The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-04-28
|Nb0RS[D WORLDS FAIR.
Tiansmississippi Congress Adopts
Resolutions Favoring Fed
eral Assistance.
THERE WAS NOT A DISSENTING VOICE.
Ex-Gov. Francis, of Missouri Deliv-
cred m Address Explaining the
Necessity for Prompt and yigOr-
GUS ActiOn-A Special Committee
authorized.

GUS ActiOn-A Special Committed
Authorized.
Houston, Tex, April 20.-The St
Louis exposition of 1908, to celebrate
the centennial of the Louisiana pur
chase, was given a most hearty in
dorsement by the Transmississipp
congress-. The resolutions introduced
b; Mr.. Patterson, of Colorado, wert
adopted by a rising vote, amid great
enthusiasm.
EN-Gov. Francis, of Missouri, was
the principal speaker. He recountet
the historic interest attaching to the
birth and close of the nineteenth cen
fury, and dwelt at length on the in
cidents of the Louisiana purchase and
its effect on civilization. Continuing
lie said:
81 am not here as a representative 81
St. Louis nor of Missouri alone, but
APPEAR before you as a citizen or the
transmississirpi, as a member of this
congress-, organized for the purpose OF
suggesting ways and means for the de-
velcpment Of our boundless resources
ana the promotion and protection of our
common interests-aS an American al
pouling to Americans. St. Louis is not
seeking a worlds fair. Some of her con-
sentative and influential people are OPP
posed to it; and all of US realize the mag
nitude and the labor of the undertaking:
The public spirited, patriotic people OF
that city, however. mindful OF her duty
as the largest and weaithiest city of the
Louisiana territory, and OF the transmits
sissippi section, are willing to assume this
stupendous task, confident that with the
cordial support they will receive from the
loyal people whom you represent ami
from all patriotic citizens, they can carry
Il to a creditable and highly successful
cOnsummation.
which 1 had the honor of presenting to
this body at its 1899 session. held at
Wichita in June last, was on that occa-
sion unanimously indorsed by the Trans
movement up to that time has been given
to you. Since then a bill has been intro
duCed in the senate and the house or rep
resentatives. providing fort he reeogni-
ton of the exposition by the United States
government, and pledging an a~ppropria-
ton of s., 900, 900 in aid thereof, such an ap-
preparation to be made when st. Louis
shall AVE raised SO, OO0. 0O in aid of the
exposition, but not to be available until
the $40, 900, 900 furnished by st. Louis shall
ave been expended to the satisfaction OF
the secretary of the treasury.
Il submit to you whether st. Louis Is
net doing her full duty. The exposition
projected is on a scale commensurate
witt, the great event 1t is to commence
rate. 1t should and shall be second to
no exposition ever held in this or any
other country. In order to launc 1t upo
a BETTING scale, SIS, 900, 900 at least will
be required; and those in charge of the
movement up to this date have deter
mined hat such a sum must be occurred
before a contract will be let, a design
adopted or a single step taken.
No Time to be Lost.
Nc time is to be lost. In fact, it will
demand the most propitious circum-
stances to complete preparations by 19B
IL the requisite money were already Sc
this session of congress-, or the project
will probably be abandoned by st. Louis.
Five of the ten million dollars to be fur
by that city will be provided by
be done only by an amendment to the
constitution, which must be submit
ted by the legislature at a regular session.
and be voted on by the people at a gen.
era. election. The Missouri legislature, at
Its last regular session, held in January,
1879, submitted such an amendment, and it
will be voted on in November next. st.
people own their own homes, and
are taxpayers in an unusual proportion
fer a large city, and are consequently
very conservative in increasing their mu-
nicipal debt. They will most probably
refuse to do so in this instance, unless
the federal government shall have pre-
pledged to aid this celebration,
rs none of them are willing to have a
conditioned on st. Louis previously pro-
viding SO, 000.0 N while the 5000. 900 in
crease in debt of St. Louis is not condi-
Toned on any other aid
I'm my judgment, the increase of st.
Louis municipal debt will be voted down
November. unless satisfactory aSsur- |
ance shall previously be given that the
general government will aid his EXPOSE
ion tn tho avtnnf of * mn nm And uyn,y /
bould the government not do SO? 1 am
not here to preach sectionalism. On the
contrary, l am disposed to make even in |
.ernatiOnal lines less marked. Compare,
,ral treasury given the Louisiana pur- |
states, including the Mississippi!
liver from its source to its m~outh-include
Texas and all the gulf ports II you will
inc compare the total with the ~appropria- |
given since 1903, or during the last
wenty years or ten years., to other sec ,
ions, and then tell me whether you hin
are entitled to this s., O09, 900 out of an |
Lnnual appropriation of over $3.50, QUO. 0Vl. |
then, the surplus revenue of the gov |
is over So, 900. 600, according TO
he last estimate of the secretary of the
It aSury. |
A Just Demand.
why, 5000. 900 is a paltry sum to this
material benefits 1t will yield, the ed
lcG ton 1t will furnish. the elevating in
it will exert, the pleasure it will
mount dwindles into insignifieance. l
this influential, deliberate body to ap-
'oint out of its membership a committee
f five or ten to accompany a delegation
rom St. Louis to Washington, and to
ppear before the Louisiana purchase eel
bi alton committee on April q, in ad-
ocacy of an appropriation of 5000, 900 in
id of the Louisiana Purchase exposition.
DO you ask why we should have this
If I have not given rea-
sufficient let me present a few more.
Where is the productive power of his
cuntry? We car not estimate the |
Ranges wrought by the last ten years,
ut no one will question the assertion
hat the growth west Of the Mississippi
uring that period has been greater b
let what 1t will be during the next ten
ears? Take the census Of 1880. The center
{ area of this country 10 in Smith coun-
Y, KaS., 200 miles west Of the Missouri
liver, in longitude 50 degrees and so min
ties west. In 1880 the center of wheat
reduction wal in Hancock county, ILL.,,
ear Keokuk, Ia, at longitude 81 degrees
rest of New Orleans: the center of corn
was IN Lewis county. No, the
eIter of population In Decatur county,
the center of manufacturers near
anton. O.. at longitude IS degrees n %
west.
when the census Of 1900 is completed
lese centers of production and popula-
Will surely be shown much farther
est. AT your session In June last I at
.mpted to show what proportion Of our
Is grown In the Louisiana terri
But OF the wealth of the
,untry?I nave at hand some striking tia
sites comparing the states bordering on :