The San Francisco call., 1901-12-21
Exercises at the Coliseum.

On the platform at one side Of the Coll
scum, decorated with United States flags
and banners and bunting of red, white and
blue and yellow, the official colors of the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition, were
seated the officers of the worlds fair, mu-
nicipal officials, Congressman James A.
Tawney and Worlds Fair National Com
missioner Joseph n. NJ. Allen, the orator
of the day. Governors of States, national
commissioners, members of the board of
lady managers, General Bates and staff,
Governor Van SAINT of Minnesota, Gov
ernor Savage of Nebraska, Governor Da-
Wis of Arkansas, Governor DOckery of
Missouri, Colonel John Oglesby, repre-
senting Governor Yates of Illinois, who
sent regrets, and members of the Illinois
Worlds Fair Commission and other in
vited guests
President D. R. Francis of the Louisi-
ana Purchase Exposition Company called
the Coliseum meeting to order, and the
Rev. DR.. Samuel ]. NicOlls of Westmin-
ster Presbyterian Church pronounced the
Minnesota, chairman of the House Com
mittee on ExpOsitions. made the first ad-
dress. He said in part;
The Importance of this exposition as a
means of educating ourselves and other nations
in the knowledge of those things that make
the foremost nation of the globe cannot be
ficial, too, in that it will give to our social
and Industrial fabric a moral and an intellec-
tual significance that is the pride Of America
and the envy of the world One OF its chief
values. however. will be in the opportunity for
strengthening and culttvating more intimate
States and between the United States and for
eign countries
Another great object to be accomplished. one
that transcendS all others, is in the fact that
this exposition is intended and will commemo-
national event in history, the one that
marks the beginning of that national policy
that has made us a world power, without which
our present industrial and political supremacy
could never have been achieved.
Worlds Fair Commissioner John Allen
of Mississippi who was to have followed
Mr.. Tawney with an address, was de-
tanned in Kansas City, and Governor JEFF
ferson Davis Of Arkansas was substi-
tuted. Governor Davis made a few re-
marks, confining himself almost wholly
to prediction of the worlds fair success.
Wide Scope of the Exposition.
The exposition will be held in celebration of
the centennial OF what Is known in history as
the Louisiana Purchase. BY this Transaction
the United States Government in 1903 secured
from France all the land lying between the
Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains
an area OF more than million square miles
and exceeding the territory of the United
states at that time Fourteen States and Ter
rttories have p5en created out of the Louisiana
Territory, having total present Population Of
9 aboUt o 10 5 099 6 coo and an estimated wealth
of ST. Louis raised by private subserintion
S500COO0 the municipality Of St. Louis added
$5,OOOCOO the State of Missouri appropriafed
81 600 eco and the United States has given ffs
Endorsement and help to the extent of So 0OO-
ernment buildings. Appropriations have been
made by several States ranging from SIS O0O
to 1880. eco D'0OV
On the Goth Of August last the President of
the United States issued a proclamation adj
dressed to all the nations of the world inyitin,-
theIn 70 participate In the Worlds Fair at St