The San Francisco call., 1899-03-15
FULL STEAM AHEAD.

X semblv passed the exposition bill, and the
- same day. the bill authorizing counties to levy
a tax for exposition purposes. The two measures
therefore go to the Senate with strong support, and
there is every reason believe they will be regarded
in that body with favor not less than that shown by
the Assembly
In the meantime the Examiner continues its
croan opposition and objects to the enterprise on
the ground that the season is bad, business dull and
MANY persons are out OF employment The expo
siton is not declares so urgent as the promoters
imagine but if the drought continue the necessity 1or
active relief measures will grow greater every day
Stated in definite terms the argument of the Ex-
anner is that the conditions OF the times being un-
propitious to California, while the Eastern section
OF the country is booming with prosperity we should
not trv 10 launch great enterprise and attract capi-
tai to the State but should start soup kitchens 1t
is not activity in commerce and industry we need
saws the croaker but activity in the distribution OF
doles
If any answer be needed to this argument against
enterprise undertaken with energy in the face OF bad
conditions it is to be found letter recently written
by John A. Wakefield, secretary OF the Omaha kx-
position Company, to a gentleman in Buffalo, who
with others is engaged in preparing for the coming
exposition in that city.
Mr. Wakefield states that the panic OF 1893 found
Omaha on the crest of real estate boom and at a
effects were blighting and disastrous. To use his
own language: 1--WE went to the bottom of the slide
with great rapidity and the fall hurt much. The
people were much discouraged, and the financial
gloom was thick when in the fall of 1906 small
coterie OF gentlemen arranged to project and push
the exposition enterprise"
The Examiner will hardly contend that conditions
in California are worse now than those described in
Omaha in 1895. We may therefore pass at once to
Mr. Wakeheld's next statement The enterprise was
opposed he says, by many persons who declared the
city and State could at such period of depression
afford the money for the undertaking. The pro-
moters held on their way, however, and found sup
port among progressive of all classes. Mr..
Wakefield adds: "As soon the project was fairly
before the people it seemed to have reviv1ng in
fluence and those who had been most discouraged
and disconnected as to the outlook for the future be-
gan to brace up and carry their heads IN the air They
took hold of their affairs with renewed courage
all OF which assisted in the restoration OF good busl-
ness"
Commenting upon the results of the enterprise,
which, be it remembered was conducted during the
excitement of the war, Mr.. Wakefield says: "It is
calculated the large sum of $ooooooo left in the
city as the result of the exposition. Business was
never better than present The year 1893 was the
largest yet for merchants and jobbers, and the
present year starts out even better than I8o8
The Examiner says the working people of the city
will derive no employment or profit from the expo
stion but Mr.. Wakefield says that from the begin
ming of the work on the exposition in Omaha to the
day of its opening a large force of men was en-
ployed, amounting at times to 1000. The result OF
course was beneficial to the city.
1t is unnecessary to add anything to these state
1nents Of the results of the experience of Omaha.
Every intelligent make for himself the ap-
plication to the problem before 1t is to be noted
that at the end of its croak of yesterday the Examiner
hinted that it expects to share in the division of ad
vertising'' Is that what it is waiting for?