Omaha daily bee., 1919-11-09
Views and RevleWs
How Omaha Once Before Put
Over an Erp0Slt9On

for which all concerned are entitled to con-
gratulations. There is only one thing in the
history of Omaha that in any way compares
with it, and that is the organization and hnanc-
ing of the Trans Mississippi exposition nearly
Is years ago. 1t is not by way of detracting
from the present achievement but to show
what push and pluck has done and can do again,
that call attention to that wonder-work that
may be looked back to for inspiration for the
newest exposition project.
According to the records, the Trans-Misss-
sippi exposition which had been urged in diff
ferent forms by The Bee from time to time,
secured formal endorsement of the Transmits
sissippi congress held in Omaha in 1885,
lowing this up, the leading business men held
series of conferences which eliminated in
citizens meeting, January 18, 1896, at which
preliminary organization was perfected. Arti-
cles of incorporation were adopted providing
for an authorized capital stock of Sl,000,000 at
$40 per share, complete organization to come
after $4,000 had been subscribed. When a
disposition was manifested at this meeting to
form only paper corporation, with nominal
stock holdings, my father, who had been the
most earnest exposition enthusiast, insisted
upon embracing the enterprise in real earnest,
and, by himself heading the list with sub
scription of $500 started the ball a-roling at
sufficient speed to bring the total figure up to
Sl0,650 before the meeting adjourned. He had
stock certificate "No. l." and though we later
ceipts for subsequent assessments paid in are
correspondingly numbered.
With this magnificent start. of which only
10 per cent was paid in, the Trans-Mississippi
exposition went before congress with bill
providing for official recognition and a gov
ernn1ent exhibit, coupled with an appropriation
Of $5OO000 for the purpose, later cut down to
100000 before it was passed, and made con-
ditional on a subscription of $250,000 to the
exposition. The outcome forced a new drive
81 h>~1
1896, under officers and directors who carried
the exposition through to the glory of success.
The final financial statement shows that for
thee Trans Mississippi exposition the paid-in
stock subscriptions aggregated $411 Jas, with
outright donations by corporations and doubt
ers, who did not want to risk liability for as
sessments in case of failure, of SAL 670-to-
gether making the capital resources $s534l5.
Ot course there were other supplemental funds,
the legislative appropriation for the participa-
ton OF Nebraska as a state, the money voted
by Douglas county, the appropriations Of other
states for their exhibits, aside from revenues
from gate receipts, sale of exhibit space con-
cessions and privileges, salvage etc. Remem.
bering that all this was accomplished when
Omaha was in the lowest depths of impover-
ishment and despair following successive years
OF financial depression and crop failures when
raising half million dollars for any public
purpose seemed sheer impossibity. the pro-
moters of the Ak-Sar-Ben exposition have
every reason for encouragement.
Looking into the exposition records dis
clnsss another interesting but generaly-forgot-
ten fact, that Hon. James M. Beck, who is
today again visitor in our city, was "the ora
tor OF the day" for the magnificent Indepen-
dsnce day celebration July q, 1898, which was
the second big day on the Trans Mississippi
grounds which had been opened with eclat on
June preceding. That was the day news was
received of the destruction of Cervera's feet
by our navy under Sampson and Schley, and
the proceedings were interrupted to read the
press bulletins which marked the end of the
war with Spain. precipitating an outburst of
patriotic enthusiasm that made the immense
crowd go wild. Mr.. Beck, then rising young
lawyer Of the Philadelphia bar, had already
laid the foundation of his high reputation as an
orator The subject OF his address was "As An
advantage of the inspiring news from Cuba, he
pulled few tail-feathers in fashion that
made the old bird scream. Those who were
there we'll remember.
The latest turn on the peace treaty makes
pertinent pert again the interview had with Mr..
TAFT when he last went through Omaha and
which l reported in this column in July as
throwing light upon the letter he had written
outlining reservations or interpretations to
ratification which he thought might be accept
able reproduce again what he said in answer
come.
1T looks to me-" he said, "as if we would
have deadlock, which will be avoided or
broken only by compromise. Friends of the
league are assured they will command a ma
Jorlty of the senate sufficient to vote down any
motion to amend, but I feel they will fall short
OF the two-thirds majority necessary to ratify.
Under such conditions, the two sides can get
together by finding common ground in reserva-
tons OF the nature proposed by Mr.. Root-not
the precise phraseology, but reformulation of
the points that would be satisfactory to two
thirds of the senator's"
lntmated that he might yet be cast in the
role OF the great compromiser, but he laughed
1t OF with jocular remark that he doubted
whether he was popular with either side From
the. general tone of the whole conversation. it
IS fair to conclude that the last western trip
is what determined Mr. Taft to propose COM
promise arrangement as the only way out,
Remember the exploits of General Bynz in
the war? The general is in danger of winning
tame for hitting it off as speaker as we'll as a
nghtef Inc town OF Colchester recently con-
1erred upon him the honor of the freedom of
the city and in acknowledgement, as reported,
he said:
y appear before you as representing one
OF the army that you sent out to the front
tbnl nave e no Special special qualification that
tnink OF 70 ADDRESS you. ! make no claim to
no claim to having written reminiscence in
which the abuse of ones colleagues forms
prominent part. There is but the simple fact
that served my country. We all, think
served our country and did our best
(Cheers)
Who says the Britisher has no sense of
M<znr Gm