Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1911-02-24
Personal Triumph of IIIinoisan in
the Contest for Canal Ex-
position.
NEW ORLEANS MAY HOLD FAIR
Republican Caucus Plan to Restrict
Size of House Unjust to Growing
States-Guesses at Taft's Rea-
son for Abandoning South
ern Trip.

tropolis Of the south, and San Fran
cisco, the city with the Orient before
her and the United States at her back,
has sprung some political agitation
which may perhaps affect politics and
politicians in the immediate years to
come.
BeIatedly perhaps, but still with the
desire to express my own opinion and
TO reflect in a brief way the expressed
opinions Of a host of members Of con-
gress, some Of whom were opposed
to his proposition, | would like to re-
cord emphatically that the honCrs Of
the debate were won by Representa-
tive William A. Rodenberg of Illinois.
lie spoke for New Orleans and lost
But he won such an ovation in the
house as has not been seen in my
time | asked a veteran member of
the house of epresentatives-a man
who, incidentally was against the
Rosenberg proposition for New
Orleans-Whether he had ever seen so
fine, so enthusiastic a tribute paid to
any member. Not since the time
William J. Bryan was carried out Of
the chamber on the shoulders of the
Democrats after his great tariff
speech, was the answer.
Mr.. Rodenberg, though beaten, has
every reason to be proud Of the ap-
probation of his speech by his fellows
In congress. Illinois has every reason
to be proud Of him as representative
who has made his mark.
Fight Not Yet Ended.
1t is not all over, this fight between
the gulf coast and the Pacific coast
for this exposition. The Pacific has
won the first two rounds and won
them fairly. But the gulf and the
Mississippi valley have not quite
given up the fight. They are talking
or their representatives are-at this
moment of holding an exposition Of
their own at New Orleans, using the
funds already voted, exceeding $8,000,-
900, to defray it's expense Further
more they will fight in the senate the
passage to enactment of the San
Francisco bill passed by the house.
But the best public opinion obtainable
in and about the capitol is to the eff
feet that the issue Is settled; San
Francisco may take it's prize, and
New Orleans retire to the outer dark
ness, where there is weeping and
gnashing of teeth.
New Orleans may console itself
with the reflection that a worlds fair
usually results in a prolonged period
of depression for the city in which 1t
has been held That was sadly the
case in Chicago after the Columbian
worlds fair of 1898. If you talk to
Chicagoan about the worlds fair he
responds with emphasis, Never
again!" The city was broke for near
~ four years after that great gather
ing of peoples from all corners of the
earth. The Chicago folk are still
proud of the fair they gave, and out
Of long experience l can say it was
the most artistic ever held, but they
look back on its financial aftermath
with dismal recollections. St Louis
did a little better, but as a rule ex-
positions hurto rather than help the
cities in which they are held.
Labor Issue Is Dreaded.
1t may be different with San Fran
cisco. We all hope it will be. But
some of the Californians themselves
are inclined to believe that harm rath-
er than help is likely to come out of
it. One Of the most prominent rep
resentatives in congress from that
state expressed to me, while the vote
was III progress which fixed the place
for the exposition, his dread of the
labor issue which might be raised
when this colossal enterprise was be-
gun.
san Francisco is absolutely in the
handS OF the labor unions,' he said.
when the exposition board begins
the erection of the buildings. and the
beautltying Of the park in which thew
are 10 stand, it will meet the imme-
date demand that all be done bv
union labor. | am credibly informed
that this demand will be refused and
that ccolie labor from Japan will be
utilized. If the demand is acceeded
TO the yoke of organized labor will be
fastened more tightly upon the necks
OF San Francisco employers If the
latter, the state will have saddled upon
it q horde Of cheap oriental laborers
of whom 1t cannot rid itself"
Nevertheless California, as officially
represented here, rejoices and is ex-
ceedingly glad over its victory in the
house and even its opponents do not
fail 10 say that San Francisco will
make good. A southern man in
moment Of acrimony said to me that
the vote was carried by "Tammany,
Taft and Hearst and indeed all the
forces did cooperate as the vote
shows. But another added to them,
James j. Hill, and am much inclined
to believe that the influence of that
Nestor of American railroads to-day
was the final force that fixed the spot
for the Panama exposition
Tariff Commission Trouble.
In the congress of the United States
btlls are sometimes soon passed and