The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-15
WAS FORMALLY OPENED
The National Export Exposition
at Philadelphia.
TO INCREASE OUR TRADE
The United States Throws Down the
Industrial Gauntlet to the World.
Exhibition Will Prove Uni
versity of Commerce,

Philadelphia, Sept. 14.-with cere-
monies unattended by ostentation, the
National Export exposition was formal
ly opened at noon to-day. Dstin-
guished visitors from all sections of
the country We're in attendance, includ-
ing representatives of diplomatic corps,
officers of the army and navy, scientists
and business and professional men, The
dedicatory ceremonies were held in the
Immense auditorium, which was
crowded.
Admiral Sampson and the officers of
his squadron with other distinguished
guests were escorted from Mayor Ash
bridges office to the exposition grounds
by a platoon of mounted police and $50
marines from the North Atlantic squad
ron. They occupied seats on the plat
form in the auditorium.
In the absence of p NJ. b. Widener,
president of the exposition, the first
vice president, w. w. Foulkrod, deliv-
cred the address, turning the exposition
over to the governor of Pennsylvania
Director General w. P. Wilson deliv-
cred an address on the inception, pur-
pose, plan and scope of the exposition
THE purpose of this exposition" said
he, lis to show the foreign consumer
what the American manufacturer can
make and how cheaply and how we'll he
can make it,
Governor Stone made an address well
coming the visitors, accepting the ex-
position and turning 1t over to the
mayor of Philadelphia. Governor Stone
said:
THE National Export exposition is the
result of the work of two great Phila-
delphia institutions, the Philadelphia
object Is to increase the export trade
of this country. BY the exhibition the
country throws down the gauntlet to
the world and challenges any and all
countries to produce articles as good
and as cheap as those here exhibited
Protective tariffs in this country
have transferred the competition be-
tween importers under free trade to a
competition between home producers
under protection, and to-day the home
producer has a guarantee of the home
trade which induces him to embark in
manufacturing and the home consumer
has his goods at greatly reduced prices
some of them for less than the tariff
on similar imported articles
I'VE are now fairly in the race for
the worlds trade. Our only drawback
is shipping facilities. To-day our ex-
ports are carried in foreign ships and
we are paying S1S0O00,000 each year to
foreign shipowners. This is reflection
on our craftsmanship. Our ocean
freight should be carried in American
ships. If the circumstances do not JUS
tify the construction of American ships
in American docks, congress should by
subsidy or otherwise make it an in
ducement to capital to embark on this
enterprise"
Mayor Ashbridge accepted the expo
sition from the governor. Then Con-
gresham Hepburn of Iowa. chairman
of the congressional committee on in
terstate and foreign commerce, dellv-
cred the Grafton of the day. He said. In
part:
There are $4,000 900 of people in the
United States who labor and who aid in
creating wealth. Fifteen millions of
these possess the entire political power
of the nation.
THE perpetuity of this government is
dependent upon keeping this great
army of laborers employed and, being
employed content.
ut can only be secured by securing
our portion of the trade in the markets
of the world, and in efforts to secure
1t we must meet and overcome the riv-
airy of the great nations.
What modern arms are, what a bat
tleship is in martial contests, this 'ex-
port exposition that is opened to-day
Is to be to us in our efforts to secure
our rightful share of foreign commerce
II might well be called a university of
commerce"
The benediction was pronounced by
Archbishop Ryan of this city and at its
conclusion a message from President
Mckinley was read extending greet
ings and officially opening the great ex-
position. Then chorus of 600 voices
and the audience sang THE Star Span
gled Banner" accompanied by the
United States Marine band.
At the conclusion of the exercises the
exposition was thrown open to the pub
lie and the prominent guests inspected
the buildings, grounds and exhibits.