Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-05

-ITHOUT the right sort OF men
XAY this national exposition could
never have become the success
- It is. But IL has had the right
ISGlSlSI sort OF men from the first.
49, Men of peculiar ability and
forceful characters were selected and they
have worked out wonders for the institu-
ton. Some OF these men nave national and
international names and SOM are pillars
Of the country's prosperity. The personnel
OF the promoters of the National Corn
exposition has been one of its soundest
n most valuable assets. The country
has had its attention arrested, first, be-
cause men OF such serious minds have
given their best efforts to the institu-
ton.
President wattIes.
The president Of the National Com ex-
position, Gurdon w. Wattles, is also presl-
dent Of the Omaha and Council Bluffs
Street Railway company and he has a
habit OF being president, possessing ex-
soutive abilities to such a marked degree.
Mr.. Wattles has had little to do. but his
influence. which is large. has been with
the enterprise and his means have not
been stintingly given. He is one of the
men OF large financial interests back OF
the exposition and he has been needed more
than once. Moreover, when he has been
needed he has come to the front with the
counsel or coin that was called for.
Vice President BeIden.
G. c. Belden has from the first been one
Of the iiveliest hustlers who has had any
thing TO do with the National Corn ex-
position. He and Tom Sturgess fairly
haunted the business men OF this city
last year when the enterprise was new to
Omaha in their vigilent pursuit Of the
elusive dollar. Did they get It? Well, take
a glimpse of Mr.. Belden's makeup and
decide. A member Of the Thompson-Belden
company, one OF the largest retail firms OF
the city. Mr.. Belden's personal position
was such as to give tremendous weight and
prestige TO the exposition, and 1t was for
this purpose that he was selected as one
OF the directors and prime movers OF the
exposition and made vice president. No
man has done more persistent pounding for
the success OF the institution.
Charles G. ROsewater.
Charles c. Rosewater, general manager
Of phe Bee Publishing company, was one
OF the prime movers in the National Corn
exposition. After the first show Of the
National Corn association had been held
in Chicago the officers were dissatisfied
and decided that It would be better TO
hold the exposition in a city more centrally
located in the corn belt. After studying the
map and conditions they decided Omaha
was the best. They came to Omaha and
first called upon Mr.. R~osewater. who called
into consultation T.. #. Sturgess, editor OF
Ghs Twentieth Century Farmer, published
~ The Bee Publishing company.
These gentlemen then decided to put the
proposition before the business men of
Omaha, and several OF the leading mer-
chants and jobbers were invited to a lunch
cen, where the proposition was put be-
fure them. They explained the scope of
the show with the result that $4,000 was
subscribed for putting on the exposition.
That these citizens themselves did not
comprehend the great scope OF the ex-
position 10 seen by this small guarantee.
But It was e beginning.
NJ. Rosswater has devoted a large part