The Topeka state journal., 1899-09-14
OPENED TO
THE WORLD.
Gates of the National Export
Exposition
At Philadelphia Thrown Wide
Today With
ELABORATECEREMONY
President Mckinley Sends His
Greeting.
Thousands of Visitors Already
In Attendance.

Z EnlldQGIpnlds 14--Nk lI4 CEIC-
monies unattended by ostentation the
National Export exposition was form
ally opened at noon today. Distinguish
ed visitors from all parts of the country
We're in attendance, including represen-
tatives of the diplomatic corps, officers
of the army and navy, scientists and
business and professional men. After
the benediction by Archbishop O'Brien
which concluded the dedicatory exer-
cises a message was received from
President Mckinley extending greet
ings and officially opening the great
exposition. When the message had
been read the chorus of 800 voices and
| the audience sang The Star Spangled
Banner" accompanied by the United
States Marine band and the big expo
sitiOn organ.
The exposition grounds were opened
to the public at o'clock this morning
and long before noon thousands of peO-
pie mad passed through the gates. The
dedicatOry ceremonies were held in the
immense auditorium, which was crowd
ed to its capacity.
The first event of the day was the
landing of Admiral Sampson and the
officers of his squadron at Chestnut
street pier Carriages were in waiting
and the naval officers We're driven to
the city hall where in Mayor ASH
bridges office they met Governor Stone
and his staff, the officers and directors
of the National Export association, the
officers and trustees of the Commercial
Museum the officers and managers OF
the Franklin Institute. various railway
officials and about one hundred other
prominent men of Philadelphia and 9TH
er cities.
mayors office re-entered the carriages
and were conveyed to the exposition
grounds, escorted by a pltaan Of
mounted police and 250 marines from
the North Atlantic squadron.
Arriving at the grounds the distin-
guished guests were escorted to the
platform in the Auditorium In the al b
sence of P A B. Widener. president of
the exposition. the first vice president
w W. F'oulkrOd, delivered the address,
turning the exposition over to the gov
ernOr of Pennsylvania. Director Gen
eraI ". P. Wilson delivered an address
on the Inception. purpose, plan and
scope of the exposition
The purpose of this exposition" said
Director Wilson. is to show the for
eign consumer what the American
cheaply and how we'll he can make it. -
Governor Stone made an address well
coming the visitors. accepting the ex-
position and turning it over to the
mayor of Philadelphia.
GOV STONES REMARKS.
Governor Stone said in part:
Mr. President. Ladies and Gentle
men--The national exposition makes
its bow TO the world and invites inspec-
tiOn of exhibits It is the result of the
work of two great Philadelphia insti-
tutiOns, the Philadelphia Museum and
Franklin Institute It's object is to in
crease the export trade of this country
1t has invited foreign governments and
foreign merchants to come and inspect
our wares and their prices By the ex-
hlDlt1On this country throws down the
gauntlet to the world and challenges
any and all countries to produce artic-
les as good and as cheap as these here
exhibited They are not confined to
any particular line, but cover manufaC-
tured articles from q button to a loco
motive. We believe that we can sell
the world our products if we can offer
the goods for the least money. That
trade between nations is not regulated
by sentiment or patriotism. but by it's
own natural laws We have the largest
export trade of any country in the
world Our exports OF manufactured
articles now average one million dol
lars in value per day.
We are selling our goods in every
country on the globe for the reason,
and the only reason that we sell a bet
ter article for less money than any
other country can sell We want the
worlds trade and our demand is sup
ported alone by the merit of our pro-
ducts For years the protectiouists Of
this country have claimed that her
protective tariffs upon imports would
foster and build up home industries.
would encourage capital to invest in
coEsuTnegs with their products and that
with the increase in these Industrial
plants there would come such sharp
competition as to reduce the price to
consumers below what it would be un-
der free trade. The claims OF the pro-
tectionists have been realized. Protec-
tive tariffs in this country have trans
ferred the OmDetitiOn between i'm
pOrterS under free trade to a cOmpeti-
tiOn between home producers under
protection. and today the home pro-
duct has guarantee of the home trade
which induces him to emba rk in manu-
featuring and the home consumer has
his goods at greatly reduced prices.
some of them for less than the tariff
on similar imported articles.
Our Industries hae outgTown the
wants Of this country and our products
are now competing with the foreign
producer not in our territory but in his
territory This foreign demand has re-
ueved the pressure here and helped
prices. We are now fairly in the race
for the worlds s trade
The great problem with our manu-
facturers viii be to preserve and main
tain our high prices paid for labor
and still underSeu our foreign COM
petitors. This has been done without
decreasing the quality of our products
The average price Of labor in this cOun-
try is double that OF any other country
in competition with Us and as labor is
the principal cost in any product this
has been a difficult obstacle to over
come but the question has been solved
by the skill and genius of the Ameri-
can mechanic and inventor
Americans have had faith in the fu-
ture of their country and did not hesi-
tate 10 invest their money freely for