The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-02-27
A BOOM FOR THE FAIR.
Louisiana Purchase Celebration Given
a Start at Washington.


Washington, Feb 27-One of the
largest dinners of the winter was given
Saturday night in the banquet hall of
the Arlington hotel. The hosts were the
city members of the executive commit
tee of the Louisiana purchase conven-
ton, recently held in st. Louis, with
Governor Francis at their head and
the guests, numbering nearly 200, were
members of the cabinet, the United
States supreme court, representatives,
senators and delegates from all the
states and territories within the Louisi-
ana purchase. Among the speakers of
the evening, Secretaries Hitchcock and
Wilson represented the cabinet; Justices
White and Brewer the supreme court,
and Senators Vest, Allison, Teller and
Thurston the senate. OF the members
of the house of representatives there
were hundred or more, besides a large
number of department officials Of high
rank.
The large banquet hall was beauti-
fully decorated with flowers and vines.
The guests began to assemble a little
before o'clock, and at a quarter be-
fore the doors were thrown open. Ex-
Governor Francis led the way. Major
D. ]. Davis came next, escOrting Secre-
tary Hitchcock, and then Mr.. Van
Placom with Secretary Wilson, DR..
Nicely of Kansas with Justice Brewer,
and Henry Kent with Justice White.
Then came Senator Vest with State
Senator Martin, Senator Allison with
Mr.. Elliott, and Senator Teller with
State Representative Pearce. Other
members of the committee escorted the
speakers of the evening, and after them
came a long line of senators, represen-
tatives and government officials, all
from the section included within the
purchase.
The menu occupied the attention of
the company until nearly 10 o'clock,
when Governor Francis arose and de-
iVered an address in the course of
which he was repeatedly interrupted by
applause. From the first it was evil
dent that the assembly was in perfect
sympathy with him and the cause he
represented. His reference to the
prompt acceptance of the proposition
by the city of st. Louis to raise 81 ,000, 900
for an exposition was loudly applauded,
as was also his statement that. al
though Jefferson paid SIS, O00, 900 for the
territory, it was now worth SIS, 600, 000,-
900.
Mr.. Francis said they had met in as
semblage here at the national capital
for conference concerning the commem-
grafton of the most remarkable and
most valuable expansion that this or
any other country ever had. The
Louisiana purchase now contained one
fifth of the population of the United
States and it's wealth aggregated 81, 000,-
000,0 for every dollar of cost. And
still it's territory was but sparsely set
oped. Speaking of the projected CEN
tennial exposition to be held in ST Louis
in 1908, Mr.. Francis said nothing would
attract the attention of mankind to
such an extent as an international ex-
position. The Worlds fair at Chicago
in 1898 was the marvel of the world
a decade of the progressive era of
science will have passed by 1903; a de-
cade marked by Americas brilliant vic
tories on land and sea; a decade al
ready conspicuous for unparalleled
growth of our foreign commerce.; a de-
cade stamped by unsurpassed prosper
ity, although ushered in by unwOnted
depression and enervating despair. No
equal opportunity for demonstrating to
the world what q century of American
civilization and western progress has
done for humanity could be found. On
behalf of ST. Louis, he was authorized
to say that the people of that city
pledge themselves to raise at least So
100000 toward preparing for such an in
ternatiOnal exposition as will fifty COM
memorate the Louisiana purchase, pro-
vided the federal government would
grant its recognition of the exposition
and evidence it's good will and support
by lending to the opposition company
$4,000, 600; this loan be hedged about
with such safeguards as congress may
determine. There was no objection to
making it conditional on $40, 000, 600 be-
ing previously provided by the city of
St Louis, nor would there be opposi-
ton to the further condition that the
federal government must be repaid its
advance of $4,000, 600 before any pay
ment is made to the subscribers or to
the city of st. Louis.
Continuing, Mr.. Francis said the gen
tlemen who had done the work and
guided the movement up to the present
time endeaVored to realize the Inagni-
tude of the undertaking outlined but
they were fully resolved to be connect
ed with nothing in the form of an ex-
position that will be second to any ever
held in this or any other country.