Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-09-23
THE EXPOSITION
Has Suffered Severely Through
the Terrible Tragedy.
Steps Being Taken to Restore Its
Former Good Business.
Lat. President Was Deeply Interested and
Would Wish it II Prosper.


as it has never known. What was in
tended to be the gala period of its his
tory was turned into unspeakable grief
which has gone into every home with
q force hard for anyone not here to
realize. BuffalO was full of personal
loyalty and enthusiasm for President
Mckinley. 1t has been a center of Nc
kinley sentiment all through his pub
lie career and there was no city in the
country where friendship and devotion
for him was more marked. Naturally
his tragic end. while its guest de-
pressed the city beyond expression.
There never was a community more
Cngrossed in a great undertaking than
Buffalo was with the Pan-American
Exposition three weeks ago. Every
man. woman and child in the city had
direct interest and pride in the I'M
dortaking. Ii seemed that everyone
with whom Il stranger spoke had in
mind the large iuedl of the great gOou
which the demonstration Of the Won
dcrful resources and abilities OF the
Western hemisphere was to do for the
country. Buffalo people seemed rather
proud that the whole expense OF the
demonstration had fallen upon them
and their fellow citizens. They would
call attention to the fact that all of the
funds had been raised in Buffalo With
out assistance from the nation. the
state or even the city corporation.
1t is the first Exposition which has
had no subsidies so strangers We're
told. Citizens said: The United States
has furnished a wonderful exhibit. far
more attractive than has ever been
seen before: the state Of New York
has erected a beautiful marble palace;
the city of Buffalo has built Il bridge
and has furnished water and fire and
police protection. but the funds to erect
the city of light have all comc from
the private resources of Buffalo pco-
pie
When in his memorable address the
President emphasized the Pan Ameri-
can idea and made it part of history,
the people of Buffalo realized that
their efforts We're appreciated. They
seemed contented and proud that as
individuals of one city. they ha done
the work which might well have been
the nations undertaking. The reNul-
sion vas terrible, and now that it is
passed the question of what is to come
is interesting.
The public feeling is strong ana all
one way. Every one seems To realize
that the stockholders Of the EXPOSE
ton have met a great loss. probably of
not less than $1.0c0,000. That practi-
cally means the citizens. for about cv-
cry Buffalonian has stock in the EX-
position according to his means.
The dollars and cents seem pretty
thoroughly to be eliminated from the
calculation now. but the work to be
done and the end to be achieved seem
foremost in every mans mind. They
feel now that the Exposition must be
carried to glorious finish as Il labor
of patriotism and Of love.
President Milburn and Director Cen
cral Buchanan were seen together, yes
tcrday. President Milburn put this
Thought very strongly. He said:
There must he 10 faltering in our
efforts now, considering how much the
success Of the an-Amcrican Expp=i
ton means in the development Of
closer political and commercial rela-
tions between the peoples of the West
earnestly favored by President Mci<in
ley and which Interested him s" deeply
in the Exposition from its fist incep
ton. It is strange stroke OF fate that
the success of the Exposition should
be threa tened through this fearful
tragedy We should be lacking in 10y
atty to his memory il we did not bend
all our energies to browning the work
which he had so close to his heart.
IRE position in which the tragedy
found me gave me the opportunity to
know what was in that great soul dur
ing the hours Just before that exec
/: BE shot. The President had taken
the deepest interest in the Exposition
flom the start. Its ideal and concep
ton are in harmony with his wise and
b1nefcent public policy. The years
that have been spent in the evolution
and development of the IDEA OF the es-
slntial interdependence Of the nations
OF this hemisphere. which we call the
Pan American idea. nave their hrst
fun expression in this Exposition. 1t
gave the opportunity which he utilized
in that great speech which has already
passed into history as the highest note
Of American craftsmanship and the
most perfect expression of the Pan
American idea.
The way in which the idea has been
developed here and the glorious set
ting which art and industry have given
it gratified and even surprised the
President He was deeply impressed
by the beauty and magnitude of the
Exposition. the wonderful display of
electrical, illumination and the evil
dences on every side of the hearty CO.
operation of the governments and peo-
pies of the North. South and Central
Americas in making it truly Pan
American. He told me that above ev-
erything he wished that he could have
Rad time and opportunity for an eX-
tensive and uninterrupted inspection
of the ground. the buildings and the
exhibits l know that had he been
spared to conclude his visit he intend
ed to commend the Exposition in his
powerful and convincing way to the
support of the public.
There are six weeks more of the