The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-20
The Panama Canal Exposition.

Gentlemen OF the Board OF Trade and
Chamber Of Commerce: citizens of Wash
ington: business men-may we call your
attention. please. to the scramble that Is
going on between San Francisco and New
Orleans TO secure the Panama Canal ex-
position. The matter is before Congress.
which will have 10 decide. and it seems
now that there is no possibility of a de-
cision before the next session of Con-
gress.
determination, allegation. Islander. vitu-
peration. are in the air. San Francisco
declares that New orleans is a marsny
swamp. where yellow fever and small
pox are prevalent. New Orleans says
that San Francisco has not succeeded
in discriminating all its rats. and that
the Pacific Coast city is in dire danger
Of another attack of bubonic plague.
San Francisco declares that New Orleans
cannot possibly raise the s7.5O0O0O that
Congress demands as a guarantee; New
Orleans reports that san Francisco is due
to have another earthquake soon. A san
Francisco newspaper says it is absurd
TO ask people TO go South to New Or
leans in the summer time, and says:
talk about discussing such a PROPOSE
ton with courtesy. It is too prepos-
ferrous" New Orleans answers: Think
ABOUT the danger of Asiatic Infection in
San Francisco. 1t would be frightful!"
That is the situation, gentIemeni Does
it suggest nothing?
If ever there was a gigantic under
taking brought TO a successful issue: an
undertaking by one nation-ours-which
at vast expenditure OF lives and money
Is designed for the betterment Of the
whole civilized world, it Is the Panama
Canal. It is not San Francisco nor a
New Orleans undertaking: It is the work
q ali the American people. and if there
is 10 be a fitting celebration OF the com
pieton Of that work. what could be
Iaore logical, more fitting. or more patri-
etc than the holding OF such an ex-
position at the nations Capital.
t is at the seat of government that
this gigantic governmental task should be
celebrated. It is here, before Congress,
that the heroes OF that work should re-
ceivs their reward. It is here in Wash
ington that the Chief Executive and the
offl1sls Of The administration should vel
come. as the nations guests, the dlstin-
saished delegates from ali the nations
that win Join with Us in rejoicing that
the work IS done. There Is not one sane
or logical argument why such a stu
pendous undertaking should be provin-
cializsd. as it would be by allowing any
other city 10 arrogats to itself the place
Of honor Of such a celebration.
II might rot be feasible for the Ma
tional Capital-a communicating city
TO raise any such sum as a,5oO.eOO.
but neither should 1t be necessary. in
view OF :he dignity of the work to be
celebrated. to lend the exposition any
commercial aspect. Held here in Wash
inston. every State In the Union might
ntly sic in making the exposition a sue
cess. The nne arts commission. re-
Gently authorized by Congress and ap-
pointed by President Taft, would assure
its artistic merit and, by preventing
sawdry or vulgar display. would make
the exposition an art lesson 70 the Amer
ican people whose value could hardly be
calculated.
The Panama Canal exposition should be
The biggest and most notable event Of the
century, and It can only be made so by
holding It in wsssington-the whole
eountry's city.
when something was proposed il the
senats recently for the benefit Of the
Tslflrc Company, or somewhere. Mr.