Evening star., 1924-10-26
Moving the
CAPITAL.

of people so years ago,
moving the but it was somewhat
c:41 losing it's vogue, as
OaPiId1. the following sum-
mary of the report of session of
the Capital movers at Louisville,
printed in The Star of October %,
1874. indicates:
Editorially the Louisville Courier
Journal says with quiet sarcasm of
the doings of the Capital-movers.
| NO change in the National seat of
government was effected yesterday
and then refers its readers to its
local columns for report of the
proceedings of the convention-"less
than thirty"-of Capital movers, who
were accommodated, with room to
spare, in the gentlemen's parlor of
the Gait House. Looking to the local
report we find that there seemed to
be a lack of concert and a general
m misunderstanding on the part of the
delegates to the Capital Removal
Convention as to the date, place and
general arrangements for the as
sembly. Only about a dozen dele
gates were in town on Monday night,
but it was expected large number
would arrive either on the morning
or afternoon trains from all direc-
tions. But they didn't come" or
the 80 delegates appointed from Mis-
souri, only three put in an appear
ance. Reavis and two others.
When he (Reavis) arrived the
report goes on to say, he found
discouraging state of affairs, only
few delegates, and no steps taken
by the people of Louisville. No en-
thusiaSm on the subject. not even
any arrangements made for place
of meeting At 10 o'clock a few
delegates went to Library Hall, but
finding it closed went away. At
half past II o'clock Mr. Reavis and
small number of Kentucky delegates,
accompanied by four newspaper re-
porters, came to the library and oc-
cupied the lower hall, a cold, cheer
less place for a movement of SO stu
pendous a character. The convention
was called to order with % delegates
present, and during the day the num-
Der swelled to 81"
Judge John NJ. Elliott of Catletts-
burg, KY, was called to the chair,
but stated that he knew but little
about the objects of the convention"
| whereupon Mr.. Reavis proceeded to
inform him. The Convention" then
went to work to organize, with the
usual quota of presidents, vice pres
idents. secretaries and half a dozen
committees, but as there were only
% delegates honors were liberal and
every delegate had a chance to shine
in half a dozen capacities. Then Mr..
Reid of Missouri arose and made a
few remarks, in which he deplored
the apathy manifested by the people
of Louisville in so important mat
ter Then Mr.. Laird of Kansas
said he was in favor Of postponing
the convention to a better time. Then
Mr. Jackson moved to adjourn to the
Gait House. where they had been
promised the free use of a room. He
said further, with wrath blazing
from his somewhat inf1amed nose,
that "he had been prompted by the
cold manner in which the convention
had been treated to propose to ad
journ to Jeffersonville. Then Col.
Kelley of Louisville arose and de-
MED, on behalf of the people of that
city, that the lack of interest mani
tested by them was a lack of cor
diality. but added with candor that
he didn't suppose there was any great
enthusiasm on the subject amongst
them.
Mr.. Neff of Indiana thought the
members ought not to fall out with
Louisville. He thought the conven-
ton was a failure. Mr.. Hudson of
Indiana also thought the convention
was a failure. Mr.. Reavis rose to ex-
plain. He had given publicity to
the convention through all the prom
inent papers of the country. He said
the people regarded the movement
as premature. He declared the gus
ton to be ripe now. This conven-
| ton was only one link in the chain
of popular agitation. The result was
sure to come, and he looked for it
sooner than others. If the National
Capital could not be moved to the
valley of the Mississippi in one way,
it would be moved in another"
Then the convention adjourned to
the free" parlor at the Gait House.
Then some more committees were ap-
| pointed-one, on motion of Mr..
| Reavis, "to draft a memorial to the
National Congress at the next ses-
| sion for their favorable considera-
| ton of the capital-removal question"
At this juncture Col. Kelley of
| Louisville consternated the 22 other
conventionists by moving as a sub
stitute for Reavis' motion the fol-
lowing: THAT 1t is the sense of this
| convention that 1t is not necessary
or desirable to remove the National
Capital from It's present location"
| The substitute was voted down and
J the Reayis motion adopted, whereup-