Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-27
g II
Louisiana Purchase and its Results
Theme Of Discussion.
DISTINGUISHED ORATORS PRESENT
Banquet Under,Auspioes of a St.
Louis Committee 2
PROPOSED CENTENNIAL

The executive committee of the Louisiana
purchase convention. which was recently
held in ST. Louis, and which determined to
celebrate the centennial of that meritorious
object lesson in American expansion by a
worlds exposition at st. Louis in 1903, gave
a notable banquet at the Arlington Satur-
day night. The committeeman, thirty in
number were headed by ex-governor Fran
els of Missouri and the guests, numbering
nearly 200 included cabinet officers, Su-
preme Court justices, senator's, representa-
tives and delegates in Congress from all
states and territories formed from the pur-
chase, the invitations being limited to
these.
Among the speakers were Secretaries
Cage Hitchcock and wilson, representing
the cabinet: Justices White and Brewer of
the Supreme Court and Senators Vest, Alh-
son. Teller and Thurston. OF the members
of the House of Representatives there were
a hundred or more, besides a large number
Of department officials of high rank. The
large banquet hall was superbly decorated
with flowers and vines. Several long ia
bles laden with roses and crocuSeS extended
across the room, with one connecting them
at the end. The electric hight effects and
the music were also exceptionally fine, and
the room, as the company fled in, present
ed scene of rare beauty. The guests be-
gan to assemble a little before 8 o'clock
and at a quarter before the doors were
thrown open. Governor Francis led the
way with Secretary Gage on his arm. Mr..
j. D. Davis came next, escorting Secretary
Hitchcock followed by Mr.. Van Bearcom
with Secretary Wilson, DIR. Nicely of Kan
with Mr.. Justice Brewer and Mr. Henry
T. Kent with Mr.. Justice White Then
came Senator Vest with State Senator
Martin, Senator Allison with Mr.. Elliott
and Senator Teller with State Representa-
=. n.
tee escorted the speakers of the evening
and after them came long line of senator's
representatives and government officials
all from the section included within the
purchase.
Mr.. Francis Remarks.
The menu occupied the attention of the
company until nearly 10 O'Clock when Gov
ernor Francis arose and delivered an adj
dress, in the course of which he was re-
peatedly interrupted by applause From
the first it was evident 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 Sic, 900 for an exposition was ap-
plauded, also was his statement that, al
though jefferson paid S15o00.0G0 for the
territory it was now worth 5000 900 600
He said in part that they had met in as
Semblage here at the national capital for
conference concerning the comm emoration
of the most remarkable and most valuable
expansion that this or any other country
ever had. The Louisiana purchase now
contained one-ffth of the population of the
United States. and its wealth aggregated
Tl.O00000,W0 for every dollar of cost And
still its territory was but sparsely settled
ana Its resources but partially developed.
Speaking of the projected centennial worlds
exposition to be held in ST Louis in 1903
Mr.. Francis said nothing would attract the
attention of mankind to such an extent as
Tha
falr OF 1893 at Chicago was the marvel of
the world A decade of the most progress
slVe era OF science will have passed by
leO', decade already marked by Ameri-
cas- brilliant victories on land and sea q
decade already conspicuous for unparalleled
growth of our foreign commerce a decade
stamped Dy unsurpassed prosperity, al
though ushered in by unwonted depression
and enerFating despair. No equal oppor-
tunity for demonstrating to the world what
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
$lo,ooo,oO0 toward preparing for such an in
tefnauonal exposition will fifty COM
memorate the Louisiana purchase provided
the federal government would grant its
recognition of the exposition and evidence
It's good will and support by lending to the
exposition company IS 900 600. This loan
might be hedged about with such safe
guards as congress may determine. There
"as no oUJectlon TO making 1t conditional
on 800 900 being previously provided by
the city of st. Louis, nor would there be
opposition to the further condition that the
federal government must be repaid its ad-
vance of So,0O0.oD before any payment is
made to the subscribers or to the city of
St. Louis
Will BE Second to None.
Continuing, Mr.. Francis said the gentle
men who had done the work and guided
the movement UP to the present time en-
deavored to realize the magnitude of the
undertaking outlined, but they were fully
resolved to be connected with nothing in
the form of an exposition that will be sec
ond to any ever held in this or any other
country.
The Columbian exposon,'' said the
speaker, had expended about twenty mil
lions when its gates were opened on May
1, 1893; We think that with fifteen millions
and the benefit of ChicagO's experience We
can accomplish as much or more than did
she with twenty Millions" Mr.. Francis in
the course of his remarks, paid high tri-
"a THOUSAND POUNDS OF COMFORT"