import
ant results. That the people Of your city
fully realize the significance Of an assem-
b.age of the representatives, of the vast
commercial interests of the states and
territories west Of the Mississippi river,
TO demand of the national congress and
of the state and territorial legislatures
such legislation as is necessary for the
public welfare, I have no doubt. That
they will extend TO the delegates a gen
erous welcome goes without saying.
But you viii pardon me for the sugges-
ton that the local commercial organiza-
ton. Of which you are the president, can
do much more than this You can put
in motion many influences which will
make the coming session more influential
for good than any of the preceding meet
ings. Your newspaper press, noted for
its enterprise. ability and wide compre-
hension Of the conditions which exist in
the middle west can awaken an interest
which can be secured in no other way
50 also with the press Of Oklahoma.
Kansas and this territory-sOOn to be-
come q, state-have a community of inter-
ests in all the great questions which will
come before the commercial congress for |
discussion. Together they will produce !
this year not less than 100000, 900 bushels |
of corn. $50 100000 bushels of wheat, be- |
sides a great variety of agricultural |
products which form the staple foods of |
the world.
Beef and pork will be produced in pro- |
portion, and in Oklahoma 25O,O 900 bales Of |
cotton will be added to the aggregate of |
production. These products should not
only find a quick and convenient outlet |
10 the best and most profitable markets.
but at rate of transportation that will
leave fair profit to the producer. In
the contest for supremacy in all the ave-
nues of material progress, our success
will depend upon the numerous instru-
which may be utilized, and
their practical application 10 our local
conditions. We must assert our own in
terest6 and make our own demands. or
the heretofore dominant east viii continue
10 control our trade reap the profits of
DUR Industry and dictate the details Of our
commercial transa actions. No better way
Tor our self-protecoon can be found than
through the deliberations and conclusions
Of the commercial congress which is to
hold its tenth session III your city.
The conclusion of the war has brought
40 Ao'N~ ~ AfNIS vi new COMMERCIAL pEOD-
ems. which we cannot avoid and which
We should not if We could. The oblitera-
ion Of Spanish rule in the Antilles and
he new political and commercial condi-
ions which are to control the future cf
he Philippine islands, containing a pupU-
alton larger than the Domiaion of Can
ida open 10 this country at large. and
specially TO the section CONTIGUOUS to
he deep water ports on the Gun of Mex
co. an almost unlimited market. The
tateS Of Texas, Arkansas. Missouri. Iowa.
Nebraska. Kansas and the territory of
oklahoma now contain a population of not !
esS than l20lo-00). and by the middle of
he coming century VIII probably num-
'er population equal to all the states
nd territories at the close of the civil
var Il Is none too early to anticipate
he wonderful developments of the next / !
a1 century. 1t is none too early TO pre-
are for Fhe advance of our commerce.
ur Christian civilization. and our prin-
fples ~ free government into the less
aNote1 countries OF the Orient. where 4
ae population IS dense. and where. as the
Using Anglo-SaXon nation Of the world
re tmust pay our part in the dissolution
I detay-ng nations. Who can measure
he possibilities of The future. and who '
'ih assume TO limG the growth and now
r of the American republic in the years !
o come I
The construction az the Nicaragua canal
'AI save 10000 miles OF water travel 10
ur Pacific possessions. How shall il be '
instructed? Sha1 Il DE Dull. and CON {
rolled by the general government. or shall I
oe turned over TO corporate m4r.0lila-
on This great question. soon 10 Zee de v
oeo; the financial question. the trans
CREATION question on land and sea irrir-
alton n The seni-ar.d regions. the home [
lead policy. the I5ee; sugar Industry. yba a
omission OF the territories 70 statehood
le tariH question. internal improvements {
lie reciprocity treaties. and many other c
roo-ens Of Il ..Ae character. are all sub S
'e's Tor consideration by delegates fresh
ON the people. and whose judgments I
Z" De influenced 10y narrow partisan in o
'reS'S- Senators and members Of con- (
-eSS are our servants and il is for as a
command. and FOR them TO obey. 1