The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1898-09-08
WORLDS FAIR IN 1903
MOVEMENT STARTED By CENT2AL
TRADES AND LABOR UNION.


national Exposition In st. Louis.
The recent meeting of the Central
Trades and Labor union at st. Louis
was an unusually important one. Mr..
.. G. Benke, delegate from Walters
union No. 20, introduced a series of reso-
lutions providing for a fitting celebra-
ton of the acquisition of the territory
formerly known as Louisiana, pur-
chased by the United States in April,
1903. He proposes to have an interna-
tional recognition of the event from the
first Monday i'll April, 1903, to Dec. %,
1908.
Mr.. Benke said it was most BETTING
at this time to call the attention Of the
civilized world to the acquisition of
that vast territory, which during the
seventeenth and eighteenth centuries
was known on the map of the world as
Louisiana. He said: Louisiana was
taken possession Of by La Sale in 1882
in the name Of Louis XIV Of France.
In 1893 the first colony was founded by
France at Biloxi; in 1918 New Orleans
was founded; in 1863 the government
Of France by secret treaty transferred
the vast domain to Spain. The residents
revolted and drove the Spanish governor
from the territory, this being the first
revolt on the American continent agaiLst(
the crown of Spain. Spain sent a squad
ron and suhdued the colony, which re-
manned a dissatisfied colony until 1850.
1t had increased vastly in population
and prosperity, especially during 1870,
under the goverrorship of Baron
Carondelet. In 1900 a treaty between
France and Spain reconveyed the terri
tory to France, but this time France
id net retain possession for any con-
siderable Length Of time, fer in April,
1903, Napoleon sold for a merely NOM
inal sum 1915, 000. 00O) all its Louisiana
territory to the United States of Ameri-
ca, which assumed formal possession
Dec. 20 Of the SAME year. In 1894 the
district of New Orleans was established
by congress, the rest Of the immense
territory being erected into the terri
tory Of Louisiana and in 1912 into the
territory of Missouri"
Mr.. Benke then offered the follow
ing resolutions, which were unanimous
~ adopted:
Resolved, That a committee Of one from each
organization herein represented be appointed
by the st. Louis Trades and Labor union, with
instructions TO lay before the citizens Of ST.
Louis the following proposition-to wit:
That, opening on the first Monday in April
1913, and closing on Dec. p, 1913, there shall
be held the Mississippi Valley Internaticna
exposition in st. Louis, to the end that tn,
most important event in the history Of tn
great valley-vlz, admission of its vast terri
tory into the domain of the United States-b
properly celebrated.
Resolved, That said committee invite the co
operation of all civic and other societies in or
ganlZing the agitation essential TO success, anC
that the press Of the city be invited to coop
crate with our citizens in giving aid to tn,
movement.
Mr.. Behnke further said that by tn,
treaty Of Paris of 1904 all French terri
tCry east Of the Mississippi was cedeo
to England, and that that territory to
day comprised a population as follows
Mississippi, 1900. 600; western Tennes
see. 500, 600; western Kentucky, 500,
600; Illinois, 1000, 600; Indiana
2, 900, 900: Ohio, 4,0O0, 600: ives
Pennsylvania, 2,50O, 900; Michigan
2,25O, 900; Wisconsin, :, 1000, COO, max
ing a total population today of 20, 100,
600.
Continuing, he said that the state
made out CT the territory Of Louisian;
We're populated as fellows: Louisiana
1900, 0O0; Arkansas. 1000, 600; Mis-
~o,,, - ono 900. I~,ro y 0-n nnn, NJ,
nesota. 1,5C0, Geo; North Dakota, 500,
900; Nebraska, 1850, 0CO, Kansas
l,GOo, 600; eastern Colorado, 300. coo
Wyoming, 100. 900; Montana, 200, OCO
In his remarks Mr.. Eehnke said
"The combined population today is ii,
800, 600, making a grand total popula
ton within the territory which woul,
be directly interested of Fl states and
territories with a total population 0
80, OOO, 900 people, or about half Of tn
total population of the United States
and just equal to the present population
Of France, which formerly owned TIL
vast domain. Within the boundaries 0
this territory are over 800 incorporated
cities. 1t is the largest piece of product
i've land On the surface of the globe. l
embraces within its products every neet
CT man. 1t represents better than an,
other portion Of our nation the coslno
politan character of the typical Amer
lean citizen, upon whose shoulders ha
rested for nearly a century the progress
Of the nation. 1t is not sectional polit
ically or geographically, but is intense
Iy national in both. 1t is the heart O
the great republic, and our city Of St.
Louis is the core Of the heart. Here ant
here alone is the proper place to cele
brate tia greatest event in the history
Of the Mississippi valley and its hun
dred tributaries, tie OILY question be
ing:
First. lis the occasion worthy Of
notice:
"Second.-Is St. Louis the most fit
ting place in which to commemorate the
great occasion?
"Third.-Are the citizens of st. Loui.
capable Of doing justice to the OCCASION
Fourth. Will they do St in a man