The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1899-11-16
BXP0SITI0N'S LAST MONTH.
Philadelphia's Great Show 10 Close Decem.
Der I'd, Notwithstanding Exhibitors Ap.
peal for Continuance.
Philadelphla, Nov. 1s


seven days remain in which to see the
great show--the vast array of machn-
cry in operation, acres of agricultural
implements. wagons and carriages; the
| amusement features that crowd the
broad Esplanade, specimens of foreign
manufacturers and wealth of exhlb-
its such as has not been brought to-
gether in any city of the United States
east of the Mississippi since the CO.
lumba Exposition in Chicago.
That the Exposition has been a
success is indicated by the fact that
exhibitors have placed in the hands of
the management a request that the
Exposition be continued until Decem-
Der 3Ist, month later than the date
originally fixed for the close. Whilst
no action on this request has beer
taken, it is not likely to receive favor
able consideration, as the manage
ment, individually, is opposed to a
continuance. The Exposition being
opened on time, it is contended, should
close at the Expiration of the period
fixed for its existence.
Many of the exhibitors in the
American section of the Exposition
have profited handsomely as the re-
suit of the visits of foreign buyers, who
were largely represented in the Com
mercial Congress. With one firm was
placed an order for $r4o, 900 worth Of
steel for shipment to Australia. An
other concern booked an order for
seven locomotives tor Sweden. A
hardware mandatory effected sale
of brass and bronzed- d-faced locks to an
Australian importer. A large ship
ment of farm implements to India, land
an invoice of typewriters to Austria are
other direct results of the Exposition,
and the plea of exhibitors for a post
ponement of the close is inspired bv
the belief that by continuing the Ex-
position the departure of foreign buy
ers would be delayed and further large
sales ensue.
One of the missions of the Exposi-
tion, probably its most important, was
to bring American producers face to
face with the commercial needs of
folelgn nations, and IN this it has ap-
parently been successful, principally
through the medium of the Interna-
tional CONNER cial Congress, and a
thoroughly organized department in
which is displayed samples of foreign
manufactures, each exhibit bearing a
tag setting forth the name of the
country, where produced, where sold,
and the manufacturers price.
In the sessions of the International
Commercial Congress, attended by ac-
credited representatives from many
governments and delegates from cham
bers of commerce IN almost every
civilized country, discussions were had
daily on the more complex questions
bearing on improved trade relations.
Various solutions of the problem were
offered by foreign delegates, wit.
many of whom removal of tariff restric-
lions, as a means of expanding Amer
lean commerce, was the burden of
argument.
Mr.. WI Ting Fang, Chinese Min
lister to the United States, made a
forceable appeal for the repeal OF the
Chinese Exclusion Law, in return for
the open door in the Empire in the
| Orient. An Isthmian canal was un-
animously urged as the foremost ne
cessity toward bringing the CONNER
cial cities of the world into relation
ship that can be attained through no
other enterprise projected or under
taken.
The United States was represented
in the Congress by some of the Re-
public's most profound thinkers and
diligent students along the line of
politica! science, and necessarily the
acquisition of the Philippines afforded
fruitful theme for prolonged discussion.
1t is strictly within the bounds of
propriety, however, to say that among
the American speakers on this subject
there was practically a unanlmlty OF
sentiment in favor of the policy being
pursued by the Government in refer
ence to the islands. In none of the
discussions was the purpose for which
the Congress was assembled lost sight
of, and not the least insignificant of
the declarations by delegates was that
of Enrique Alzamora, from Majorca,
Spain, who evoked applause when he
said, "Trade is the best balm for the
wounds that the war opened"
While the International Commercial'
Congress taught through the ear, the
Foreign Samples Department impaired
information through the eye, and, taken
jointly, these two features of the Ex-
position have proven wonderful un-