The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-10-15

and enjoyed to its full extent the hospitality
for which st. Louis is noted.
! Inc visiting party. which consists of
more than fifty members. was taken In
charge by officials of the Worlds Fail
| early in the morning and rendered series
| OF entertainments which only concluded
| when 1t was time to get aboard the special
| train last night.
Distinguished citizens from South and
| Central America, who are delegates to ,he
! congress. met local business men at the
| l-atin-American Club and the Merchants
! Exchange. and discussed with them meth
DDS of increasing the friendly feeling ex-
| isting between their countries and St.
| Louis.
| The feature of the days entertainment
| was reception and dinner rendered the
! visitors at the Country Club. Nearly 100
| persons were seated at table and every one
| present appeared TO enter heartily into the
| spirit of the gathering. Speeches which
were made We're filled with sentiment IA
vorinS a Closer relation between the United
States and the Latin-American Republics
and in favor of the Worlds Fair.
All the members of the National Worlds s
Fair Commission were present. That body
met at the Southern Hotel shortly before
noon. but adjourned almost immediately.
so that It's members might meet the Pan
American delegates.
The Worlds Fair Reception Committee
called at Union Station. where the dele
gates special train had lain over Sunday
night at 10 a M and IN b;ch ,hax we're en
driven through the principal business
streets to the Latn-Amercan Club: There
an informal reception was held. after
which the party was taken to the Mer-
chants Exchange
President Haarstick of the exchange
called the assemblage TO order, and ,I made 81,
calling on Acting Mayor Joseph l. Hornsby.
ACTING MAYOR HORNSBY
WELCOMES THE DELEGATES.
Mr.. Horrsby welcomed the guests on be-
half of the municipality and Mayor Wells.
whose absence from the city prevented re-
ceiving them in person. He said that st.
IIouisans. like all Americans, would watch
with keen interest the proceedings of the
congress in the City of Mexico. He con-
cluded his remarks by extending a hearty
invitation to the guests to visit st. Louis
in 1903 Short addresses were made by
President Francis of the Worlds Fair and
Senor Don Martin Garcia Merou of Ar
gentine Republic. In part, Senior Merou
said:
The blessings of prosperity so plentifuly
given to your nation are well deserved, gen
tlemen, by your inexhaustible and untiring
efforts to improve the conditions of life in
your country. TO raise the moral and intel
lectual standard of your race, and to link
all the peoples of the world by the ties of
mutual intercourse. sending your products
to every part of the globe as harbingers or
peace.
LET us hope that the present prosperity
of the United States will last forever. and
increase in the future. bringing happiness
ard comfort'to to all the inhabitants or this
brate together the success of your indus
try two years hence in the Louisiana Pur-
chase Exposition. and repeat then to you
the expressions of our friendship and the
cordial participation we take in all the
triurlphs of the American nation
From the Merchants Exchange the party
.JriN YYinrinal residence
section of the city and through Forest Park
to the Worlds Fair site. The grounds We're
thoroughly Inspected and i the delegates; aMs;, TO
ticaly upon them. Several representatives
stated that no exposition which has ever
been held possessed so many natural ad-
After leaving the grounds the visitors
were taken direct to the Country Club.
W %hsrs sicb tbe ladies Of the party were in
troduced to the members of the local COM
mttee. The drive from the city put Keen
edge on every ones appetite. and the an
that luncheon was served was
received with pleasure.
PRESIDENT FRANCIS
ACTS AS TOASTMASTER.
President Francis presided at the dinner
and acted as toastmaster. After coffee and
cigars he opened with an address OF well
come. In part he said: -,
You are the guests to-day of the Loui.
lana Purchase Exposition Company. That
ii never could have survived. it never could
have made the progress which mas
achieved up to this time. had 1t not been
for the good will and the active support OF
the late lamented President Of the United |
States He realized what this Exposition
would mean TO the entire country. 1t Is not |
necessary nor would 1t be fitting upon thlS |
occasion for me to attempt to pronounce
eulogy upon a man whose taking of Is la, |
mented by all the people OF the unlted
States. l request therefore that you ri,e
md drink in silence TO the memory OF WILL !
lam Mckinley"
The company drank the toast in silence.
after which Mr. Francis continued as io'-
lows:
'.The Exposition. my friends. that we pro-
pose to hold in st. Louis in 1?8. Will com
l attempted to Veil you TINS
greatest event in the history
Of this country since Its independence was
l know many OF you have at
aware of the fact that there are those who
think that eXpositions should not be at
tempted, but in my judgment. there was
never time in the history of the world
when the inventive genius of man required
opportunity for its demonstration as II does
to-day. We learn by experienGe. ana as
which has passed is superior to all others
gone before. so will the Louisiana Purchase
Exposition In 1903 surpass ALL OF Its prede-
cessors. shall not detain you by detail
ng the features of this Exposition. nor the
merits of the great event which 1t is held
% celebrate. Who would have prophesied
years ago that by this time wireless teleg-
Apply would be in permanent use. and that
vessel $50 miles at sea could be freely
ieved even five years ago that a successful
lying machine would be by an inventive
genius from Brazil shown to an admiring
public?
TELLS OF PROSPECTIVE
EXHIBITS FOR 1908.
who will dare question that in 1903 more
han one successful flying machine will be
Exhibited in st. Louis. This Is progress
i've age, my friends. 1t is not the material
n 1903 in St Louis. but we shall have with
Is the distinguished of all nations and of all
LINES. and among those guests whom we
hall have on that occasion. there will be
lone more welcome than our friends OF
'entral and South America.
I'VE feel that you are our neighbors.a and We
HIM you should feel closer to us than you |
10 to any other metropolitan city in the |
Jnited States There is direct water com
from st. Louis to every Central
nd South American country. and that water
communication will be very soon materially
he isthmus. We of the Louisiana Purchase ;
nd of the Mississippi Valley have too long
elayed exercising our influence with the
egin now to demand Of the Federal Gov
rnment that the Mississippi De improved SO | I
hat 1t will be navigable for steamers OF
wenty feet draft. at least from st. Louis
o the Gulf. but I do not intend to detain .
ou:
II wish now to propose sentiment
which is always first in the hearts of the | 7
itizens of this Republic; that Is, The Gov {
rnment has recognized this Exposition by $
making material appropriation In aid Of j
Is inauguration. and 1t has appointed $
commission of distinguished citizens to rep I
tsent II. / know OF no one who can more c
appropriately respond to the sentiment of :
he Government of the United States than @