The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-27
IT is URGENT.
David r. Francis, Ex-Secretary
of the Interior,
Pleads For Appropriation Of
$5,OOO,OOO at Once.
FOR WORLDS FAIR
In CommemOratiOn of the LOuis<
lana Purchase Centennial.
Large Delegation Appears Be-
fore House Special Committee.

Washington, April 27.-The house
committee room on insular affairs was
filed to overfiowing today with a dis
tinguished body of representative men
from the west and southwest, who ap-
peared to make formal presentation OF
the project for an international exposi-
tion at st. Louis in 1903 to commemorate
the Louisiana purchase and the result
ing development of the Mississippi val
ley and it's vast tributary sections.
Bills already have been introduced in
the senate by Mr.. Cockren and in the
house by Mr.. Lane, giving a national
aspect to the enterprise and providing
IS, 100000 appropriation in it's aid This
has attracted the attention and en-
couragement of the sections throughout
the middle west and the delegation now
appears to urge the magnitude of the
project.
From a commercial and national
standpoint and to give status which II
is hoped to secure favorable considera--
tion in the present congress, the dele
cation was made up of governors, ex-
governors, mayors of leading Cities
former cabinet officers and men prom
inent in public and business life, in
cluding Gov. D. W. Jones, Of Arkansas;
Attorney General Campbell,of Colorado;
T. P. Rixey, labor commissioner of Mis-
I souri,; ]. G. Slonecker, representing Gov.
Stanley of Kansas, ex-Gov. r. 3. Hub
lSbard of Texas; D. D. Leach, represent
Ting Gov. Barnes of Oklahoma; Judge
| T. c.. Humphrey, of Fort Smith, Ark;
N. P. Ramsey, of Columbus, O.; ez-Sec-
| retar'y of the Interior d. r. Francis, and
/ a numerous delegation from St Louis,
| including ex-Mayor G. 2. Walbridge, O.
L Whitelaw, ex-IieuteEant Governor
J. NJ. O'Meara, Nathan Frank and Seth
/ W. Cobb.
The hearing was given under the
| auspices of the special committee on
/ the Centennial Of the Louisiana pur-
| chase consisting of Representatives
Tawney, chairman, and Steele, Sherman,
| Joy, Corliss, Burke, Williams (M1ss-)s
Fx-Secretary Francis of Missouri
| opened the hearing. He said in part:
I'VE appear before you, not as repre-
sentatives of a single city or of a single
4 state, but in behalf of the fifteen states
and two territories carved out OF the
Louisiana purchase and IN the name OF
the entire TranSniSSiSSlppl section OF
our country to lay before you the plan
we have adopted for conmemoratin
the one hundredth anniversary of the
acquisition of the Louisiana territory;
and to ask therefor, the recognition ana
aid of the general government
Great events in the history of the
country should be conmemorated py
appropriate celebrations. Patriotism is
fostered thereby and patriots are incl
ted to nobler efforts. Older countries
with records extending further back, but
no more brilliant nor more enduring
than ours have holidays which they oD-
serve and commemorate of the victories
| they have gained, of the domain they
have annexed, of the advances they
have made in civilization, of the pro-
gress they have accomplished toward
the freedom we enjoy
ITO those of us who inhabit the trans
? mississippi section no event in the his
tory of the government is of equal inn
portance to the Louisiana purchase and
none is of greater moment to the people
of the entire country. Who could, or
ha
, trend of events if the sunset side of the
{ Father of Waters had remained under
the control of a foreign power? Repub-
| lican institutions in America would
. have had a much harder struggle, and
/ | might not have survived. The oppor-
' | tunity for development which this
4 transmississippi empire gave US, broad
2 ened our theatre OF action ana so ele-
2 ! waited and matured the character of our
people that it inspired US with renewed
: | confidence in our stability and our des-
: | tiny. It gave us room abundant for the
r oppressed of other nations 1t gave US
2 | undisputed possession of the mighty
river and its outlets to the sea. Our
Y acquisition of the Louisiana territory
S was a great boon to the race as well
G as of incaIculable benefit to the young
r | republic. It's development is unparal-
| leled. Today it furnishes homes for 20
= | millions of intelligent freemen. 1t is
= the seat of the productive power of a
e country which A1ulhall says is the rich
e est on the globe. by two thousand mil
- | lions OF dollars.
n After tracing the development of the
i project, Mr.. Francis proceeded
"St. Louis as the largest and wealth.
o lest city in the Louisiana purchase was
G selected as the location for such an ex-
y position and the scale upon which it
should be held was defined by the con-
It Vention of states and territories in the
z. purchase. That convention decided that
r. a sum less than $150000,000 would be in
t sufficient to properly launch an exposi-
g tion of the character named and that
4 five millions thereof should be furnish
s ed by the general government. The bill
: before you pledges to the exposition
e government aid to the extent of S5,000,-
q 900, which however, is not to be appro-
l. priated until the city of st. Louis shall
e have raised the sum of $10,0000e0 and
It when the $5,O00,000 is appropriated it is
h not to be made available until the SO,
n 600, 600 furnished by St Louis shall have
= been expended to the satisfaction of the
l. secretary of the treasury. I submit to
you as fair minded men whether St
l. Louis is not doing her full duty in
n agreeing to furnish ten of the fifteen
million dollars required. The bill throws
d proper safeguards around the expend-
= iture of the money and the conduct OF
the exposition and if you, in your wis
n dom desire to strengthen these safe
In guards, if it is possible to do so. we Of
fer no objection. This is the most op-
to perfume time since the formation of oul
Id government for such a national expo
sition as it is proposed to hold. We have
T. taken a new position among the nations
j. of the globe since the Chicago World s
fair seven years ago. Our achieve
meutS have astoniShed the world. 1t is
r. fit that we should invite the best
as thought of the age and that the elect OF
ne every country should be our guests.
j. "If congress it it's present session re-
j. fuse or fail to pledge the $5,oe0.o00 pro