Bisbee daily review., 1907-11-21
EXPLAINS HOW DOUGLAS
LOST MINING CONGRESS

DOUGLAS. Nov. 2O.-(Special.)-
After assisting in one of the grand
est losing fights ever made for con
yention, where all the odds were
against them. !. 4. Lewandowski, of
the Douglas delegation, has returned
to this city, bringing with him the
story of how it happened and the
causes and reasons of 1t. The cause
of taking the mining congress from
the west was general sentiment that
it would be better TO make it national,
rather than sectional in scope; the
reason, that by taking ii to the east
powerful political influence might be
brought TO bear TO secure the fulfill
ment of the desire Of all mining men
representation in the cabinet for
the mining industry.
This and this alone-politics-wa
the impelIing incentive that took the
American Mining congress from its
birthplace and the scene of that which
made its birth desirable-the mining
industry of the country; this and this
alone robbed Douglas Of the honor OF
entertaining the congress a year
uenCe. Had any other consideration
been advanced it would have amount
ed to nothing After the earlier part
Of the nominating features the west
abandoned evsry candidate except
Douglas and. accorded to this city its
generous support. But delegates from
the east anSffhe middle west, where
they have 81 Sand coal, got together
and managed. to out-vOte the west,
the final ballot being 6S for Column
bus to 90 fer Douglas. No other city
was voted for at the final balloting.
When We got there" he said. I'VE
found Columbus already on the scene
with a big delegation, whOOping it up
for Ohio. Their great bid for the con-
graEs VAS moi their mining industry
but the political influence Ohio and It's
national representation can WELD
with the power that-is. 1t has long
been one of the hopes Of the mining
industry that its status shall be recog-
niZed at its true Importance and &C
corded cabinet representation. This
has been one of the great objects of
the American Mining congress. So
along that line they received a very
responsive hearing. They guaranteed
the support Of their political influence
towards the end desired, in considera-
ton of the next congress for Column
bus, and that furnished them with a
bid we, with the exhibit of all our
wonderful mining industries, could
not overcome.
Early in the campaign We were
handicapped. too, by lack OF informa-
ton among the delegates Of Douglas.
Many asked in all earnestness about
the locality of Douglas-what state or
territory it is in, and the like. There
had been no advance newspaper pub
Iicity and they did not know us nor
what we had to offer. We ali had
cards printed and secured large map
which we placed in a conspicuous po-
sitiOn on the platform. We circulated
among the delegates personally and
got what newspaper publicity we
could The voting for the next meet
ing place of the congress was set for
1920 o'clock in the morning of the
last day At that time we had all our
friends and supporters with us and
had the vote been taken at that time
the result might have been different;
anyway the vote would have been
closer. The Ohioans pursued obstTuc-
tive tactics and put of the vote until
late in the afternoon. BY that time
they were sure of their strength and
the vote was taken with the result
stated, which was the logical one I'M
der the circumstances"
Mr.. Lewandowski is sure that Doug
las will be benefited immensely by its
participation in the congress a1d the
fight 1t made to bring the big gather
ing here next year. The advertising
feature of the junEet alone, when this
city was made the runner-up for the
winner and lost only through an in
fiuence outside of the legitimate scope
of the congress, will be Of vast i'm
port, he thinks, to Douglas and the
mining field of which IL is the center
The Joplin newspapers glow with
enthusiasm in handling the part taken
by Douglas In the congress and the
fine fight made by the local delega-
ton. The nominating speech for
Douglas was made by Senator II. S.
Joseph of Nevada. OF his talk the
Globe said:
Mr.. Joseph said that 1t might look
amusing for Utah man to present
the name of a town in a sister state,
but that II Utah had any other choice
1t would be bringing the convention
again to Joplin, where the congress
had received the greatest welcome in