Evening star., 1911-01-12
The Official Canal Celebration.

According to present expectations the
Panama canal will be opened for use In
the year 1915. and it is the present plan
,or the government of the United States
some appropriate manner to mark the
snd Of this titanic work Of engineering,
10 significant to the world and so ex-
oressive Of the American capacity for
overcoming difficulties. The first sug-
sestion was. as In all previous cases OF
national jubilation. to commemorate the
opening OF the canal with an international
exposition, a worlds fair such as that
held In Philadelphia in 1876 to mark the
centenary Of the Declaration Of 1ndepend-
ence, that held in Chicago in 1893 to
celebrate the quadro-centennial of the
discovery Of America. and that held in st.
Louis In 1904 to express the national
sense of qualification for the Louisiana
purchase. Claims have been advanced by
,arious cities for the honor Of being Sc
ected as the site for this affair, New
Orleans. San Francisco and San Diego
zach urging its geographical and COM
nercial Appropriateness. The two cities
irst named have organized large COM
panies for this purpose. and their repre-
,entatives are now in Washington seek
m& 10 peISuduc SOHSEcSS W AStV6hl1C
their respective claims.
Meanwhile from all quarters comes the
suggestion that whatever may be done
oy the government in the way of putting
an official stamp of recognition upon an
exposition held in New Orleans or in San
Francisco, or even in San Diego, and
styled in a manner to cause it to be
xnown as celebration Of the canal OPEN
ing, the government should itself, and
N its own place and its own way, pro-
claim to the world with suitable cere-
monies the completion OF it's great task,
30 significant to the commerce of all
nations. There is but one place for such
1 formal, official celebration Of the canal
,pening-Washington, the seat Of the
government that has undertaken and ac-
:omplished this gigantic enterprise.
Washington cannot hope, nor does it
lesire, to enter into q competition with
my other city as an aspirant for Panama
,anal exposition honors. 1t does not
wish to enter any claims based upon
commercial fitness or upon financial abil-
ty to float such a large undertaking. 1t
aas, indeed, its doubts of the advantage
" being chosen as the site of worlds
lair" 1t does feel. however, that even
though other cities may wish to hold
such expositions, with or without gov
Hnment money aid, there can be no ques-
uon that when the time comes for the
United States to announce to all the
lauons. through their official representa-
ives at this capital, that the work at
Panama Is finished, here Is the place
where this proclamation should be made
Ind here the point from which the Presi-
lent of the United States should with his
wn hand touch the electric button tnat
physically opens the locks and permits
he entrance of vessels into the inter-
oceanic waterway.
There is nothing inconsistent between
his proposal and the plans of the rivals
aow represented in Washington seeking
government recognition for a so-called
Panama canal exposition in 1915 1t
would. on the other hand. be entirely in
consistent for the United States to trans
Ter the scene OF its significant official
announcement from Washington to New
Orleans. or to San Francisco or San Diego
Or any other city. 1t would be out
,f keeping with the dignity and the i'm
nenstty and the sigpincance Of the work
20 speedily brought to triumphant con-
siusion.
No consideration of finances need enter
INTO this question. A program of a week
H ceremonies here in Washington could
se arranged by a governmental commits
sion at a cost that in comparison with
hat of creating and maintaining an i'm
nense exposition would be the merest
rifle. There should be incidentally some
permanent memorial here to commemo-
tate the occasion. There need be no
elaborate array of buildings. permanent
sr temporary. IL Congress Is averse to
his form of commemoration. no street OF
ide shows, no prize pumpkins or circus
features The whole affair in Washing.
.on should be dignified, significant and
impressive, as BELTS the declaration by
he western republic to all the world that
I has conquered the isthmus and made
! channel from ocean TO ocean for the
ihips OF all nations.