59TH CONGRESS, 1st SESSION
DECEMBER 4, 1905--JUNE 30, 1906
SENATE DOCUMENTS
VOL. 14, 1906
SENATE: 59TH CONGRESS: 1st Session
DOCUMENT No. 202
FINAL REPORT OF THE
LOUISIANA PURCHASE EXPOSITION COMMISSION
1906
FEBRUARY 8, 1906
READ, REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRIAL
EXPOSITIONS, AND ORDERED TO BE PRINTED
WASHINGTON, GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, 1906
CONTENTS.
Letters of transmittal
Final report
Centennial Day
Diplomatic Day
State Day
Appendices:
Report on Accounts and Statement of Receipts and Disbursements
Disposal of Salvage
Reports of Foreign Countries
Reports of States, Territories, and Districts
Report of Board of Lady Managers
Statement of Expenditures
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives:_
I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of State
submitting the final report of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition
Commission, furnished in pursuance of section 11 of the "Act to provide
for celebrating the one hundredth anniversary of the purchase of the
Louisiana Territory," etc., approved March 3, 1901.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
THE WHITE HOUSE,
_February 8, 1906._
* * * * *
The PRESIDENT:
The undersigned, Secretary of State, has the honor to lay before the
President the final report of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition
Commission, presented, as required by section 11 of the act of Congress
approved March 3, 1901, entitled "An act to provide for celebrating the
one hundredth anniversary of the Louisiana Territory by the United
States by holding an international exhibition of arts, industries,
manufactures, and the products of the soil, mine, forest, and sea in the
city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri."
Respectfully submitted.
ELIHU ROOT.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
_Washington, February 5, 1906._
FINAL REPORT
OF THE
LOUISIANA PURCHASE EXPOSITION COMMISSION.
As required by section 11 of an act of Congress entitled "An act to
provide for the celebrating of the one hundredth anniversary of the
purchase of the Louisiana Territory by the United States by holding an
international exhibition of arts, industries, manufacturers, and the
products of the soil, mine, forest, and the sea in the city of St.
Louis, in the State of Missouri," approved March 3, 1901, this final
report is here presented:
In the early part of the year 1900 the citizens of St. Louis inaugurated
a movement looking to the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary
of the acquisition of the Louisiana Territory by an international
exposition. A temporary organization having been effected, the subject
was presented to Congress through a committee of citizens appointed for
that purpose. Congress conditionally approved the enterprise by enacting
a law which in substance provided that the Government would extend the
required aid to the proposed exposition, providing the petitioners would
furnish assurance that the sum of $10,000,000 had been raised for and on
account of inaugurating and carrying forward an exposition at the city
of St. Louis, Mo., in the year 1903, to celebrate the one hundredth
anniversary of the purchase of the Louisiana Territory.
Prior to March 3, 1901, the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company, then
consisting of an association of persons, furnished the Secretary of the
Treasury proof to his satisfaction that said sum of $10,000,000 had been
raised for the purpose indicated. Thereupon the act hereinbefore cited
was passed and duly approved by the President.
Including the appropriation made by the act of Congress, the sum of
$15,000,000 was provided for the exposition, as follows:
Donated by the city of St. Louis ...................... $5,000,000
Subscription to the capital stock of the Louisiana
Purchase Exposition Company ......................... 5,000,000
Appropriated by Congress, through the act aforesaid ... 5,000,000
On April 1, 1901, in accordance with section 2 of the act of Congress,
the President appointed a nonpartisan commission, consisting of nine
members, known and designated as the "Louisiana Purchase Exposition
Commission," the names of the appointees and the States in which they
resided being as follows:
JOHN M. THURSTON Nebraska.
THOMAS H. CARTER Montana.
WILLIAM LINDSAY Kentucky.
GEORGE W. MCBRIDE Oregon.
FREDERICK A. BETTS Connecticut.
JOHN M. ALLEN Mississippi.
MARTIN H. GLYNN New York.
JOHN F. MILLER Indiana.
PHILIP D. SCOTT Arkansas.
The name of the Commission being somewhat lengthy it became known and
was referred to in the law and proceedings throughout as "The National
Commission."
Pursuant to a call by the Secretary of State, the members of the
Commission met at the Southern Hotel, in the city of St. Louis, on April
23, 1901, and adjourned until the following day, when organization was
perfected.
Thomas H. Carter, of Montana, was elected president; Martin H. Glynn, of
New York, vice-president, and Mr. Joseph Flory, of St. Louis, Mo.,
secretary.
The following committees were appointed:
_Executive._
THOMAS H. CARTER.
JOHN F. MILLER.
PHILIP D. SCOTT.
JOHN M. ALLEN.
FREDERICK A. BETTS.
_Judiciary._
WILLIAM LINDSAY.
JOHN M. THURSTON.
GEORGE W. MCBRIDE.
_Plan and Scope._
GEORGE W. MCBRIDE.
FREDERICK A. BETTS.
WILLIAM LINDSAY.
MARTIN H. GLYNN.
JOHN F. MILLER.
_Members of Board of Arbitration._
JOHN M. THURSTON.
JOHN M. ALLEN.
_Auditing._
JOHN F. MILLER.
PHILIP D. SCOTT.
JOHN M. THURSTON.
_Insurance._
THOMAS H. CARTER.
MARTIN H. GLYNN.
FREDERICK A. BETTS.
_Ceremonies._
THOMAS H. CARTER.
JOHN M. ALLEN.
JOHN M. THURSTON.
WILLIAM LINDSAY.
Mr. Claude Hough, of Sedalia, Mo., was appointed official stenographer
of the Commission on May 6, 1901, and has capably and efficiently served
in that capacity throughout.
The organization of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company was not
formally perfected until about a month after the first meeting of the
National Commission, when the association which had theretofore existed
under that name was duly organized and became an incorporated company
under and in conformity with the laws of the State of Missouri. In the
meantime informal conferences were held between the Commission and the
prospective officers of the company in reference to a site for the
exposition.
The municipal assembly of the city of St. Louis enacted an ordinance
authorizing the use of a portion of Forest Park as a site for the
exposition, as follows:
An ordinance authorizing the use of either O'Fallon Park or
Carondelet Park or a portion of Forest Park as a site for the
world's fair, to be held in commemoration of the Louisiana
Purchase.
_Be it ordained by the municipal assembly of the city of St.
Louis as follows:_
SECTION 1. The corporation or association formed to manage and
conduct the world's fair or exposition in commemoration of the
purchase of the Louisiana Territory, when organized or
incorporated in accordance with the law, is hereby granted the
privilege of using either O'Fallon Park or Carondelet Park or
that portion of Forest Park lying west of the line described as
follows, to wit: Beginning at the intersection of the south line
of Forest Park with the north line of Clayton road, and running
thence in a northerly direction along the west line of the
Concourse drive two thousand five hundred fifty feet; thence in
a northerly direction to the east end of the large lake, a
distance of twelve hundred feet; thence northwesterly direction
about two thousand feet to the intersection of the south line of
Lindell avenue, with the west line of De Baliviere avenue
produced southwardly, for and as a site for said world's fair or
exposition, reserving, however, unto the city of St. Louis all
regulation and control of any of the sites above described,
together with all right to excises and licenses.
SEC. 2. The board of public improvements shall at all times,
beginning with the selection of the site out of the three sites
above referred to, until the close of said world's fair or
exposition, and until the complete restoration of said site as
hereinafter provided, have the power to provide such
regulations, conditions, and requirements as it may deem
necessary to protect the interests of the city with respect to
the construction of all sewers, drains, and conduits of any
kind, and the laying of water pipes or fixtures; and the plans
and specifications for the construction of the foregoing work
shall be subject to the approval of the board of public
improvements, and no such work of any kind shall be done without
such approval by the board. All such sewers, drains, conduits,
pipes, and fixtures shall become and be the property of the
city.
SEC. 3. Within six months after the close of said fair or
exposition, the corporation or association aforesaid shall clear
the park, or in the event of the selection of Forest Park, the
part thereof above described, of all tramways and railway
tracks, rubbish and debris, and of all buildings, sheds,
pavilions, towers, and other structures of every kind, and shall
within twelve months after the close of such fair or exposition,
fully restore the park selected as a site, or in the case of
Forest Park, that portion thereof above-described, by doing all
necessary grading, the restoration and repair, or the formation
of all walks and roads, the planting of trees, the placing of
sod and the planting of shrubs and plants, all in accordance
with plans to be approved by the board of public improvements,
and all to be done subject to the inspection of the park
commissioner, and to his entire satisfaction and approval.
SEC. 4. The corporation or association aforesaid shall, within
six months after the approval of this ordinance by the mayor,
file its written acceptance thereof with the city register, and
make its selection of the park to be used as aforesaid; and said
corporation or association shall also, within the same time,
file its bond in the sum of one hundred thousand dollars, with
good and sufficient sureties, to be approved by the mayor and
council, conditioned for a full compliance with and performance
of all the terms, requirements, and conditions of this
ordinance. Said board of public improvements shall have the
right, however, at any time before the opening of said fair or
exposition, if it deems it necessary in the interest of the
city, to require an additional bond in such amount as it may
believe to be proper, whereupon said corporation or company
shall give such bond with sureties to be approved in like
manner, and said corporation or association shall have no
authority to open or hold any fair or exposition upon the site
so selected, and no machinery or improvements of any kind shall
be removed from the premises of said world's fair site until
said bond in the sum so demanded shall have been so filed and
approved.
Approved May 16, 1901.
Considerable correspondence ensued between the Commission and the
Exposition Company in reference to the proposed site, the Commission
particularly insisting upon an adequate water supply and proper drainage
and grading of the property. On June 28, 1901, the site was formally
approved by the Commission and, according to section 9 of the act
authorizing the exposition, the President of the United States was duly
notified.
Prior to August 15, 1901, the National Commission having ascertained
that due provision had been made for grounds and buildings for the uses
contemplated by the act of Congress, so certified to the President of
the United States, who did thereafter, to wit, on the 20th day of
August, 1901, in behalf of the Government and the people, invite foreign
nations to take part in said exposition, and to appoint representatives
thereto, the President's proclamation reading as follows:
Whereas notice has been given me by the Louisiana Purchase
Exposition Commission, in accordance with the provisions of
section 9 of the act of Congress, approved March 3, 1901,
entitled "An act to provide for celebrating the one hundredth
anniversary of the purchase of the Louisiana Territory by the
United States by holding an international exhibition of arts,
industries, manufactures, and the products of the soil, mine,
forest, and sea in the city of St. Louis, in the State of
Missouri," that provision has been made for grounds and
buildings for the uses provided for in the said act of Congress:
Now, therefore, I, William McKinley, President of the United
States, by virtue of the authority vested in me by said act, do
hereby declare and proclaim that such international exhibition
will be opened in the city of St. Louis, in the State of
Missouri, not later than the first day of May, nineteen hundred
and three, and will be closed not later than the first day of
December thereafter. And in the name of the Government and of
the people of the United States, I do hereby invite all the
nations of the earth to take part in the commemoration of the
purchase of the Louisiana Territory, an event of great interest
to the United States and of abiding effect on their development,
by appointing representatives and sending such exhibits to the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition as will most fitly and fully
illustrate their resources, their industries, and their progress
in civilization.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the
seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this twentieth day of August,
one thousand nine hundred and one, and of the Independence of
the United States the one hundred and twenty-sixth.
[SEAL.]
WILLIAM MCKINLEY.
By the President:
JOHN HAY,
_Secretary of State_.
At a meeting of the Commission held on October 15, 1901, the following
resolution relative to the lamented death of President McKinley was
unanimously adopted by the Commission:
Resolution.
Since this Commission last convened the President of the United
States has met a tragic death.
The manner of his death was a blow at republican institutions
and felt by every patriotic American as aimed at himself. It can
truly be said that of all our Presidents William McKinley was
the best beloved; no section of the country held him as an alien
to it. Partisan differences never led to partisan hatred of him;
party faction did not touch him. Nearly half the people differed
with him on public questions, but his opponents accorded to him
the same honesty of purpose which he always accorded to them. He
was the President of the whole people, and was received by them
as such with the honors due his great office and his splendid
manhood, from the Atlantic to the Pacific and from the Lakes to
the Gulf. Pure of life, lofty of purpose, and patriotic in every
endeavor, he was the highest type of our American citizenship.
The prayers of an united people were wafted on high to spare our
President, but "God's will, not ours" was done, and the pain of
personal grief was felt in every American home.
_Resolved by the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission_,
First. That in the death of President McKinley, the United
States have lost a President who fulfilled the best ideals of
the Republic.
Second. That in every walk of life, in peace and in war, in
private and in public station, he was faithful to every trust
and did his duty as God gave him light to see it.
Third. That these resolutions be spread upon our record and a
copy thereof sent, with an expression of our tenderest sympathy,
to Mrs. McKinley.
Certain rules and regulations governing foreign exhibitors, which had
been formulated by President Carter of the Commission and President
Francis of the Exposition Company at a meeting held in Chicago, Ill., on
August 14, 1901, were approved by the National Commission on October 15,
1901. The rules are as follows:
Adopted under, and in pursuance of an act of the Congress of the
United States, entitled,
"An act to provide for celebrating the one hundredth anniversary
of the purchase of the Louisiana Territory by the United States,
by holding an international exhibition of arts, industries,
manufactures, and the products of the soil, mine, forest, and
sea in the city of Saint Louis, in the State of Missouri,"
approved March 3, 1901, a copy of which said act is hereunto
attached. As provided by law the Louisiana Purchase Exposition
will be held in the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri,
U.S.A., and will be opened on the 30th day of April, A.D. 1903,
and will be closed on the 1st day of December of that year. The
exposition will be closed on Sundays.
This exposition will embrace an exhibition of arts, industries,
manufactures, and the products of the soil, mine, forest, and
sea. It will be held to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary
of the purchase of the Louisiana Territory by the United States
from France.
The exposition will be international in character, as
contemplated by section 9 of the act of Congress, which reads as
follows:
"That whenever the President of the United States shall be
notified by the National Commission that provision has been made
for grounds and buildings for the uses herein provided for, he
shall be authorized to make proclamation of the same, through
the Department of State, setting forth the time at which said
exposition will be held, and the purposes thereof, and he shall
communicate to the diplomatic representatives of foreign nations
copies thereof, together with such regulations as may be adopted
by the Commission, for publication in their respective
countries, and he shall in behalf of the Government and the
people invite foreign nations to take part in the said
exposition and appoint representatives thereto."
Rules and regulations have been adopted by the National
Commission to be communicated to the diplomatic representatives
of foreign nations for publication in their respective countries
as follows:
ARTICLE 1. All communications relating to the exposition should
be addressed to Hon. David R. Francis, president of the
Exposition Company, St. Louis, U.S.A.
ART. 2. All applications for space for buildings must be filed
with the company on or before July 1, 1902.
ART. 3. Applications for space for exhibits in the buildings of
the Exposition Company must be filed on or before the respective
dates following, to wit:
(A) For machinery and mechanical appliances intended for
exhibition, in operation, October 1, 1902.
(B) For machinery and mechanical appliances not intended for
exhibition, in operation, November 1, 1902.
(C) For works of art, natural and manufactured, products, and
all productions not herein expressly classified, December 1,
1902.
ART. 4. Applications for special concessions to individuals,
associations, or corporations, December 1, 1902.
All applications must be in writing and should be presented on
forms which will be furnished by the Exposition Company.
ART. 5. No charge will be made for space allotted for buildings
or exhibits of foreign governments. Allotments of space to
exhibitors from countries whose governments have appointed
commissioners to the exposition will be made by or through such
commissioners.
ART. 6. No exhibit shall be removed in whole or in part until
the close of the exposition.
Immediately after the close of the exposition exhibitors shall
remove their effects and complete such removal before January 1,
1904.
ART. 7. Exhibits from foreign countries will be admitted free of
customs duties, as provided in the law and the regulations of
the Treasury Department.
ART. 8. The Exposition Company may from time to time, with the
approval of the National Commission, promulgate a classification
and such additional rules and regulations, not in conflict with
the law or regulations herein announced, as may be necessary to
facilitate the success of the exposition and to serve the
interest of exhibitors.
On October 15, 1901, the Commission was notified that the Exposition
Company had, by a resolution dated October 8, 1901, of which the
Secretary of the Treasury had been duly notified, authorized the
Commission to disburse the sum of $10,000 per annum for contingent
expenses, in accordance with the act of Congress therein referred to.
Following is a copy of the resolution:
_Resolved_, That the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission
be, and is hereby, authorized to disburse out of the $5,000,000
appropriated under the provisions of the act approved March 3,
1901, in aid of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, the sum of
$10,000 annually for contingent expenses of said Commission
under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the
Secretary of the Treasury, and upon vouchers to be approved by
him.
D.R. FRANCIS.
Attest:
W.B. STEVENS,
_Secretary_.
The question of appointing a board of lady managers, authorized by
section 6 of the act of Congress, was considered by the National
Commission and the Exposition Company at a meeting held on October 16,
1901.
After giving the matter due and careful consideration, the Commission
and the company decided to create a board of lady managers of 21
members. The membership of the board was subsequently increased to 24.
The names of the board of lady managers are as follows:
Miss Helen Miller Gould.
Mrs. John A. McCall.
Mrs. John M. Holcombe.
Miss Anna L. Dawes.
Mrs. W.E. Andrews.
Mrs. Helen-Boice Hunsicker.
Mrs. James L. Blair.
Mrs. Fannie L. Porter.
Mrs. Frederick M. Hanger.
Mrs. Jennie Gilmore Knott.
Mrs. Emily Warren Roebling.
Mrs. M.H. De Young.
Mrs. Belle L. Everest.
Mrs. Margaret P. Daly.
Mrs. W.H. Coleman.
Mrs. C.B. Buchwalter.
Mrs. Louis D. Frost.
Mrs. Finis P. Ernst.
Mrs. Mary Phelps Montgomery.
Mrs. John Miller Horton.
Mrs. Annie McLean Moores.
Mrs. A.L. Von Mayhoff.
Mrs. Daniel Manning.
Mrs. James Edmund Sullivan.
Miss Lavinia H. Egan.
Rules and regulations for the classification of exhibits at the
exposition, which had been presented for the consideration of the
Commission by the Exposition Company, and which had been discussed at
length, were finally approved on October 17, 1901, and the Exposition
Company was notified of that fact.
The matter of formulating rules and regulations for the government of
the exposition was one of the first questions to be considered by the
Commission. The matter was taken up at the various meetings of the
Commission, and conferences were held with the officers of the
Exposition Company from time to time. The Commission contended that in
the event of a disagreement between the representative of any foreign
government and the Exposition Company the representative of such foreign
government should be allowed to refer the matter to the National
Commission for joint consideration and adjustment with the company. With
that end in view the Commission insisted that the following provision
should be incorporated in the rules and regulations governing the
exposition:
Should disagreement arise between the Exposition Company and the
representative of any Government, State, Territory, or District,
such representative shall have the privilege, under such rules
of procedure as the National Commission may from time to time
promulgate, of referring the matter in disagreement between such
representative and the company to the National Commission for
joint consideration and adjustment with the company.
The company objected to the insertion of this clause.
Thereupon the Commission and the company agreed to submit the matter in
dispute to arbitration, in accordance with law. The Commission notified
the company that the members of the arbitration board appointed by the
Commission were prepared to meet the arbitrators of the company when
such last-named arbitrators should be appointed. But owing to the fact
that the arbitrators on behalf of the company had not yet been
appointed, it was impossible at the time to submit the matter in
controversy to arbitration.
In November, 1901, it became evident that the success of the exposition
demanded the immediate promulgation of the rules and regulations for the
guidance of intending competitors. The Exposition Company communicated
with the National Commission to that effect and requested that it be
allowed to promulgate the rules and regulations so far as agreed upon,
and that the matter in dispute should be left to subsequent arbitration.
On November 22, 1901, the Commission consented to the promulgation of
the rules and regulations, so far as modified, with the understanding
that the provision in dispute, hereinbefore stated, should thereafter be
incorporated and given due publicity, provided it was adopted by the
board of arbitration. On December 1, 1901, the rules and regulations
were published, and a copy thereof, as approved by the National
Commission, is as follows:
An act to provide for celebrating the one hundredth anniversary
of the purchase of the Louisiana Territory by the United States,
by holding an international exhibition of arts, industries,
manufactures, and the products of the soil, mine, forest, and
sea, in the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri,
approved March 3, 1901, a copy of which said act is hereto
attached.
As provided by law, the Louisiana Purchase Exposition will be
held in the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, U.S.A., and
will be opened on the 30th day of April, A.D. 1903, and will be
closed on the 1st day of December of that year. The exposition
will be closed on Sundays.
This exposition will embrace an exhibition of arts, industries,
manufactures, and the products of the soil, mine, forest, and
sea. It will be held to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary
of the purchase of the Louisiana Territory by the United States
from France.
The exposition will be international in character, as
contemplated by section 9 of the act of Congress, which reads as
follows:
"That whenever the President of the United States shall be
notified by the National Commission that provision has been made
for grounds and buildings, for the uses herein provided for, he
shall be authorized to make proclamation of the same, through
the Department of State, setting forth the time at which said
exposition will be held, and the purposes thereof, and he shall
communicate to the diplomatic representatives of foreign nations
copies thereof, together with such regulations as may be adopted
by the Commission, for publication in their respective
countries, and he shall, in behalf of the Government and the
people, invite foreign nations to take part in the said
exposition and to appoint representatives thereto."
Rules and Regulations.
The following general rules and regulations are promulgated by
the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company, having been approved
by the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission:
ARTICLE I.
SECTION I. Under a proclamation of the President of the United
States, signed August 20, 1901, all nations and peoples are
invited to and may participate in this exposition.
SEC. II. The site of the exposition will be the west portion of
Forest Park and adjacent territory, and will comprise,
approximately, 1,000 acres.
SEC. III. The executive of the exposition is the president of
the board of directors of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition
Company. There are four principal executive divisions presided
over by the following officers: Director of exhibits, director
of exploitation, director of works, director of concessions and
admissions.
Under the officers subordinate departments for the supervision
of exhibits, of construction, and of maintenance may be created,
each department having its individual chief.
SEC. IV. The bureau of transportation shall have entire charge
of all matters relating to the transportation of passengers and
freight to and from the exposition grounds from all parts of the
world. It will quote rates and classifications, remedy delays,
and be constituted in such a manner as to extend practical
assistance and information to all exhibitors and the public at
large. This bureau has for its chief officer a traffic manager,
who will report direct to the president.
ARTICLE II.
SECTION I. For the development of the exposition to the full
extent of the general plan as outlined, provision will be made
for the installation and care of exhibits, and for the
construction of exhibition palaces, ample and adequate to the
theoretical and physical scope of the exposition.
SEC. II. For the purposes of installation and review of exhibits
a classification has been adopted. The classification heretofore
adopted has been divided into a number of departments, each of
which is again divided into groups and subdivided into classes.
Under this scope and plan the exposition will be constructed,
the installation perfected, and the system of awards conducted.
In conformity therewith the following exhibit departments are
created: Department A--Education; Department B--Art; Department
C--Liberal Arts; Department D--Manufactures; Department
E--Machinery; Department F--Electricity; Department
G--Transportation; Department H--Agriculture; Department
J--Horticulture; Department K--Forestry; Department L--Mines and
Metallurgy; Department M--Fish and Game; Department
N--Anthropology; Department O--Social Economy; Department
P--Physical Culture.
Exhibits shall be classified into 15 departments, in 144 groups,
and in 807 classes.
ARTICLE III.
SECTION I. The directors of the four executive divisions, and
the chief of the different departments thereunder, may
promulgate special rules and regulations governing the more
minute and technical details of the operation of the respective
departments.
SEC. II. The director of exhibits shall have general charge of
the installation of all exhibits and the control and management
of the same.
ARTICLE IV.
SECTION I. The general classification is hereby made a part of
these rules and regulations.
SEC. II. The Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company reserves the
right, subject to the approval of the Commission, to amend or
correct the classification at any time before the opening of the
exposition by giving thirty days' public notice.
ARTICLE V.
SECTION I. The price of admission will be 50 cents.
SEC. II. While the broadest construction will be placed upon the
rights of exhibitors and their agents to free admission to the
grounds for the purpose of caring for their respective exhibits,
it is intended to restrict these courtesies within reasonable
limits.
ARTICLE VI.
SECTION I. No charge will be made for space allotted for
exhibits.
SEC. II. No charge will be made for space allotted for buildings
of foreign governments, or the United States Government, or of
the State, Territorial, or District governments of the United
States.
ARTICLE VII.
SECTION I. Exhibitors of manufactured articles must be the
manufacturers or producers thereof.
SEC. II. The country where an exhibit is produced, and not the
citizenship of the exhibitor, will determine the nationality of
an exhibit.
SEC. III. Each foreign nation participating in the exposition
will be accorded an official representative, to be accredited to
the president of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company,
through the Secretary of State of the United States, or
otherwise.
SEC. IV. Allotment of space to exhibitors from countries where
governments have appointed official representatives to the
exposition will be made by or through such representatives.
SEC. V. While it is expected, as far as possible, to confine
negotiations in the United States to the official
representatives of the respective States, Territories, and
Districts, the right is reserved to confer directly with
individuals.
ARTICLE VIII.
SECTION I. All applications for space for buildings must be
filed on or before July 1, 1902.
SEC. II. Application for space for exhibits in the buildings of
the exposition must be filed on or before the respective dates
following, to wit:
(a) For machinery and mechanical appliances intended for
exhibition in operation October 1, 1902.
(b) For machinery and mechanical appliances not intended for
exhibition in operation, November 1, 1902.
(c) For works of art, natural and manufactured products not
herein expressly classified, December 1, 1902.
(d) For special concessions to individuals, associations, or
corporations, December 1, 1902.
SEC. III. All applications for space must be in writing,
addressed to the president of the exposition, and should be
presented on forms which will be furnished by the Exposition
Company.
SEC. IV. Each application for space for exhibits must be
accompanied by a sketch, drawn to a scale of one-fourth of an
inch to the foot, showing the ground floor plan, and, if
possible, the front elevation and general outlines. These
installation plans and schemes must receive the indorsement of
the chief of the department in which the exhibit is to be
located, and the approval of the director of exhibits, and must
conform to the general architectural design for the treatment of
the interior of the building as prepared by the director of
works.
SEC. V. Permits for space will not be transferable, and
exhibitors will be confined to such exhibits as are specified in
their applications.
ARTICLE IX.
SECTION I. All communications relating to the exposition should
be addressed to the president of the Louisiana Purchase
Exposition Company, St. Louis, U.S.A.
SEC. II. All packages containing exhibits must be addressed to
the president of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company.
SEC. III. Direction labels will be furnished by the Exposition
Company to be attached to each package. This label must be
filled out so as to convey the following information:
(a) The department in which the exhibit is to be installed.
(b) The country, State, or Territory from which the package is
consigned.
(c) The name and address of the exhibitor and the total number
of packages sent by such exhibitor.
SEC. IV. In boxing or casing any material intended for
exhibition, screws should be employed in preference to nails or
steel hoops, and packages should be addressed on two or more
sides. Each package should contain a list of the goods therein.
SEC. V. Consignments intended for different buildings should be
in separate packages, and not be included in the same box,
crate, or barrel.
SEC. VI. Freight and express charges and all charges
appertaining to the transportation of material belonging to
individuals, such as exhibits, building material, concession
material and supplies, etc., must be prepaid at the point of
shipment, and the goods delivered at the exposition clear of all
charges of any description incident to the transportation.
ARTICLE X.
SECTION I. If no authorized person is at hand to take charge of
an exhibit within reasonable time after its arrival at the
exposition buildings said exhibit will be removed and stored at
the cost and risk of whosoever it may concern.
SEC. II. The installation of heavy articles, requiring
foundation, may, by special agreement with the director of
works, begin as soon as the progress of the construction of the
buildings will permit.
SEC. III. No exhibits shall be removed in whole or in part until
the close of the exposition.
SEC. IV. Immediately after the close of the exposition
exhibitors shall remove their exhibits and construction, and
complete such removal before March 1, 1904. Any exhibit or
material not removed on March 1, 1904, will be considered to
have been abandoned by the exhibitor, and will be subject to
removal at the cost of the exhibitors, or to such disposition by
the Exposition Company as may be deemed advisable.
ARTICLE XI.
SECTION I. All show cases, cabinets, shelving, counters, etc.,
required in the installation of an exhibit, must be provided at
the expense of the exhibitor, and all countershafts, steam
pulleys, belting, etc., and all compressed-air connections, and
all water and sewerage connections must be paid for by the
person applying for the same.
SEC. II. All decorations and designs to be constructed in
connection with the installation must conform to the rules and
regulations promulgated by the director of exhibits, and receive
the approval of the chief of the department interested.
SEC. III. No exhibitor will be permitted to install an exhibit
so as to obstruct the light or occasion any inconvenience to or
disadvantageously affect the display of other exhibitors.
SEC. IV. The flooring of an exposition building must not be cut
or removed, or its foundation disturbed, and no part of the
construction of a building shall be employed for installation
purposes, except upon the recommendation of the director of
exhibits, approved by the director of works.
SEC. V. Special rules regulating the height of platforms,
partitions, rails, cases, cabinets, counters, and any special
trophy or feature will be issued by the chiefs of the different
departments, with the approval of the director of exhibits.
SEC. VI. All designs for the treatment of exhibition spaces must
be in accordance with the foregoing limitations. The material
used for covering counters, screens, partitions, or floors will
be subject to the approval of the director of exhibits, upon the
recommendation of the chiefs of the department, and must be in
accordance with the general color scheme of the director of
works.
SEC. VII. Special rules and regulations in addition to and not
in conflict with the general rules and regulations of the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company may be promulgated by the
different departments.
ARTICLE XII.
SECTION I. All articles which shall be imported from foreign
countries for the sole purpose of exhibition at said exposition,
upon which there shall be a tariff or customs duty, will be
admitted free of payment of duty, customs fees, or charges,
under such regulations as the Secretary of the Treasury shall
prescribe under an act of the Congress providing for the
exposition.
SEC. II. It will be lawful at any time during the exposition to
sell for delivery at the close thereof any goods or property
imported for and actually on exhibition in the exposition
buildings or on the grounds, subject to such regulations for the
security of the revenue and for the collection of import duty as
the Secretary of the Treasury shall prescribe. Such articles
when sold or withdrawn for consumption in the United States will
be subject to the duty, if any, imposed upon such articles by
the revenue laws in force at the date of the importation, and
all penalties prescribed by the laws of the United States will
be applied and enforced against such articles and against the
person who may be guilty of any illegal sale or withdrawal.
SEC. III. Such arrangements will be made with the Government of
the United States as will permit the transportation of foreign
exhibits in bond direct to the exposition grounds, which will be
designated as a United States bonded warehouse.
ARTICLE XIII.
SECTION I. While the Exposition Company will provide every,
possible protection for exhibits and for the property of
exhibitors, it will not be responsible in any case for loss by
fire, accident, vandalism, or theft, through which objects
placed upon exhibition may suffer, whatever may be the cause or
the amount of the damage.
SEC. II. Any object or article of a dangerous or detrimental
character, or that is incompatible with the object or decorum of
the exposition or the comfort or safety of the public, will be
refused admission to the grounds or removed from any building or
any part of the grounds upon the recommendation of the director
of exhibits, approved by the president.
SEC. III. Articles that are in any way dangerous or offensive,
also patent medicines, nostrums, and empirical preparations
whose ingredients are concealed, will not be admitted to the
exposition. The director of exhibits, with the approval of the
president, has the authority to order the removal of any article
he may consider dangerous, detrimental to, or incompatible with
the object or decorum of the exposition or the comfort and
safety of the public.
SEC. IV. The Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company will carry no
insurance on exhibits, but favorable terms will be secured by
the Exposition Company under which exhibitors may insure their
own goods in responsible companies.
ARTICLE XIV.
SECTION I. Advertisement by means of posters, prints, handbills,
etc., will not be permitted within the exposition grounds except
upon the recommendation of the proper authorities, approved by
the president of the Exposition Company, and then to a
restricted degree only.
SEC. II. Exhibitors' business cards and brief descriptive
circulars only may be conveniently placed within such exhibition
space for distribution; but the right is reserved to the chief
of the department, upon the approval of the director of
exhibits, to restrict or discontinue this privilege whenever it
is carried to excess or becomes an annoyance.
ARTICLE XV.
SECTION I. Exhibitors will be held responsible for the
cleanliness of their exhibits and the space surrounding same.
SEC. II. All exhibits must be in complete order each day at
least thirty minutes before the buildings are open to the
public. No janitor or other work of this character will be
permitted during the hours the buildings are open to the public.
In case of failure on the part of any exhibitor to observe these
rules, the chief of the department, with the approval of the
director of exhibits, may adopt such means to enforce the same
as circumstances may suggest.
ARTICLE XVI.
SECTION I. No crates, barrels, or packing cases will be
permitted to remain upon the exhibition space after their
contents have been removed, except upon the recommendation of
the chief of the department where the exhibit is installed,
approved by the director of exhibits.
SEC. II. The Exposition Company will provide a storage warehouse
for crates, barrels, and packing cases, under a reasonable
schedule of charges based upon those levied by similar
warehouses, which it will be optional for exhibitors to use.
SEC. III. Facilities for the conveyance of empty crates,
barrels, or packing cases to storage places will be provided at
a moderate price.
ARTICLE XVII.
SECTION I. No exhibit or object upon exhibition may be sketched,
copied, or reproduced in any way whatever without the permission
of the exhibitor, approved by the director of exhibits, except
that the president of the company may give such permission.
ARTICLE XVIII.
SECTION I. Exhibitors desiring to contract for service of
electricity, steam, compressed air, power from shafting, gas, or
water, must make application to the chief of the department in
which their exhibits are installed. No application for service
will be entertained unless made upon a blank furnished by the
director of works, which may be obtained from a chief of a
department, and when an application for service has been
approved by the director of exhibits the contract will be
executed on the part of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition
Company by the director of works on terms and conditions that
will be stated in each case. The director of exhibits and the
director of works, in their discretion, are authorized to
furnish gratuitously to exhibitors a limited amount of power for
the operation of machines and processes. The character of the
exhibit requiring power for its operation will have much to do
with determining the amount of power that will be furnished
gratuitously.
ARTICLE XIX.
SECTION I. Concessions may be granted for private exhibitions
for which a charge for admission may be made; for restaurants,
for places of amusement, for merchandising, and for other
purposes not incompatible with the scope and dignity of the
exposition, under terms and conditions to be determined upon by
the proper authorities in each case.
ARTICLE XX.
SECTION I. An official catalogue of all exhibits will be
published in English by the Exposition Company. Foreign
governments and the governments of the States, Territories, and
Districts of the United States, making a collective exhibit, may
publish separate catalogues of their own exhibits when
recommended by the director of exhibits to the president and
approved by him.
SEC. II. The sale of catalogues is reserved exclusively by the
Exposition Company.
ARTICLE XXI.
SECTION I. The Exposition Company will organize, equip, and
maintain an efficient police system for the protection of
property and the preservation of peace and good order.
SEC. II. The exposition will maintain a corps of janitors and
scavengers, whose duty it will be to properly care for and clean
the roadways, approaches, paths, etc., in general of the
exposition and the aisles within the exhibit buildings; but
their duties and responsibilities will not extend to exhibit
spaces, to the subsidiary aisles, or to the buildings of foreign
or domestic governments or individuals.
SEC. III. Exhibitors may employ watchmen and janitors of their
choice to guard and care for their material during the hours the
exposition is open to the public. Such watchmen will be subject
to the rules and regulations governing employees of the
exposition; but no exhibitor will be permitted to employ
attendants for service of this character except upon the written
consent of the chief of the department, approved by the director
of exhibits.
SEC. IV. Each country, commission, organization, corporation and
individual, by becoming an exhibitor, agrees to conform to all
the rules and regulations established for the government and
conduct of the exposition.
ARTICLE XXII.
AWARDS.
SECTION I The system of awards will be competitive. The merit of
exhibits as determined by the jury of awards will be manifested
by the issuance of diplomas, which will be divided into four
classes; a grand prize, a gold medal, a silver medal, and a
bronze medal.
SEC. II. No exhibit can be excluded from competition for award
without the consent of the president of the Exposition Company,
after a review of the reasons or motives by competent
authorities hereafter to be provided.
SEC. III. In a fixed ratio to the number of exhibits, but
reserving to the citizens of the United States approximately 60
per cent of the jury membership, the construction of the
international jury will be based upon a predetermined number of
judges allotted to each group of the classification and upon the
number and importance of the exhibits in such group.
SEC. IV. A chairman of the group jury will be elected by his
colleagues in each group, this chairman to become, by right of
his position, a member of the department jury, which department
jury shall in turn elect its chairman, who shall thereupon
become a member of the superior jury.
SEC. V. Special rules and regulations governing the system of
making awards and determining the extent to which foreign
countries may have representation on the juries will be
hereafter promulgated.
SEC. VI. Allotment of space for exhibitors, the classification
of exhibits, the appointment of all judges and examiners for the
exposition, and the awarding of premiums, if any, shall be done
and performed by the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company,
subject, however, to the approval of the Louisiana Purchase
Exposition Commission.
DAVID R. FRANCIS, _President_.
Attest:
WALTER B. STEVENS,
_Secretary_.
On February 7, 1902, the Commission, subject to the approval of the
Exposition Company, which approval was thereafter given, adopted the
following general rules, prescribing the general scope of the duties to
be performed by the board of lady managers, to wit:
First. To appoint one member of all committees authorized to
award prizes for such exhibits as may have been produced in
whole or in part by female labor.
Second. To exercise general supervisory control over such
features of the exposition as may be specially devoted to
woman's work.
Third. To take part in the ceremonies connected with the
dedication of the buildings of the exposition, and in all
official functions in which women may be invited to participate,
and in other official functions upon the request of the company
and the Commission.
Fourth. To elect such officers, appoint such committees, and to
make and promulgate such rules and regulations as may be deemed
necessary for the efficient discharge of the duties aforesaid;
provided, that said board shall not make any expenditures nor
incur any financial obligation except under authority previously
obtained from the company and the Commission.
The members of the board of lady managers voluntarily proposed to serve
without compensation, and in view of such proposal, at a conference
between the Commission and the president of the Exposition Company, it
was decided to remunerate them for their traveling and other expenses
while attending meetings of the board by an allowance of 5 cents per
mile for travel and a per diem allowance of $6 in lieu of subsistence
during the sessions of the board.
It was decided, also, that the membership of the board be increased to a
maximum of 24 members.
Early in 1902 it became evident that it would be necessary to postpone
the exposition for one year, and the Exposition Company consequently
notified Congress to that effect.
In the act making appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the
Government for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1903, and for other
purposes, approved June 28, 1902, provision was made for the
postponement of the Exposition until 1904 in terms as follows:
_Provided, further:_ That sections eight and twelve of an act
entitled "An act to provide for celebrating the one hundredth
anniversary of the purchase of the Louisiana Territory by the
United States by holding an international exhibition of arts,
industries, manufactures, and the products of the soil, mine,
forest, and sea in the city of Saint Louis, in the State of
Missouri," approved March third, nineteen hundred and one, be,
and the same are hereby, amended so as to read as follows:
SEC. 8. That said Commission shall provide for the dedication of
the buildings of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in said city
of Saint Louis not later than the thirtieth day of April,
nineteen hundred and three, with appropriate ceremonies, and
thereafter said exposition shall be opened to visitors at such
time as may be designated by said company, subject to the
approval of said Commission, not later than the first day of
May, nineteen hundred and four, and shall be closed at such time
as the National Commission may determine, subject to the
approval of said company, but not later than the first day of
December thereafter.
SEC. 12. That the National Commission hereby authorized shall
cease to exist on the first day of July, nineteen hundred and
five.
On July 1, 1902 the following proclamation, announcing the postponement
of the exposition, was issued by the President of the United States:
Whereas the President on August 20, 1901, issued his
proclamation stating that he has been advised by the Louisiana
Purchase Exposition Commission, pursuant to the provisions of
section 9 of the act of Congress approved March 3, 1901,
entitled "An act to provide for celebrating the one hundredth
anniversary of the purchase of the Louisiana Territory by the
United States by holding an international exhibition of arts,
industries, manufactures, and the products of the soil, mine,
forest, and sea in the city of St. Louis, in the State of
Missouri," that provision had been made for grounds and
buildings for the uses specified in the said mentioned act of
Congress;
Whereas it was declared and proclaimed by the President in his
aforesaid proclamation that such international exhibition would
be opened in the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri,
not later than the 1st day of May, 1903, and be closed not later
than the 1st day of December thereafter;
And whereas section 8 of the act of Congress approved June 28,
1902, entitled "An act making appropriations for sundry civil
expenses of the Government for the fiscal year ending June 30,
1903, and for other purposes," fixes a subsequent date for the
holding of the said international exhibition, and specifically
states that said Commission shall provide for the dedication of
the buildings of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in said city
of St. Louis not later than the 30th day of April, 1903, with
appropriate ceremonies, and thereafter said exposition shall be
opened to visitors at such time as may be designated by said
company, subject to the approval of said Commission, not later
than the 1st day of May, 1904, and shall be closed at such time
as the National Commission may determine, subject to the
approval of said company, but not later than the 1st day of
December thereafter;
Now, therefore, I, Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United
States, do hereby declare and proclaim the aforesaid provision
of law to the end that it may definitely and formally be known
that such international exhibition will be opened in the city of
St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, not later than May 1, 1904,
and will be closed not later than December 1 of that year.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the
seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington the 1st day of July, 1902, and of
the independence of the United States the one hundred and
twenty-sixth.
[SEAL.]
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
By the President:
DAVID J. HILL,
Acting Secretary of State.
On April 30, 1903, the buildings of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition
were dedicated in the city of St. Louis under the direction of the
Commission.
PROGRAMME
CENTENNIAL DAY, APRIL 30, 1903.
GRAND MARSHAL,
MAJ. GEN. HENRY C. CORBIN, UNITED STATES ARMY.
* * * * *
At 10 o'clock a.m. the freedom of the city was tendered to the President
of the United States by the mayor of St. Louis.
The military parade, composed of United States troops and the National
Guard in attendance, assembled under direction of the grand marshal and
moved from the junction of Grand avenue and Lindell boulevard promptly
at half-past 10 o'clock, preceded by the President of the United States
and official guests in carriages, through Forest Park to the exposition
grounds, where the Presidential salute was fired, and the parade was
reviewed by the President of the United States.
At 1.30 p.m. a grand band concert took place, the doors of the Liberal
Arts Building, where the dedication exercises were held, were thrown
open, and the audience seated under direction of the guards and ushers.
Promptly at 2 o'clock the assembly was called to order by Hon. David R.
Francis, president of the Exposition Company, and the following
programme was carried out:
First. Invocation by his eminence Cardinal James Gibbons, as follows:
We pray Thee, O God of might, wisdom, and justice, through Whom
authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted, and
judgment decreed, assist with the Holy Spirit of counsel and
fortitude the President of the United States, that his
Administration may be conducted in righteousness and be
eminently useful to Thy people over whom he presides, by
encouraging due respect for virtue and religion, by a faithful
execution of the laws in justice and mercy, and by restraining
vice and immorality.
By the light of Thy divine wisdom direct the deliberations of
Congress and shine forth in all their proceedings and laws
framed for our rule and government, so that they may tend to the
preservation of peace, the promotion of national happiness, the
increase of industry, sobriety, and useful knowledge, and may
perpetuate to us the blessings of equal liberty.
We pray for his excellency, the governor of this State, for the
members of the legislature, for all judges, magistrates, and
other officers who are appointed to guard our political welfare,
that they may be enabled by Thy powerful protection to discharge
the duties of their respective stations with honesty and
ability.
We pray for the president and directors of the Louisiana
Purchase Exposition, that their arduous labors may be crowned
with success, and may redound to the greater growth and
development of this flourishing city on the banks of the Father
of Waters.
May this vast territory which was peacefully acquired a hundred
years ago be for all time to come the tranquil and happy abode
of millions of enlightened, God-fearing, and industrious people
engaged in the various pursuits and avocations of life. As this
new domain was added to our possessions without sanguinary
strife, so may its soil never be stained by bloodshed in any
foreign or domestic warfare.
May this commemorative exposition to which the family of nations
are generously contributing their treasures of art and industry
bind together the governments of the earth in closer ties of
fellowship and good will, and of social and commercial
intercourse. May it hasten the dawn of the reign of the Prince
of Peace, when national conflicts will be adjusted, not by
hostile armies, but by permanent courts of arbitration.
May this international exposition, inaugurated in the interests
of people and commerce, help to break down the walls of
dissension, of jealousy, and prejudice that divides race from
race, nation from nation, and people from people, by proclaiming
aloud the sublime gospel truth that we are all children of the
same God, brothers and sisters of the same Lord Jesus Christ,
and that we are all aspiring to a glorious inheritance in the
everlasting kingdom of our common Father.
Second. Address by Mr. Thomas H. Carter, of the National Commission,
president of the day.
One hundred years ago to-day the Government of the United States
acquired sovereignty over the vast territory west of the
Mississippi River, which has since been known to the
geographical nomenclature of the world as the "Louisiana
Purchase." Beyond the river the boundaries and the resources of
the territory were ill defined and but vaguely comprehended. The
purchase price of $15,000,000 was pronounced exorbitant, the
free navigation of the Mississippi being the only part of the
property deemed worthy of serious consideration. The transaction
was regarded by many as a violation of the Constitution and a
menace to our form of government. The grave doubts of president
Jefferson were only resolved into action by his patriotic desire
for national supremacy over the river and his prophetic faith in
the possibilities of the mysterious country beyond it. The
revelations of a century most amply justified his faith.
When the treaty of cession was concluded, President Jefferson
represented less than 6,000,000 people. During these ceremonies,
President Roosevelt, the Executive of over 80,000,000 of
freemen, will dedicate the buildings.
The magical story of local development puts to shame the
creations of fiction. The contented and prosperous inhabitants
of the Louisiana Purchase to-day substantially equal in numbers
three times the total population of the United States in 1800.
The conquest of space, forests, streams, and deserts and the
founding of cities and States in waste places within this
territory mark an advance unsurpassed in the history of human
endeavor.
In conformity with a special act of Congress, the President has
invited all the nations to cooperate with us in properly
commemorating the masterful achievements of a century in this
new country.
It is fitting that the celebration should be international, for
you will in vain attempt to name a civilized country whose sons
and daughters have not contributed to the glorious triumphs of
peace recorded here. In vain will you seek a more cosmopolitan
and at the same time a more homogeneous population than that of
the Louisiana territory. The purchase facilitated by the
exigencies of European war, and made in a season of darkness and
peril, has proven a boon not only to the grantor and the
grantee, but to humanity at large, for here the nations have
commingled, and the brotherhood of man has become a demonstrated
possibility.
As a means of giving expression to the universal appreciation of
what has been accomplished for humanity within this field during
the century, the Louisiana Purchase Exposition was organized
under authority of an act of Congress. With the aid of the
United States Government and the city of St. Louis, the
Exposition Company, through its officers, agents, and employees,
has erected the majestic exposition buildings whose massive
proportions and classical outlines excite the wonder and
admiration of the vast multitude assembled within and about
their walls.
To everyone present is accorded the privilege of assisting in
the dedication of these buildings to their intended use. The
President of the United States honors us by being present to
extend his greetings and to voice the approving sentiments of
his countrymen.
Moved by a broad and generous spirit, the nations of the earth,
from the empire of most ancient origin to the republic of
twentieth-century creation, dignifies the occasion by the
presence of their accredited representatives. Our home folks
from all the States, Territories, and districts betoken by their
numbers and enthusiasm the interest of the body of the people in
the exposition and the great historic event it is intended to
commemorate.
In the name of the National Commission, directed by Congress to
provide for the dedication ceremonies, I extend to you all a
cordial welcome, and as responsive to this inspiring scene of
peace and generous feeling, I call upon the chorus to favor us
with Beethoven's Creation hymn.
Those best informed will, by unanimous consent, yield to Hon.
David R. Francis, president of the company, the highest measure
of praise for the organization of the exposition and the
construction of the buildings he will now present to the
President of the United States for dedication.
Third. Grand chorus: "The Heavens Proclaiming."
Fourth. Presentation of the buildings by Hon. David R. Francis,
president of the Exposition Company:
The people of the Louisiana Purchase are proud of their
membership in the Federal Union.
They are grateful for the benefits that have flowed from a life
under the enduring institutions framed by the founders of the
Republic. They congratulate their brethren on the position our
country occupies among the nations of the earth, and felicitate
themselves on the part they have performed toward raising it to
its present prestige and power.
They felt it a patriotic duty to fittingly commemorate the
completion of the first century of their connection with the
American Republic, and the rounding out of an important epoch in
the life of the Republic. In the discharge of that duty this
exposition was conceived. The inhabitants of the fourteen States
and two Territories comprised within the purchase selected St.
Louis as the scene of the celebration.
The people of this city, grateful for the honor conferred,
promptly accepted it and cheerfully assumed the immense
responsibility it entailed. The century just closed, unequaled
as it was in every line of progress, furnishes no more striking
evidence of the advance of civilization than the development of
the Louisiana territory. A celebration in such an age and in
such a country, to be fit, should be upon a scale in keeping
with the best and the highest, and should be planned upon lines
broad enough to take in every people and every clime.
A scheme so ambitious in its inception naturally had
comparatively few advocates and encountered many antagonists and
more doubters. It could not be accomplished without the
recognition and the aid of the General Government, which, for a
time, it seemed impossible to enlist. It was decided that the
amount required to launch an undertaking so comprehensive should
be the same as that paid for the empire which Jefferson
purchased--$15,000,000. The Congress said to St. Louis, "When
you have secured two-thirds of that sum, we will provide the
remaining third." The conditions were accepted and fulfilled.
After three years of struggle the sinews had been secured--the
first step accomplished. Two years have since elapsed. During
that period the work has been pushed in every State and
Territory and possession of the United States, and in every
civilized country on the earth. The disappointments experienced
and the obstacles encountered have but served to spur to renewed
effort those who, from the inception of the movement, had
determined to carry it to a successful consummation.
The further encouragement of the General Government on the
provision for its own exhibit, the cooperation of 41 States and
Territories and possessions of the United States, the pledged
participation of 32 foreign countries are the results of
vigorous domestic and foreign exploitation. That, and what you
behold here to-day in physical shape, we submit as the product
of five years of labor, nearly four of which were devoted to
propaganda and appeal and organization.
The plan and scope, comprehensive as they were in the beginning,
have never diminished at any stage of the progress; rather have
they been amplified and enlarged.
St. Louis, with an ever-widening sense of the responsibility,
and an ever-growing appreciation of the opportunity, has, up to
this moment, risen to the full measure of the duty assumed. The
management of the exposition has never despaired, but with a
realizing sense of the mighty task it has undertaken, and
mindful of the limitations of human capabilities, with
singleness of purpose and with personal sacrifice for which it
neither asks nor deserves credit, has striven to meet the
expectations of those whose trust it holds.
The Exposition Company makes its acknowledgments to those
faithful and efficient officials whose intelligent service have
contributed so much toward bringing the enterprise to its
present stage. The company expresses its obligation to the
artists and artisans who have reared these graceful and majestic
structures and whose labors have been inspired more by pride in
the end to be achieved than by hope of material reward.
The Universal Exposition of 1904, when the date of opening rolls
around one year from to-day, will, with its buildings completed,
its exhibits installed, be thoroughly prepared to receive the
millions of visitors who will enter its gates. The distinguished
assemblage which honors us with its presence to-day can come
nearer forming an adequate conception of the scope of the work
by personal inspection than through the writings or
illustrations of authors and designers, however great their
talent may be.
To the President of the United States, to the accomplished
representatives of foreign countries, to the chief executives of
the sovereign States, to the Senators and Representatives of the
National Congress, to the great concourse of visitors here
congregated, we extend greeting. If you are pleased with what
has been accomplished, your approval is abundant reward for the
labor we have performed.
We bear in mind and trust you do not overlook that this
celebration is of no section, but of the entire country. It is
our hope and our expectation that every section and every
commonwealth, and in fact, every community, will cherish a
proprietary interest and lend hopeful aid to this undertaking,
to the end that it may prove as nearly as may be commensurate
with the country and the century whose achievement and
advancement it is designed to commemorate.
The beautiful picture whose outlines you now behold will, to
adopt the simile of the chief designer, when completed, compose
a song that will reverberate around the globe.
And now, Mr. President, it is my pleasing privilege and high
honor to present to you for dedication the buildings of the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition. May a high standard of
citizenship and broader humanity and the mission of the country
whose worthy representative you are be sustained and fostered
and promoted by the uses to which these structures are devoted.
May the happiness of mankind be advanced and broadened by the
lofty purposes that inspired this undertaking and moved our own
and sister countries to unite in its accomplishment.
Fifth. Dedication address by the President of the United States:
MR. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: At the outset of my address
let me recall to the minds of my hearers that the soil upon
which we stand, before it was ours was successively the
possession of two mighty empires--Spain and France--whose sons
made a deathless record of heroism in the early annals of the
New World.
No history of the Western country can be written without paying
heed to the wonderful part played therein in the early days by
the soldiers, missionaries, explorers, and traders who did their
work for the honor of the proud banners of France and Castile.
While the settlers of English-speaking stock and those of Dutch,
German, and Scandinavian origin, who were associated with them,
were still clinging close to the eastern seaboard, the pioneers
of Spain and of France had penetrated deep into the hitherto
unknown wildness of the West and had wandered far and wide
within the boundaries of what is now our mighty country. The
very cities themselves--St. Louis, New Orleans, Santa Fe, N.
Mex.--bear witness by their titles to the nationalities of their
founders. It was not until the Revolution had begun that the
English-speaking settlers pushed west across the Alleghanies,
and not until a century ago that they entered in to possess the
land upon which we now stand.
We have met here to-day to commemorate the hundredth anniversary
of the event which more than any other, after the foundation of
the Government, and always excepting its preservation,
determined the character of our national life--determined that
we should be a great expanding nation instead of relatively a
small and stationary one.
Of course, it was not with the Louisiana Purchase that our
career of expansion began. In the middle of the Revolutionary
war the Illinois region, including the present States of
Illinois and Indiana, was added to our domain by force of arms,
as a sequel to the adventurous expedition of George Rogers Clark
and his frontier riflemen.
Later the treaties of Jay and Pinckney materially extended our
real boundaries to the west. But none of these events was of so
striking a character as to fix the popular imagination. The old
thirteen colonies had always claimed that their rights stretched
westward to the Mississippi, and vague and unreal though these
claims were until made good by conquest, settlement, and
diplomacy, they still served to give the impression that the
earliest westward movements of our people were little more than
the filling in of already existing national boundaries.
But there could be no illusion about the acquisition of the vast
territory beyond the Mississippi, stretching westward to the
Pacific, which in that day was known as Louisiana. This immense
region was admittedly the territory of a foreign power, of a
European kingdom. None of our people had ever laid claim to a
foot of it. Its acquisition could in no sense be treated as
rounding out any existing claims. When we acquired it, we made
evident once for all that consciously and of set purpose we had
embarked on a career of expansion; that we had taken our place
among those daring and hardy nations who risk much with the hope
and desire of winning high position among the great powers of
the earth. As is so often the case in nature the law of
development of a living organism showed itself in its actual
workings to be wiser than the wisdom of the wisest.
This work of expansion was by far the greatest work of our
people during the years that intervened between the adoption of
the Constitution and the outbreak of the civil war. There were
other questions of real moment and importance, and there were
many which at the time seemed such to those engaged in answering
them; but the greatest feat of our forefathers of those
generations was the deed of the men, who with pack train or
wagon train, on horseback, on foot, or by boat upon the waters
pushed the frontier ever westward across the continent.
Never before had the world seen the kind of national expansion
which gave our people all that part of the American continent
lying west of the thirteen original States--the greatest
landmark in which was the Louisiana Purchase. Our triumph in
this process of expansion was indissolubly bound up with the
success of our peculiar kind of Federal Government, and this
success has been so complete that because of its very
completeness we now sometimes fail to appreciate not only the
all importance but the tremendous difficulty of the problem with
which our nation was originally faced.
When our forefathers joined to call into being this nation, they
undertook a task for which there was but little encouraging
precedent. The development of civilization from the earliest
period seemed to show the truth of two propositions: In the
first place, it had always proved exceedingly difficult to
secure both freedom and strength in any Government; and in the
second place, it had always proved well-nigh impossible for a
nation to expand without either breaking up or becoming a
centralized tyranny. With the success of our effort to combine a
strong and efficient national union, able to put down disorder
at home and to maintain our honor and interest abroad, I have
not now to deal. This success was signal and all important, but
it was by no means unprecedented in the same sense that our type
of expansion was unprecedented.
The history of Rome and of Greece illustrates very well the two
types of expansion which had taken place in ancient times, and
which had been universally accepted as the only possible types
up to the period when, as a nation, we ourselves began to take
possession of this continent. The Grecian states performed
remarkable feats of colonization, but each colony as soon as
created became entirely independent of the mother state, and in
after years was almost as apt to prove its enemy as its friend.
Local self-government, local independence was secured, but only
by the absolute sacrifice of anything resembling national unity.
In consequence, the Greek world, for all its wonderful
brilliancy and extraordinary artistic, literary, and
philosophical development, which has made all mankind its debtor
for the ages, was yet wholly unable to withstand a formidable
foreign foe, save spasmodically. As soon as powerful permanent
empires arose on its outskirts, the Greek states in the
neighborhood of such empires fell under their sway. National
power and greatness were completely sacrificed to local liberty.
With Rome the exact opposite occurred. The imperial city rose to
absolute dominion over all the people of Italy, and then
expanded her rule over the entire civilized world, by a process
which kept the nation strong and united, but gave no room
whatever for local liberty and self-government. All other cities
and countries were subject to Rome. In consequence, this great
and masterful race of warriors, rulers, road builders, and
administrators stamped their indelible impress upon all the
after life of our race, and yet let an over-centralization eat
out the vitals of their empire until it became an empty shell,
so that when the barbarians came they destroyed only what had
already become worthless to the world.
The underlying viciousness of each type of expansion was plain
enough, and the remedy now seems simple enough. But when the
fathers of the Republic first formulated the Constitution under
which we live, this remedy was untried, and no one could
foretell how it would work. They themselves began the experiment
almost immediately by adding new States to the original
thirteen. Excellent people in the East viewed this initial
expansion of the country with great alarm. Exactly as during the
colonial period many good people in the mother country thought
it highly important that settlers should be kept out of the Ohio
Valley in the interest of the fur companies, so after we had
become a nation many good people on the Atlantic coast felt
grave apprehension lest they might somehow be hurt by the
westward growth of the nation.
These good people shook their heads over the formation of States
in the fertile Ohio Valley, which now forms part of the heart of
our nation, and they declared that the destruction of the
Republic had been accomplished when through the Louisiana
Purchase we acquired nearly half of what is now that same
Republic's present territory. Nor was their feeling unnatural.
Only the adventurous and the farseeing can be expected heartily
to welcome the process of expansion, for a nation which expands
is a nation which is entering upon a great career, and with
greatness there must of necessity come perils which daunt all
save the most stout-hearted.
We expand by carving the wilderness into Territories, and out of
these Territories building new States when once they had
received as permanent settlers a sufficient number of our own
people. Being a practical nation, we have never tried to force
on any section of our new territory an unsuitable form of
government merely because it was suitable for another section
under different conditions. Of the territory covered by the
Louisiana Purchase, a portion was given statehood within a few
years. Another portion has not been admitted to statehood,
although a century has elapsed, although doubtless it soon will
be. In each case we showed the practical governmental genius of
our race by devising methods suitable to meet the actual
existing needs, not by insisting upon the application of some
abstract shibboleth to all our new possessions alike, no matter
how incongruous this application might sometimes be.
Over by far the major part of the territory, however, our people
spread in such numbers during the course of the nineteenth
century that we were able to build up State after State, each
with exactly the same complete local independence in all matters
affecting purely its own domestic interests as in any of the
original thirteen States, each owing the same absolute fealty to
the Union of all the States which each of the original thirteen
States also owes, and, finally, each having the same
proportional right to its share in shaping and directing the
common policy of the Union which is possessed by any other
State, whether of the original thirteen or not.
This process now seems to us part of the natural order of
things, but it was wholly unknown until our own people devised
it. It seems to us a mere matter of course, a matter of
elementary right and justice, that in the deliberations of the
national representative bodies the representatives of a State
which came into the Union but yesterday stand on a footing of
exact and entire equality with those of the commonwealth whose
sons once signed the Declaration of Independence.
But this way of looking at the matter is purely modern and in
its origin purely American. When Washington, during his
Presidency, saw new States come into the Union on a footing of
complete equality with the old, every European nation which had
colonies still administered them as dependencies, and every
other mother country treated the colonists not as a
self-governing equal, but as a subject.
The process which we began has since been followed by all the
great people who were capable both of expansion and of
self-government, and now the world accepts it as the natural
process, as the rule; but a century and a quarter ago it was not
merely exceptional--it was unknown.
This, then, is the great historic significance of the movement
of continental expansion, in which the Louisiana Purchase was
the most striking single achievement. It stands out in marked
relief even among the feats of a nation of pioneers, a nation
whose people have, from the beginning, been picked out by a
process of natural selection from among the most enterprising
individuals of the nations of western Europe.
The acquisition of the territory is a credit to the broad and
far-sighted statesmanship of the great statesmen to whom it was
immediately due, and, above all, to the aggressive and masterful
character of the hardy pioneer folk to whose restless energy
these statesmen gave expression and direction, whom they
followed rather than led. The history of the land comprised
within the limits of the Purchase is an epitome of the entire
history of our people. Within these limits we have gradually
built up State after State, until now they many times over
surpass in wealth, in population, and in many-sided development
the original thirteen States as they were when their delegates
met in the Continental Congress.
The people of these States have shown themselves mighty in war
with their fellow-man and mighty in strength to tame the rugged
wilderness. They could not thus have conquered the forest, the
prairie, the mountain and the desert, had they not possessed the
great fighting virtues, the qualities which enable a people to
overcome the forces of hostile men and hostile nature.
On the other hand they could not have used aright their conquest
had they not in addition possessed the qualities of self-mastery
and self-restraint, the power of acting in combination with
their fellows, the power of yielding obedience to the law and of
building up an orderly civilization. Courage and hardihood are
indispensable virtues in a people, but the people which possess
no others can never rise high in the scale either of power or of
culture. Great peoples must have in addition the governmental
capacity which comes only when individuals fully recognize their
duties to one another and to the whole body politic and are able
to join together in feats of constructive statesmanship and of
honest and effective administration.
The old pioneer days are gone with their roughness and their
hardship, their incredible toil and their wild, half-savage
romance. But the need for the pioneer virtues remains the same
as ever. The peculiar frontier conditions have vanished; but the
manliness and stalwart hardihood of the frontiersman can be
given even freer scope under the conditions surrounding the
complex industrialism of the present day.
In this great region acquired for our people under the
presidency of Jefferson, this region stretching from the Gulf to
the Canadian border, from the Mississippi to the Rockies, the
material and social progress has been so vast that alike for
weal and for woe, the people share the opportunities and bear
the burdens common to the entire civilized world. The problems
before us are fundamentally the same east and west of the
Mississippi, in the new States and in the old, and exactly the
same qualities are required for their successful solution.
We meet here to-day to commemorate a great event, an event which
marks an era in statesmanship no less than in pioneering. It is
fitting that we should pay our homage in words; but we must in
honor make our words good by deeds. We have every right to take
a just pride in the great deeds of our forefathers; but we show
ourselves unworthy to be their descendants if we make what they
did an excuse for our lying supine instead of an incentive to
the effort to show ourselves, by our acts, worthy of them. In
the administration of city, State, and nation, in the management
of our home life and conduct of our business and social
relations, we are bound to show certain high and fine qualities
of character under penalty of seeing the whole heart of our
civilization eaten out while the body still lives.
We justly pride ourselves on our marvelous material prosperity,
and such prosperity must exist in order to establish a
foundation upon which a higher life can be built; but unless we
do in very fact build this higher life thereon, the material
prosperity itself will go but for very little. Now, in 1903, in
the altered conditions, we must meet the changed and changing
problems with the spirit shown by the men who in 1803 and in
subsequent years, gained, explored, conquered, and settled this
vast territory, then a desert, now filled with thriving and
populous States.
The old days were great because the men who lived in them had
mighty qualities; and we must make the new days great by showing
the same qualities. We must insist upon courage and resolution,
upon hardihood, tenacity, and fertility in resource; we must
insist upon the strong virile virtues; and we must insist no
less upon the virtues of self-restraint, self-mastery, regard
for the rights of others; we must show our abhorrence of
cruelty, brutality, and corruption, in public and private life
alike.
If we come short in any of these qualities we shall measurably
fail; and if, as I believe we surely shall, we develop these
qualities in the future to an even greater degree than in the
past, then in the century now beginning we shall make of this
Republic the freest and most orderly, the most just and most
mighty nation which has ever come forth from the womb of time.
Sixth. Grand chorus: "Unfold Ye Portals."
Seventh. Address by Hon. Grover Cleveland:
MR. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: The impressiveness of this
occasion is greatly enhanced by reason of an atmosphere of
prophecy's fulfillment which surrounds it. The thought is in our
minds that we are amid awe-inspiring surroundings, where we may
see and feel things foretold a century ago. We are here in
recognition of the one hundredth anniversary of an event which
doubled the area of the young American nation, and dedicated a
new and wide domain of American progress and achievement. The
treaty whose completion we to-day commemorate was itself a
prophecy of our youthful nation's mighty growth and development.
At its birth prophets in waiting joyously foretold the happiness
which its future promised. He who was the chief actor in the
United States in its negotiations, as he signed the perfected
instrument, thus declared its effect and far-reaching
consequences: "The instrument which we have just signed will
cause no tears to be shed. It prepares ages of happiness for
innumerable generations of human creatures. The Mississippi and
the Missouri will see them succeed one another, truly worthy of
the regard and care of Providence in the bosom of equality under
just laws, freed from the errors of superstition and the
scourges of bad government."
He who represented the nation with whom we negotiated, when he
afterwards gave to the world his account of the transactions,
declared: "The consequences of the cession of Louisiana will
extend to the most distant posterity. It interests vast regions
that will become by their civilization and power the rivals of
Europe before another century commences," and warmed to
enthusiasm by the developments already in view and greater ones
promised, he added: "Who can contemplate without vivid emotion
this spectacle of the happiness of the present generation and
the certain pledges of the prosperity of numberless generations
that will follow? At these magnificent prospects the heart beats
with joy in the breasts of those who were permitted to see the
dawn of these bright days, and who are assured that so many
happy presages will be accomplished."
There was another prophet, greater than all--prophet and
priest--who, higher up the mountain than others, heard more
distinctly the voice of destiny, whose heart and soul were full
of prophecy and whose every faculty was tense and strong as he
wrought for our nation's advancement and for the peace and
contentment of his fellow-countryman. From the fullness of
gratitude and joy, he thus wrote to one who had assisted in the
consummation of this great treaty:
"For myself and my country, I thank you for the aid you have
given in it; and I congratulate you on having lived to give
these aids in a transaction replete with blessings to unborn
millions of men, and which will mark the face of a portion of
the globe so extensive as that which now composes the United
States of America;" and when, as President, he gave notice in a
message to Congress of the actual occupancy by the Government of
its new acquisition, he happily presaged the future and gave
assurance of his complete faith and confidence in the beneficent
result of our nation's extensions, in these words: "On this
important acquisition, so favorable to the immediate interests
of our western citizens, so auspicious to the peace and security
of the nation in general, which adds to our country territories
so extensive and fertile and to our citizens new brethren to
partake of the blessings of freedom and self-government, I offer
Congress and our country my sincere congratulations."
Our prophets do not live forever. They are not here to see how
stupendously the growth and development of the American nation,
or the domain newly acquired in their day, have, during a short
century, outrun their anticipations and predictions.
Almost within the limits of the territory gained by the
Louisiana purchase, we have already carved out twelve great
States, leaving still a large residue whose occupants are even
now loudly clamoring for statehood.
Instead of the 50,000 white settlers who occupied this domain in
1803, it now contains 15,000,000 of industrious, enterprising,
intelligent Americans, constituting about one-fifth of the
population of all our States; and these are defiantly contesting
for premiership in wealth and material success with the oldest
of our States, and are their equals in every phase of advanced
intelligence and refined civilization.
The States which composed the Union when its possessions were so
greatly extended have since that time seen the center of the
nation's population carried more than 500 miles westward by the
swift and constant current of settlement toward this new domain;
and the citizens of these States have been flocking thither,
"new brethren to partake of the blessings of freedom and
self-government," in multitudes greater than even Jefferson
would have dared to foretell.
I shall not enter the field of statistics for the purpose of
giving details of the development of the territory acquired
under the treaty we commemorate. I have referred to such
development in some of its general features by way of suggesting
how distinctly the century just ended gives assurance of a
startling and superabundant final fulfillment of the prophecies
of its beginners.
The supreme importance of the Louisiana purchase and its value
as a national accomplishment, when seen in the incidents of its
short history and in the light of its present and prospective
effects, and judged solely by its palpable and independent
merits, can not be better characterized than by the adoption of
the following language from the pen of a brilliant American
historian: "The annexation of Louisiana was an event so
portentious as to defy measurement. It gave a new face to
politics and ranked in historical importance next to the
Declaration of Independence and the adoption of the
Constitution, events of which it was the logical outcome. But as
a matter of diplomacy it was unparalleled because it cost almost
nothing."
How fitting on every ground it is that the centennial of this
stupendous event should be joyously and appropriately
celebrated; and that it should be celebrated here in the most
populous of the States created from the territory which the
Louisiana purchase gave to us. And how in keeping it is with the
character of this acquisition and with its purpose and mission
that our celebration should not waste itself on the pomp and
pageantry that belongs to the triumphs and spoils of war, or to
the rapacious dispossessions of ruthless conquest. Every feature
of our celebration should remind us that we memorialize a
peaceful acquisition of territory for truly American uses and
purposes; and we should rejoice not only because this
acquisition immediately gave peace and contentment to the
spirited and determined American settlers who demanded an outlet
of trade to the sea, but also because it provided homes and
means of livelihood for the millions of new Americans whose
coming tread fell upon the ears of the expectant fathers of the
Republic, and whose stout hearts and brawny arms wrought the
miracles which our celebration should interpret.
We are here at this hour to dedicate beautiful and stately
edifices to the purposes of our commemoration, but as we do this
let us remember that the soil whereon we stand was a century ago
dedicated to the genius of American industry and thrift. For
every reason, nothing could be more appropriate as an important
part of the centennial commemoration we have undertaken than the
gathering together on this spot of the things that are
characteristic of American effort and which tell the story of
American achievement; and how happily will this be supplemented
and crowned by the generous, magnanimous, and instructive
contributions from other and older lands, which, standing side
by side with our exhibits, shall manifest the high and friendly
regard our Republic has gained among the governments of the
earth, and shall demonstrate how greatly advancing civilization
has fostered and stimulated the brotherhood of nations.
I can not, however, rid myself of the feeling that the
inspiration and value attending such an exposition may be
anticipated and increased if on this dedicatory occasion we
promote appropriate reflections by a retrospection of some of
the incidents which accompanied the event we celebrate.
We all know that long before the negotiations of the treaty of
1803 our Government had a keen appreciation of the importance to
American settlers in the valley of the Mississippi of an
arrangement permitting their products to be deposited and
exported at the entrance of that river to the sea. It will be
remembered that this need of our settlers had been met in a
limited and not altogether secure manner by a treaty with Spain,
allowing such deposits and exports to be made at the city of New
Orleans. This privilege was entirely withdrawn in October, 1792,
the territory appurtenant to such privilege having been in the
meantime transferred to France. The situation thus created was
extremely delicate. There was presented to the Government on the
one hand the injury to western settlers through the loss of
their trading outlet, and on the other the perplexing question
of affording them relief by means of diplomatic agreement, or in
some other method. The abandonment of our settlers to their
disheartening fate was of course not contemplated.
It can not be denied that the conditions plainly pointed to
cautious and deliberate negotiations as the way of prudence and
safety. It very soon became apparent, however, that delay and
too much deliberation did not suit the temper and spirit of
sturdy Americans chafing under a sense of wrong and convinced
that they were entitled to prompt assistance. The inhabitants of
our territory bounding on the east side of the Mississippi, in a
memorial addressed to the President, Senate, and House of
Representatives, after reciting their discouraging conditions
and expressing their faith in the Government's disposition to
extend the necessary aid, closed their memorial with these
significant words: "And so far as may depend on ourselves, we
tender to our country our lives and fortunes in support of such
measures as Congress may deem necessary to vindicate the honor
and protect the interests of the United States."
The settlers in the States "west of the Allegheny Mountains"
also, in a memorial to the Government, clearly indicated their
impatience and readiness for extreme action, declared that
prompt and decisive measures were necessary, and referred to the
maxim that protection and allegiance are reciprocal as being
particularly applicable to their situation. They concluded their
statement with these solemn words: "Without interfering in the
measures that have been adopted to bring about the amicable
arrangement of a difference which has grown out of the
gratuitous violation of a solemn treaty, they desire that the
United States may explicitly understand that their condition is
critical; that the delay of a single season would be ruinous to
their country, and that an imperious necessity may consequently
oblige them, if they receive no aid, to adopt themselves the
measures that may appear to them calculated to protect their
commerce, even though those measures should produce consequences
unfavorable to the harmony of the Confederacy."
These representations emphasized the apprehension of those
charged with governmental affairs that the course of deliberate
caution and waiting, which up to that time had appeared to be
the only one permissible, might be insufficient to meet the
situation, and that whatever the result might be, a more
pronounced position and more urgent action should be entered
upon. President Jefferson wrote to a friend on the 1st of
February, 1803: "Our circumstances are so imperious as to admit
of no delay as to our course, and the use of the Mississippi so
indispensible that we can not hesitate one moment to hazard our
existence for its maintenance." He appointed an additional envoy
to cooperate with our representative already at the French
capital in an attempt to obtain a concession that would cure the
difficulty, and, in a communication to him, after referring to
the excitement caused by the withdrawal of the right of deposit,
he thus characterizes the condition which he believed confronted
the nation: "On the event of this mission depend the future
destinies of this Republic. If we can not by a purchase of the
country insure to ourselves a course of perpetual peace and
friendship of all nations, then, as war can not be far distant,
it behooves us immediately to be preparing for that course,
though not hastening it."
I have not recited these details for the purpose of claiming
that this accelerated speed and advanced position on the part of
our Government had any important effect in hastening final
results. I have thought it not amiss, however, to call attention
to the fact that a century ago the people of this country were
not seeking to gain governmental benefit by clandestine approach
and cunning pretense, but were apt to plainly present their
wants and grievances, and to openly demand such consideration
and care from the General Government as was their due under the
mandate of popular rule, and that in making their demands they
relied on the mutual obligation of the relationship between the
governed and those invested with authority, and invoked the
reciprocity in political duty which enjoins that for the
people's obedience and support of government, there shall be
given in exchange, by the Government to the people, defense of
their personal rights and the assurance that in safety and peace
they shall surely reap the fruits of their enterprise and labor.
It may also be well to note the efficacy of the people's call
upon the Government in those early days, and how quickly the
response came; not by yielding to gusts of popular whim and
caprice; not by conferring benefits upon the few at the expense
of the many; but by a quick observation of the fact that the
withdrawal of certain rightful privilege by another nation from
American settlers had caused them distress, and by a prompt
determination to relieve their distress, even if the unwelcome
visage of war frowned in opposition.
Another incident which, it seems to me, we may recall to-day
with profit and satisfaction, grew out of the conduct of the
President when the treaty of 1803 had been formulated and was
returned to him for ratification and final completion. He was,
as is well known, originally quite firm in his belief that the
Constitution as it stood did not authorize such an extension of
our limits by purchase as the treaty for the acquisition of the
Louisiana Territory contemplated. Holding this opinion, and at
the same time confronted with the clear conviction that the
treaty, with all its stupendous advantages, could not be allowed
to fail without positive peril, if not to our national life, at
least to its most vital object and aspirations, his perplexity
was increased by the receipt of an authoritative intimation that
any delay in final action on the treaty might open the way to a
recession on the part of France. In these circumstances, not
daring to risk the delay of an amendment to the Constitution
prior to such final action, he proposed reconciling consistency
with duty by procuring confirmation of the treaty by the Senate
and compassing its unquestionable validation by a subsequent
constitutional amendment.
In view of the conclusive statement, since that time of this
constitutional question by every branch of the Government
against Mr. Jefferson's original opinion and in favor of the
nation's power to acquire territory, as was done under the
treaty of 1803, and considering the fact that we have since that
time immensely increased our area by the acquisition, not only
of neighboring territory, but of distant islands of the sea,
separated by thousands of miles from our home domain, we may be
inclined to think lightly of President Jefferson's scruples
concerning the acquisition of lands, not only next adjacent to
us, but indisputably necessary to our peace and development.
There were wise men near our President in 1803 who differed with
him touching the nation's power to acquire new territory under
the original provisions of the Constitution; and these men did
not fail to make known their dissent. Moreover, in the Senate,
to which the treaty was submitted for confirmation, there was an
able discussion of its constitutional validity and
effectiveness. The judgment of that body on this phase of the
subject was emphatically declared, when out of 31 votes 24 were
cast in favor of confirmation. An amendment to the Constitution
was afterwards presented to Congress, but its first appearance
was its last. It does not appear that the President interested
himself in its fate, and it died at the moment of introduction.
While in this day and generation we may wonder at the doubts
which so perplexed Jefferson in 1803 and at his estimate of the
limitation of our fundamental law, and may be startled when we
reflect that if they had been allowed to control his action we
might have lost the greatest national opportunity which has been
presented to our people since the adoption of the Constitution,
we can not fail at the same time to be profoundly grateful that
these doubts and this estimate were those of a man sincere
enough and patriotic enough to listen to wise and able
counselors and to give his country the benefit of his admission
of the fallibility of his judgment.
Thomas Jefferson never furnished better evidence of his
greatness than when, just before the submission of the treaty to
the Senate, he wrote to a distinguished Senator who differed
with him on this question: "I confess that I think it important
in the present case to set an example against broad construction
by appealing for new power to the people. If, however, our
friends shall think differently, certainly I shall acquiesce
with satisfaction, confiding that the good sense of our country
will correct the evil of construction when it shall produce ill
effects."
A recent writer on American diplomacy, who is not suspected of
partiality for Jeffersonian political doctrine, gave in strong
and graceful terms a good reason for our gratitude to-day, when,
in referring to this subject, he wrote: "It was fortunate for
the future of America that we had at the head of affairs a man
of such broad views of our country's future. A less able
President, with the same views as entertained by Jefferson as to
the constitutionality of the measure would have put aside the
opportunity. Jefferson put aside his preconceived views as to
the fundamental law; or subordinated them to the will of the
nation and welcomed the opportunity to open up the continent to
the expansion of American democracy and free institutions."
We are glad at this hour that Jefferson was wrong in his adverse
construction of the Constitution and glad that he was liberal
minded enough to see that he might be wrong. And yet may we not
profitably pause here long enough to contrast in our thoughts
the careful and reverent manner in which the restrictions of our
fundamental law were scrutinized a hundred years ago with the
tendency often seen in later times to flippantly attempt the
adjustment of our Constitution to the purposes of interest and
convenience?
In conclusion, I hope I may be permitted to suggest that our
thoughts and surroundings on this occasion should lead us to
humble recognition of the providence of God in all that has made
us a great nation. From our beginning as a people our course has
been marked by concurrences and incidents so striking, so
significant and so constant, that only superstitious dullness or
intellectual blindness will place them to the credit of luck or
chance.
In the midst of our rejoicing to-day it is peculiarly fitting
that we recall with soberness and meekness some of the happiness
in connection with the great event we celebrate, which
impressively illustrate the interposition of Divine Providence
in our behalf. We sought from a nation ruled by one whose
ambition was boundless and whose scheme for aggrandizement knew
neither the obligations of public morality nor the restraints of
good faith, the free navigation of the Mississippi River, and
such insignificant territory as would make such navigation
useful. While our efforts toward the accomplishment of this
slight result languished and were fast assuming a hopeless
condition, the autocrat of France suddenly commanded one of his
ministers to enter into negotiations with our waiting and
dispirited representatives and exclaimed: "I renounce Louisiana.
It is not only New Orleans I cede. It is the whole colony
without reserve."
It was only nineteen days thereafter that the treaty
transferring to us the magnificent domain comprised within the
Louisiana Purchase was concluded.
This astonishing change in our prospects, which dissipated the
fears and apprehensions of our Government and revived the
promise of our perpetuity and happy destiny, came at the very
moment that Bonaparte was organizing a force to occupy the
Louisiana Territory in the prosecution of colonial occupation
and development, which, if consummated, would probably have
closed the door even to the slight acquisition which we
originally sought. The French colony of Santo Domingo was,
however, a prime factor in this scheme of occupation, and it was
essential to its success that this colony and Louisiana should
both be included and should supplement each other. A serious
revolt then raging in Santo Domingo delaying proceedings, the
occupation of Louisiana was postponed until this revolt should
be overcome. The troops sent from France to accomplish this
apparently easy task were so stubbornly resisted by hundreds of
thousands of freed blacks fighting against their reenslavement,
and they suffered so terribly from climatic conditions and
deadly fever, that after the sacrifice of 25,000 soldiers, many
of whom were intended for the subsequent occupation of
Louisiana, Bonaparte's plan for the occupation of both colonies
miscarried. The disappointment and the conception of new schemes
of war and conquest by the restless dictator of France, and his
need of money to carry out these schemes, were controlling
circumstances in leading him to throw in our lap the entire
Louisiana Territory. None of these circumstances were within our
procurement or knowledge; but who shall say that God was not
accomplishing His designs in our behalf amid the turmoil and
distressing scenes of Santo Domingo's revolt? And how can it be
said that there was no Providence in the unexpected unyielding
and successful fight for continued freedom on the part of the
negroes of Santo Domingo, or in the fatal pestilence that vied
with bloody warfare in the destruction of the army of
subjugation, or in the fever of war and aggression which heated
the blood of Bonaparte, all combining to turn him away from the
occupation of the Louisiana Territory? All these things, so
remote and so far out of sight, pointed with the coercion that
belongs to the decrees of God to a consummation which restored
to our people peace and contentment, and secured to our nation
extension and development beyond the dreams of our fathers.
Thus we may well recall in these surroundings the wonderful
measure of prophecy's fulfillment within the span of a short
century, the spirit, the patriotism, and the civic virtue of
Americans who lived a hundred years ago, and God's overruling of
the wrath of man and His devious ways for the blessing of our
nation.
We are all proud of our American citizenship. Let us leave this
place with this feeling stimulated by the sentiments born of the
occasion. Let us appreciate more keenly than ever how vitally
necessary it is to our country's weal that everyone within its
citizenship should be clean minded in political aim and
aspiration, sincere and honest in his conception of our
country's mission, and aroused to higher and more responsive
patriotism by the reflection that it is a solemn thing to belong
to a people favored of God.
Eighth. "America," with full chorus and band accompaniment.
Ninth. Prayer by Bishop E.R. Hendrix:
Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, we devoutly thank and worship
Thee, the Author of our being, and the gracious source of all
our blessings. We are because Thou art; and Thou hast made us in
Thy image capable of fellowship with Thee and delighting in a
fellowship with one another as we resemble Thee. Thou hast given
us our reason and the power of cooperation with one another in
all worthy ends looking to the well-being of our race.
Civilization with its conquests over the material world is
possible only with Thy aid. Christianity with its conquests over
evil is the work of God and man, as Thou dost call us to be Thy
fellow-workers and dost inspire us with courage and faith.
This wonderful achievement of human effort and skill which we
dedicate this day is possible only by Thy help and as we have
imitated Thy example. Thou art the great Architect and Builder.
Thou art the great Mathematician and Engineer. Thou art the
great Chemist and Electrician. Thou art the great Thinker and
Artist. Our works are but pale and feeble copies of Thine, and
are possible only because Thou workest until now and dost bless
our works. The uniformity of Thy laws bids us work in
confidence, and the unity of nature bids us work intelligently,
because we work with Thee. We praise Thee for thy growing
confidence in man, as Thou dost place in his hand the keys of
every laboratory and dost trust him with the secrets of nature
that have been hid from the foundation of the world. Again Thou
dost give man dominion, whether in science, or art, or
government, nor wilt Thou remove his scepter if he wield it for
the betterment of his kind and for Thy glory. As the high priest
and interpreter of nature may he prove worthy of his great
trust.
We thank Thee for this great exposition, whose stately and noble
exterior gives promise of being the home of a mighty spirit of
worldwide fellowship of the nations. It is not only another
milestone of progress, it is a timekeeper of civilization. We
thank Thee for the pioneers and the prophets, the statesmen and
the patriots who secured for us this great inheritance, and for
their sons who have cultivated and developed it. Help us that we
may realize the high ideals of our fathers who sought to
establish and maintain good and righteous government, and to
reap the harvests of patient industry. May no evil occurrence
mar the happiness and good will which we invoke for the council
of nations which shall here be held. May the commerce of ideas
no less than of products be borne by favoring tides around the
globe. To this end we implore Thy blessings upon the rulers of
the nations of the earth which may be presented here. Grant
peace in our time, O Lord, and may the victories of peace
abound.
And now, O Lord, our God, we dedicate to Thee and to the welfare
of our common humanity these buildings and grounds which Thy
providence has made possible. Bless with Thy presence and favor
this great festival of the nations that it may help to make
stronger the bonds of human brotherhood in all the world. And
all this we ask in the name of Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Tenth. Benediction by Right Rev. Henry C. Potter:
May the blessing of the Lord God Almighty, without whom all our
labor is but vain, rest upon this work, and all who are or shall
be engaged in it.
May He take these buildings under His gracious keeping and crown
this great undertaking with His enduring favor, making it the
school of truth and beauty and so a revelation of His infinite
mind working and through the mind of man. And to Him be glory
and honor and power now and always.
The Lord bless us and keep us; the Lord make His face to shine
upon us and be gracious unto us; the Lord lift up the light of
His countenance upon us and give to us and to all the people of
this land peace, purity, and prosperity, both now and
forevermore. Amen.
Eleventh. Centennial salute of 100 guns.
At 8 o'clock p. m. a grand pyrotechnic display took place on the open
grounds south of the Administration Building.
PROGRAMME
DIPLOMATIC DAY, MAY 1, 1902.
At 10.30 a. m. the members of the Diplomatic Corps, the representatives
of the foreign governments to the exposition, and other official guests
assembled at the St. Louis Club, and they were then conducted by
military escort to the Liberal Arts Building.
At 12 o'clock m. the assembly was called to order by Mr. Corwin H.
Spencer, chairman of the committee on ceremonies of the Exposition
Company, and the following programme was carried out:
First. Invocation by Rev. Carl Swenson:
Great God, the God of our fathers and of their children, accept
our heartfelt worship and gratitude. We bless Thy holy name for
that wonderful providence of bountiful love and inspiring
benevolence by which Thou hast made us a great and mighty nation
out of an insignificant, struggling, and sorrow-laden beginning.
We render willing and adoring worship to Thee for that divine
guidance and wisdom so admirably exhibited in the wide-visioned
policy in the nation's most inspired leaders a hundred years
ago, and to-day the policy which in one brief century has
created an empire of a dozen magnificent Commonwealths of an
unknown expanse of uninhabited wilderness and desert.
Vouchsafe ever to us as a people leaders of prophetic
understanding, who in an uncertain present fathom the true
inwardness of conditions pregnated with the greatest
possibilities for a future of ever increasing proportions and
realizations.
We thank Thee for the wealth of hope and promise implied in the
dedication and completion of this unparalleled congress of
peace, good will, and universal fraternity, made possible not
only by the enterprise, patriotism, and gratitude of this
splendid Commonwealth and our own entire people, but also by the
responsive, generous, and helpful cooperation of the nations of
the whole world.
We pray for Thy blessing, guidance, and love upon every national
life here represented. May, in Thy beneficent providence, the
inspiring competitions and tournaments so necessary between one
people and another become an ennobling race for a higher culture
of the human heart and mind; a more universal usage of the
forces of nature for the best interests of man and for the full
fruition for each and every one of the unexampled industrial and
commercial activities which has taken possession of the
civilized world.
We pray Thee that the forces ever jointly employed in producing
the advance of a free people may learn better to understand
their mutual relationship.
Liberate and save capital from every alleged and real form of a
grasping, destructive, and disloyal selfishness, which may turn
even the present midday of national prosperity and contentment
into the threatening deepening gloom of an advancing cyclone of
unavoidable loss and destruction.
Give to the possessors of our fabulous wealth an ever-increasing
philanthropy, devoting a surplus of possessions unheard of by
our fathers to education, literature, arts, and mercy, thereby
making themselves the beloved and blessed favorites of a happy
and grateful people.
We pray Thee that labor and toil may ever be held in due honor
and respect in our broad land. Help us to realize that labor, be
it of hand or brains, is the sinews and backbone alike of our
past, present, and future as a free people.
Grant, O God, to the leaders in the world of labor the highest
and most patriotic ideals of citizenship--ideals and purposes
commending themselves to the intelligence and justice of the
entire people.
And as neither capital alone, nor labor alone, could have built
this wonderful exposition, grant, O God, that capital and labor
all over our glorious land may learn to join hands in
fair-minded cooperation for the upbuilding of such conditions of
society which will prove an inspiration to ourselves and a
worthy example to others, ending all forms of illegal coercion
by one party or the other, and calling into permanent existence
that truest and greatest America which is ever the dream of
loyal and patriotic hearts.
We pray Thee help us to realize and profess, amidst the
justifiable joy of a happy people, that Thou art God alone, and
that there is salvation only in the name of the Blessed
Redeemer. Grant that we may continually see in the cross on
Calvary the tested emblem of a new life for time and eternity, a
life of insight, energy, and the power of universally recognized
leadership ever characterizing the nation whose boon is the
Bible and whose master is Christ. Bless and protect the
President of our nation, the governor of the State, the mayor of
this city, and the president of this exposition, with all their
associations. God of our fathers, give unto us all that
sincerity of purpose, that rectitude of action so necessary for
the preservation of our rights and privileges. Make us the
toiling means for promulgating for Thee, and ever more
successfully, the divine message of the Fatherhood of God and
the brotherhood of man, and to Thee, the Father and the Son and
the Holy Ghost, shall be glory now and forevermore. Amen.
Second. The following is a brief outline of the sentiments expressed by
Mr. Thurston, president of the day:
We are here to welcome the ambassadors, ministers, and
representatives of friendly foreign nations.
Here we gather to commemorate an event which changed the whole
history of America, for the acquisition of the Louisiana
Purchase extended the boundaries of the young Republic, which up
to that time had no seacoast, except that of the Atlantic Ocean
on the east, and gave us a continental domain extending from
ocean to ocean.
We come here to celebrate, through this magnificent exposition,
the centennial anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase. This is
not an exposition of a city or of a State, or even of the United
States; it is an exposition of and for the world.
Gentlemen, our visitors and our friends, in this temple of
peace, dedicated to the progress of man, your presence is
significant of the friendliness to us and toward each other of
the nations of the world. May we not hope that in the electric
splendor of the twentieth century there will come to all peoples
a living exemplification of the words of the Master, "Peace on
earth, good will toward men."
Third. Greeting to the representatives of foreign governments, from the
Universal Exposition of 1904, by Hon. David R. Francis, president of the
Exposition Company:
The Universal Exposition of 1904 extends a cordial greeting to
the distinguished representatives of foreign countries who favor
us with their presence on this memorable occasion.
An assembling of envoys of organized governments, however
limited in their number and whatever its object may be, is
characteristic of a high civilization; but when that convening
is as general in its character as this, it indicates marked
progress in the establishment of a better understanding between
interests and policies long antagonistic and at variance.
And when the object of such a meeting is, as in this case, to
establish and cement friendly relations between people who
differ in form of government, in religion, and in race, it means
a distinct step toward the organization of a parliament, an
accomplishment worthy of highest endeavor, because its
consummation would result in universal peace.
When the civilized nations of the earth meet in friendly
rivalry, their better acquaintance engenders increased respect.
The closer commercial relations that follow are conducive to
mutual benefit. They efface prejudice, they broaden sympathies,
they deepen and widen the foundations of human progress.
The civilization of past ages would have experienced no
overthrows if they had been based on intelligence of the masses
and had been imbued with broader humanity which distinguishes
and ennobles the fraternal spirit of the twentieth century.
The cycle of one hundred years, whose close we have just passed,
incomparable as it was in the discovery and the invention and
the application of forces and methods in the physical world, and
remarkable as it was for an advancement in every line of thought
and research, will be surpassed and distanced by the new century
upon which we have entered if the material potentialities and
the intellectual faculties of mankind can be utilized and
trained toward a common end, and that end the uplifting of the
human race and the promotion of its happiness.
Concomitant with industrial progress is social development. The
policy of engaging in foreign wars in order to prevent or to
pacify domestic unrest may have been wise if not humane, but the
time for such a policy has passed. That government is strongest
whose subjects are intelligent and contented. Contentment
follows the employment of intellectual faculties, in the
development of natural resources, and in the production of those
activities that result in greater comforts of living and higher
planes of thought. The bringing together in a Universal
Exposition of the best that all civilized countries have
produced, opens to all who participate new lines of thought,
better methods and better appliances, and, therefore, conduces
to the material benefit of every country participating. It
promotes universal economy of human endeavor by enabling the
countries taking part to determine through a comparison of their
exhibits the lines in which they can produce the best results.
The economy of the world for saving time and energy by the
adaptation of physical and intellectual forces to pursuits in
which they are most effective, is a profitable study for
nations, as it is for individuals. Hand in hand, however, with
such occupation should go the cultivation of the taste for the
beautiful, and an abounding conviction that man is his brother's
keeper and has an inalienable obligation to better the condition
of his fellows.
The International Exposition whose dedication you honor by your
presence, was conceived in an effort to commemorate a great
achievement which has proven a potent factor in increasing our
wealth and sustaining our institutions and perpetuating our
independence.
The interest manifested by the governments and people whom you
represent in pledges of participating has been encouraging and
helpful in the highest degree, and we are glad of the
opportunity to express our deep gratitude. Your coming enables
us to show you the scope of the undertaking we have launched.
Our plans are ambitious and our hopes high, but we are energetic
and untiring, and with your recognition and assistance we expect
to carry to a successful consummation an enterprise which will
not only assemble the natural resources of the earth and bring
together the best products of human skill, but will be the
occasion for eliciting the expression of the best thought and
for classifying and systematizing all human knowledge.
We hope this exposition will be an epitome of the progress of
the world from the beginning of history. The nineteenth century
was characterized by unprecedented and almost incomprehensible
industrial advancement. The earth was made to reveal its hidden
treasures. The unknown forces of nature were harnessed and
utilized. Lines of commerce were established which encircle the
earth.
Sections of the globe remote and almost unknown to each other
were brought into close communication and friendly relation. It
would seem that there is little to be done in the field of
scientific effort. But every discovery and every advance opens a
broader plane for the exercise of human ingenuity.
The problems, however, that seem to confront us most prominently
to-day, and that require for their solution not only experience
and intelligence, but fraternal sentiment as well, are those of
a social character. The aggregation that we call society is
bound together by ties of sympathy, strengthened it may be by
culture, but often strained by selfishness and pride. The
relation of man to nature and her physical forces commands the
highest functions of the mind, but the relation of man to his
fellows not only enlists the highest intellectual effort, but
requires that it be tempered by impulses of human kindness.
Those who have as the mainspring of their actions the elevation
of their fellows live and move upon a higher plane and are
better members of society than those who subordinate sentiment
and sympathy to gain and power.
The earth in its fertility and resourcefulness furnishes
material sufficient to maintain in comfort all of its sons. If
their genius and energy could be devoted to the utilization of
that material instead of to a continuous struggle between
themselves for occupation and possession, the destiny of the
human race would be higher and nobler and nearer in accord with
the immortal principles enunciated by Him whose life and
teachings have for nearly two thousand years been a rule of
conduct for man, while broadening his usefulness and enhancing
his happiness.
That this exposition may be a powerful aid in the elevation and
advancement of the human race is the prayer of those who
organized and have brought it to its present stage of progress.
That the countries for which you stand may unite with us in
promoting an undertaking fraught with much good to humanity is
the earnest wish of the local management and the sincere hope of
every right-thinking citizen of the American Republic.
Again, I welcome you as guests whom we delight to honor for your
personal worth, as well as for what you represent.
Fourth. Music, United States Marine Band, "Marseillaise Hymn of
Liberty."
Fifth. Address by the French ambassador, M. Jean J. Jusserand:
When the treaty signed in Paris one hundred years ago, and by
which the area of the United States was to be more than doubled,
stood for ratification before Congress, there were, contrary to
what we might suppose, protracted discussions and objections of
many sorts. Some thought that the title to the new acquisition
was not a sufficient one; others were anxious on account of the
very magnitude of the new territories, and expressed the fear
that the federal tie would be loosened if extended to such
remote and partially unknown regions. Many were the criticisms
and long the speeches.
Senator Jackson, of Georgia, rose and turning toward one of the
hostile parties, said: "In a century, sir, we shall be well
populated * * * and instead of the description given of it by
the honorable gentleman, instead of howling wilderness where no
civilized foot shall ever tread, if we could return at the
proper period, we should find it the seat of science and
civilization."
Senator Jackson's time has come the very year he named; one
century has just elapsed since he spoke. If he could return
among us, he would see no howling wilderness, but one of the
most brilliant gatherings which this country has ever beheld,
including the Chief of the State and a former Chief of the
State, representatives of all the powers of the globe, soldiers
and sailors, priests, magistrates, savants, artists, tradesmen
and agriculturists, workmen and citizens innumerable, all bent
upon consecrating by their presence and homage the work done
during the hundred years. Good work indeed; nay, stupendous.
Sanguine as he was, Senator Jackson would, I think, scarcely
believe his eyes and ears if he saw the matchless sight we
presently behold, and the preparation for the pending exhibition
of the produce, all the discoveries, all the art of the wide
earth.
He would scarcely believe his ears if he heard that we came in
twenty-seven hours from the place where he had delivered his
prophecy and which had become only two years before the seat of
Government. No less would be his surprise, if he learned that
the supposed "howling wilderness" had been turned into an
immense garden, dotted with wealthy towns; that all the land
called in his days Louisiana produces yearly now millions of
bushels of various kinds of grain, and that the private
belongings of the successors of the scattered settlers of his
time are valued in ours at many millions of dollars.
But he would not be surprised if he learned that the federal tie
has not been loosened; that the number of States has increased,
their wealth, too, the number of their inhabitants, their
importance in every respect, and that they consider as more and
more sacred the bond which unites them to the older part of the
community. Such are the effects of liberty and just laws.
In this triumphal day, amid the shouts of joy, the reports of
the guns and ringing of the bells, considering the splendid
results, it is only natural that we carry our look backward to
the past and have a thought for the lonely pioneers of long ago,
who came one by one to this then unknown land, and who tried
among incredible difficulties to make it less unknown, to make
it more productive and easier to reclaim for you, their distant
inheritors. No one, I am sure, will think it amiss that I, a
compatriot of theirs and a representative of their country,
shall recall at this day their efforts, and express to-day's
gratitude for yesterday's work. For they were hardy men, those
children of distant France; they were plucky, enterprising, and
courageous; they led strenuous lives indeed; all qualities for
which you ever had a special regard. To say that they did not
fear danger is to slander them; they loved it.
Soldiers, missionaries, governors of cities, explorers came year
after year from the time of Louis XIV, attracted by the chances
or the beauty of the unknown and the opportunity of increasing
their country's dominions, or of becoming famous, or of
instructing souls, and of dying, if death was to be met, bravely
and honorably. Very French they were, with all the qualities of
their race, and something else, perhaps, some of them, than the
qualities.
As they went down the great rivers from the regions of the
Canadian lakes to the Mexican sea they gave them French names,
and the reading of a map of that epoch reminds one of the
century of the Sun King. There he is with all his court, figured
in lands, cities, lakes, and rivers. Louisiana bears his own
name; Lake Pontchartrain the name of his minister for marine;
Fort Duquesne, the name of his famous sailor. There were also
the rivers Colbert and Seigneley, better known nowadays as
Mississippi and Illinois. One of the Great Lakes had been named
after the Duke of Orleans; another, the great Conde, the winner
of Rocroy; another after his brother, Prince de Conti; but this
last inland sea, as indeed most of the others, soon resumed its
Indian name, the homely name of Lake Erie, the Lake of the Cat.
Very French they were, those men--this Father Marquette, who,
with Joliet, first beheld the magnificent water that washes your
walls, the vast existence of which was then unknown, and who
explored it down to the country of the Arkansas; this Robert
Cavalier Sieur de la Salle, who had, long before our days, our
days' notions of the importance of great commercial routes;
whose purpose was to open one to China across this continent at
the very spot where your northern lines of railways have opened
theirs; who called his first house on American soil La China in
order that he might never forget his initial purpose. He died in
the quest, but not before he had explored the Mississippi down
to its mouth; not before he had ascertained that its source was
to the West, and that the river therefore could be used as a
guiding thread toward the Pacific; not before he had made the
first French settlement in this, your country, and given it a
name, which has not been replaced by another, and is its present
name of Louisiana.
Long is the roll and great were the hardships. To the same
region, with the same object of discovering and improving, came
that typical cadet De Gascogne, the Chevalier Antoine de la
Mothe Cadillac, who, on the 21st of July, 1701, unfurled the
French flag at a certain spot where he began the building of a
town, now the town of Detroit. He became afterwards governor of
Louisiana. Then such men came as Du Tissnet, as the brothers Le
Moine de Iberville and Le Moine de Bienville, this last the
founder of New Orleans; as Father de Charlevoix, who gave the
best account we have of the country, and spoke most wisely about
its future; as La Clede, worthier than anyone to be remembered
at this day and this place, as he was the founder of your town.
The exploration of the coasts had been comparatively easy, and
thousands had attempted it. Settlers from France were the first
to try their chance inland; they traveled across a huge
continent more unknown then to the civilized world than was in
our time the Africa of Livingstone and Stanley. They did it in a
cheerful, optimistic spirit that nothing daunted but death.
Living as they did in truly "howling wildernesses," there
remained yet with them something of the mother country; and that
appeared not only in their speech and manners, but in their very
attitudes. Charlevoix meets figures of dead men fabricated by
Indians. He was glad to find that they were represented with
falling arms, from which he concluded that the authors of the
trophies had massacred some of their own kin. When Indians
killed French people, the figures represented men with their
fist on their hip, Versailles fashion.
How could it be otherwise when they lived, some of them, on a
settlement owned by a gentleman called d'Artagnan and managed,
as was appropriate, by two musketeers. One almost expects the
names of those two to have been Porthos and Aramis; but they
were d'Artiguidres and De Benac.
And these men recalled their country in more important things
than names and attitudes. Cadillac had scarcely given a name to
the spot where he meant to create a town than he sent for his
wife and younger son. It was to be a town, indeed, with wives
and children and family life, and it was so, and it has ever
been so since Cadillac willed it. When La Salle was killed in
his second journey to the Mississippi in 1687, he had with him
his brother and two nephews. The newcomers soon discovered that
the region was not the metallic eldorado they had heard of it in
Europe, but that it was a matchless agricultural country, and
they began cutting the trees and tilling the ground, with none
of the modern instruments and helps, no harvesting machines from
"Chicago," as the then desert spot was called in their days; no
horses, no horned cattle. They led, indeed not in fiction, but
in truth--and long before the famous "Mariner of York" was
wrecked by the Orinoco River--the life of Robinson Crusoe.
Unknown to Europe, far from any neighbors, by the shade of the
pathless forest, they tried their best. They died, many of them
obscurely, leaving no name to be engraved on the bronze tables
of history, but leaving better than a mere name--families, many
of which still subsist; better than families--examples of
earnestness and endurance, creating a tradition which will never
die out, "Rien ne se perd."
The greatness of their difficulties, the scantiness of their
means, the wisdom of many of their views are equally striking.
More than one did their utmost to teach and improve their Indian
neighbor. They forbade at an early date the selling to them of
the destructive "fire water." Cadillac did so from the first;
the Marquis de Vaudreuil reissued the same orders later. They
soon discovered that the northern regions alone could produce
wheat enough to feed the whole country, "though it should be
quite peopled down to the sea." The question of labor was one of
prominent difficulty and importance. Should it be hired labor of
freemen or the compulsory labor of the imported negro? On this,
one of those early French explorers, Charlevoix, summed up his
opinion in the following memorable sentence: "Hired servants
should be preferred. When the time of their service is expired
they become inhabitants and increase the number of the King's
natural subjects, whereas the slaves are always strangers. And
who can be assured that by continually increasing in our
colonies they will not one day become formidable enemies? Can we
depend upon slaves who are only attached to us by fear and for
whom the very land where they are born has not the dear name of
mother country?"
More striking than all was the observation of a Frenchman who
never visited America, except in thought, but saw distinctly its
future. When no one yet believed it, that great economist and
statesman, Turgot, said: "America one day will be free."
Years went on. The dark shadows and splendid rays of light with
which French history is interwoven shone and vanished in their
grand and awful alternance. One day the French flag was lowered
in Louisiana; that was at the close of the Seven Years War.
Another day the same flag was seen on the mast of a small vessel
leaving the harbor at Bordeaux and sailing for America. The ship
happened to bear the auspicious name of _La Victoire_, and it
bore Lafayette. Then it was the alliance of 1778, and the coming
on the same year of the first envoy accredited by any nation to
this country, my predecessor, Gerard de Rayneval, a staunch
friend of America; then the peace of 1783, when, with the assent
of the whole world, to the joy of every French heart, 13 stars
shone on the American flag.
France recovered, then, neither Louisiana nor Canada, nor
anything. But she never intended it. She won a friend, and such
a friend is better than any province.
She was very happy, having exactly fulfilled without change,
bargain, or extenuation the task she had mapped out for herself
in 1778, when she declared in the alliance treaty that the
"direct and essential object of the same was efficaciously to
maintain the freedom, sovereignty, and absolute and illimited
independence of the United States." The joy was such in Paris at
the news of American independence that performances in the
theaters were interrupted; the great event was announced, and
audiences rose to their feet to cheer the new-born Republic.
Festivities were given and colored prints were scattered all
over France for the benefit of those who could not be present.
Such souvenirs were proudly kept in families. One such came to
the remote house of my own parents in the mountains, and it was
carefully preserved and I possess it at this day.
France followed her destinies; in 1800 Louisiana was French
again; three years later on the spontaneous proposal of the
French Republic, not New Orleans alone, not a mere strip of
land, but the whole country became forever American.
The treaty signed one hundred years and a day ago had little
precedent in history; it dealt with territories larger than the
Empire of Alexander; it followed no war; it was preceded by no
shedding of human blood; the new possessions got a hundred times
more than they even thought of demanding, and the negotiations
were so simple, the good faith and mutual friendship so obvious,
that all was concluded in a fortnight. The simplest protocol on
postal or sanitary questions takes nowadays more time. Each
party found its interest in the transaction, but something more
than interest led the affair to a speedy conclusion and that was
the deep-rooted sympathy of the French and American nations.
The French were simply continuing what they had begun; they had
wished America to be free and they were glad to think that she
would be great. Money was paid, it is true; had this been the
main consideration, Louisiana would have been preserved, for the
money was not by far the equivalent of the buildings and lands
belonging to the State. Part of the money was employed in
satisfying American claims. "Those," says the French negotiator,
Marbois, "who knew the importance of a good understanding
between these two countries, attached more importance to the
$4,000,000 set apart for American claims than to the $12,000,000
offered to France."
An impending war in Europe, the possibilities of an occupation
of Louisiana by a foreign power was not, either, the main
motive. In the council held at the Tuileries on Easter day,
1803, the Marshal and Prince of Wagram, Berthier, whose first
war had been the war of American independence, said, as to this:
"If Louisiana is taken from us by our rivals what does it
matter? Other possessions would soon be in our hands, and by
means of an exchange, we should quickly obtain a restitution."
He concluded, "No navy without colonies, no colonies without a
navy."
Add again that the value of Louisiana was much better understood
than it had been before. "I know the worth of what I give up,"
said Bonaparte; and the French Government knew it indeed. They
acted with open eyes, for they had taken care from the year 1800
to gather all available information. One of the memoirs with
which they enlightened themselves had been asked of Louis
Vilemont, former captain in the regiment of Louisiana. It is
still unpublished; and it informed the Government that "from
various reports of Canadian and Indian hunters it is possible to
walk from Missouri to the sea in less than two months and a
half."
An access to the Pacific was not so easy as now, but yet an
access was practicable, and the wealth of the country was
extraordinary. Warming at the souvenir of what he knew, the
retired officer exclaimed, "What sources of wealth can we not
expect to find in those parts! At each step made from east to
west all produce, all things increase tenfold. It seems as if
nature had made this corner of the globe the most favored one of
our immense empire. The samples of all reigns have more beauty
and majesty than anywhere else. The men born there look more
like the descendants of Alcides than the kinsmen of the tribes
who worship Manitou."
The main motive power, without which all the others would have
been of no avail, was, indeed, mutual sympathy. When the treaty
was signed the three negotiators, Barbe-Marbois, Monroe, and
Livingston, who had known each other in America at the time of
the war of Independence, rose, and, what is rare on such
occasions, one of them was able to express in a single sentence
the intimate feelings of the three. "The treaty which we have
just signed," said Livingston, "will cause no tears; they
prepare centuries of happiness to innumerable generations of
human beings; from this day the United States take their place
among the powers of the first rank."
I do not think that there is another example in the history of
the world of a cession of such vast territories thus obtained by
the representatives of one of the parties to the applause and
with the heartfelt consent of the representatives of the other.
The treaty giving away in full possession and forever Louisiana
to the United States, allowing them to spread without meeting
any foreign neighbors from one ocean to the other, adding
fourteen States to the original thirteen, was signed one hundred
years ago, "au nom du peuple Francais" in the year XI of the
French Republic. The results have passed the most sanguine
hopes, but they have not gone beyond the extent of our friendly
wishes for the sister Republic of America. The representative of
France comes to this spot that was French in former times with a
feeling of admiration for what you have done, and no feeling of
regret. He sees splendid development, arts, sciences, trade, and
agriculture equally prosperous; he applauds your success, and
expresses from his heart his good wishes for your grand
exhibition of next year.
As for his own country, if she no longer holds those immense
domains, she has, on the other hand, found other territories for
the peaceful employment of her inexhaustible energy, with
results which will forever redound to the praise of the
Government of the Republic. And as for Louisiana itself, France
rests satisfied with remembering that she could not have more
friendly nor more sympathetic intentions. She remembers also,
not without pride, that her sons first discovered and tilled the
soil, first described it, and first drew a map of it; that one
of her most famous writers first revealed to the world the
springs of poetry that lay concealed as much under the fir trees
of the Mississippi Valley as under the plane trees of Tempe; the
diplomat and literary artist who made all those who had a mind
and heart weep for the fate of Atala.
Seeing the results, my countrymen have never ceased to approve
of the treaty signed a hundred years ago "au nom de peuple
Francais." Eighteen hundred and three is the third memorable
date in the relations between France and America. In giving the
United States, according to the words of your negotiator, its
place among the greatest powers in the world, 1803 did nothing
but perfect what had been gloriously begun in 1778 and 1783.
Sixth. Music by the Marine Band, playing the Spanish "Himno de Riego."
Seventh. Address by the Spanish minister, Señor de Ojeda:
MR. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: I greatly regret my
inability to respond to the very flattering recognition of the
part played by Spain in the early history of this territory. I
wish I were endowed with the same eloquence displayed by
previous orators, which it has been our privilege to listen to
and admire. Still, had not the national glories of Spain been so
brilliantly alluded to, were I able to recall them now with
colors as glowing as the warmth their memory brings to my
Spanish heart, I feel I could not raise to them a loftier or
more eloquent monument than has been raised by those immortal
works of Washington Irving, Prescott, Lowell, and Ticknor, which
have made of Spanish tradition a familiar household patrimony of
this nation.
I am sure you will agree with me in thinking that I could do no
better, that I could not pay a higher nor more honorable nor
lasting tribute to our share in the history of this continent
than by invoking the testimony of your own literary genius and
by referring now to that grateful recognition which moved the
founders of this Republic to associate the revered memory of
Isabella, the soul-stirring deeds of Pizarro, Cortez, and Ojeda,
with the temple of your nationality.
If ever the engrossing conclusions of your wonderful actual
prosperity, the intensity of your life, made one of your
strenuous citizens forget what your present owes to your past,
let him ascend the steps of your national capitol, let him pause
before its majestic gates, and there he will behold, carved in
bronze on the threshold of your proudest monument, the effigies
and the names of those Spanish heroes who discovered, conquered,
and pointed to you the way in which path you have so
successfully followed.
As a guest, sitting now for the first time at the hearth of the
American nation, I feel bound to respond to that high tribute
made to Spain by publicly acknowledging here the enviable
kindness shown by all classes of your people since I landed on
your shores.
As the representative of the nation whose ancient and honored
flag was the first to be reflected in the majestic course of the
father of American rivers, I am happy to feel that my first
official appearance before an American audience is associated in
both your minds and mine with the commemoration of an event
which, although involving far-reaching issues in the respective
histories of three great nations, has not and never was darkened
by the rankling memories which war and international strife
always leave in their wake.
For, Mr. President, Spain, exclusively devoted to-day to the
task of developing her immense resources, is happy to be
associated with you in this peaceful celebration of a peaceful
event. Believe me, Mr. President, the Spanish people will enter
into this noble competition for the prizes of progress and
civilization with that same stubbornness with which during seven
centuries they maintained the heroic struggle which saved Europe
and the Christian world from the baneful invasion of African
hordes.
Spain will apply to the arts of peace, to the conquests of
progress, that same and indomitable spirit which enabled her to
enrich the Old World with a new one, over whose brilliant
destinies she watches and ever will watch with intense and
undying interest.
Spain hails with pleasure an opportunity like your future
exposition will afford of showing her peaceful conquests in the
domains of labor, and is especially bent on attracting toward
her the benefits to be derived from this growing tendency of her
people to an everlasting commercial, agricultural, and
industrial interchange. She, more than over anxious to cultivate
and strengthen her friendly relations with the world, could not
but welcome with sympathy the announcement of this vast
enterprise as a right step toward that blending of her material
and moral interests with those of other nations, to that better
understanding among them which she will indefatigably strive to
attain.
You can therefore rest assured, Mr. President, that my country
will contribute to the World's Fair and enhance with its varied
exhibits its universal and historical features. I am, in fact,
authorized to inform you that His Majesty's Government has
decided to ask for the requisite appropriation as soon as
Parliament assembles. Spain will appear before you, if not in
all the splendor that the requirements of her wise, economical
programme now forbid, at least in the manly garb of a nation
meaning to show you and to show the world that her gloriously
checkered career, instead of impairing our vitality, has
retempered the ever-elastic steel of our national fiber and
concentrated and directed all its latent energies toward the
modern conquests of progress, labor, and civilization to which
the city of St. Louis is now erecting a temple worthy of the
city itself and of the auspicious event we are now
commemorating.
And now, Mr. President, in wishing success to your noble
undertaking, in thanking you and this city for its cordial
hospitality, I beg to acknowledge also my gratitude for the
numerous tokens and expressions of good will toward Spain which
have been uttered during this solemn celebration and which I so
fully appreciate.
I beg to salute reverently in that new-born flag of your
exhibition and august emblem of peace and labor, a touching
appeal to fraternity among nations. In that flag are blended the
past and the present with the glorious colors of the three
nations representative of St. Louis's early and contemporary
history. Let us welcome its appealing and eloquent symbolism
like the herald of an ever-cloudless future.
Eighth. "Hallelujah Chorus" from The Messiah.
Ninth. Benediction by Rev. Samuel J. Niccolls:
Almighty God, Heavenly Father, whose all-wise Providence did
lead our fathers across the seas to this land, and Who hath
given their children a goodly heritage, let Thy blessing rest
upon their children. Let Thy blessings rest upon all the nations
represented here to-day and upon the representatives. May we
continue in the bonds of peace for all time. May the grace of
God, mercy, and peace be with us. Amen.
Tenth. Centennial salute of 100 guns.
PROGRAMME
STATE DAY, MAY 2, 1903.
The civic parade assembled at 10.30 a.m. under direction of Col. Eugene
J. Spencer, marshal of the day, and moved from the junction of Grand
avenue and Lindell boulevard through Forest Park to the exposition
grounds, where the parade was reviewed by the governors of the States.
At 1.30 p. m. the audience assembled in the Liberal Arts Building. The
assembly was called to order by Mr. William H. Thompson, chairman of the
committee on grounds and buildings, and the following programme was
carried out:
First. Invocation by Rev. William R. Harper:
Our Father which art in Heaven, whose work for man no man knows,
whose heart is full of wisdom, to Thee be our prayers directed.
Hallowed be Thy name. Thou art the pure and the very great. May
Thy peace be manifested to us in all Thy work.
Give us this day our daily bread, and for the following day.
Forgive us our sins, as well as forgive them that sin against
us. Take away all hatred and strife and whatever prejudice may
hinder us from union and concord. Let us be under one bond of
faith and peace.
Show us Thy kindness and so fill us with Thy goodness that our
souls may be filled with the manifold delights of charity and
good will. Let nations abide under Thy law, for Thine is the
kingdom, the power, and the glory. Amen.
Second. Address by Mr. William Lindsay, of the National Commission,
president of the day, as follows:
MR. PRESIDENT AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: This is the last day of
the interesting and memorable ceremonies with which the great
exposition has been inaugurated. We have had with us the chief
representative of the people. The next day we had with us the
diplomats, the representatives of foreign climes. To-day we have
with us the toilers. We have had the governors of the sovereign
States which make up this great Union. When I beheld the great
cavalcade I felt that the time had almost come when the
industries will solely be confined to working for peace and
divorced from devotion to the implements of war.
It is not merely a question of a fair profit upon money that is
uppermost before the people to-day. It is not the question of a
fair return for labor. But it is the question of equitable
distribution of the products of labor and of the surplus of
capital. This is the great question; that is what involves the
happiness of mankind, and the man who solves that question will
rise in greatness to such a point that other statesmen, or even
Presidents, will pale into insignificance.
This is labor day, and as such we should honor it.
And the governors. We had governors before ever we had a
President. Each State represents yet a great residuum of power.
In the hands of State are the life and liberty of the people. We
must remember that the governors, representing the unit of the
national power, have the first place in national precedence.
There is on the right of me the governor of the great Empire
State of the Atlantic. There is on the left of me the governor
of the great Empire State of the Louisiana Purchase. I need not
introduce to you the governor of Missouri, but it is upon the
programme, and hence I will say the words--I beg to introduce
Governor A.M. Dockery, who will now address you.
Third. Address of welcome by Hon. A.M. Dockery, governor of Missouri, as
follows:
The pleasing duty devolves upon me of extending a cordial
greeting in behalf of the people of Missouri to you as the chief
magistrates and representatives of sister States, who come with
kindly messages and substantial evidence of the nation's
interest in our stupendous undertaking. The work already
completed and yet to be done could only be accomplished by a
people known and respected as the incarnation of intelligent,
ennobling enterprise.
The occasion which will bring us together is the precursor of
the most marvelous exhibition the world has ever seen. The
wealth, the ingenuity, the forethought, and the ability of all
nations will contribute to this magnificent result. The
masterful statesmanship of Thomas Jefferson builded better than
even he could know when he purchased from the Emperor Napoleon
this vast domain--the connecting link between the fair country
skirting the Atlantic coast, which had only been recently
emancipated from despotic rule, and the rich possession on our
west, extending to the Pacific Ocean.
The Mississippi River marks the eastern limit of this priceless
acquisition. Sweeping away to the west, the south, and the
north, its area of 14 States and Territories embraces great
cities, beautiful towns and villages, farms and gardens, mighty
waterways, vast railway systems, and a wealth of gold, silver,
and other resources which a wise Providence provided for His
people. Can the mind of man conceive a more resplendent
territory? And when it is remembered that the Louisiana Purchase
States are only a part of the still more glorious whole, is it
any wonder that the American people are proud of their country
and true to their Government?
Nature, with regal prodigality, has lavished gifts on this fair
land, and its people are especially endowed with those
qualifications which can not fail to produce the greatest
excellence in everything.
But to return to the coming exposition. Everywhere during this
pageant of entertainment have we seen evidences of the progress
of this enterprise so mighty in its conception as to be
astounding. Sites have been assigned to each State and foreign
country, and the result already accomplished is spread out
before you in brilliant panorama. There is no longer any
question about anything but the magnitude of the success of the
undertaking. This has been made possible only by the intelligent
cooperation of all the people, and to you, as representatives of
sister States, I extend most grateful acknowledgment.
The selection of our own metropolitan city as the proper place
in which to hold this exposition seems peculiarly fitting. Its
very name breathes the spirit of its French ancestry to whom we
are so greatly indebted, and its geographical situation is
preeminently satisfactory.
To guard our shores, to make impregnable our southern border
against foreign assault, and to enlarge the scope of our
commerce and liberty was the controlling thought of Thomas
Jefferson and his compatriots when the "Purchase Territory" was
added to the American Union. Fifteen millions of dollars
represented the purchase price, and by a happy coincidence which
may not have been altogether accidental, $15,000,000 represented
the basic sum by which this exposition first became
possible--$5,000,000 contributed by the city of St. Louis,
$5,000,000 raised by popular subscription, and $5,000,000 given
by the National Government. Missouri has since appropriated
$1,000,000, that her resources may be fittingly exploited, while
your States have in turn liberally set apart amounts which will
lend the magnificence of their products to the scene.
To-day closes the celebration incident to the dedicatory
exercises of the exposition, and in the hour of greeting we are
reminded that soon we must part for a time. The panoply of war
in the execution of our regular and citizen soldiery has joined
with the pomp and pageantry of civil life. Their commingling is
further proof of the pride of the people in all the institutions
of our country. Civilian and soldier have given the weight of
their influence to make more impressive the scenes attendant on
this display, and will be equally enthusiastic when the gates of
the great exhibition are formally opened. Months will pass
before that event, but in the meantime an army of the employed
will perfect the scheme which, in its full fruition, will herald
abroad the triumph of this wonderful exposition.
In conclusion, permit me to say, the welcome of every true
Missourian is yours, and in parting a cordial adieu is wafted
with the hope expressed for a safe return to your homes and to
your people.
Fourth. Music by the Marine Band.
Fifth. Response by Hon. Benj. B. Odell, jr., governor of New York, as
follows:
The past, with all of its achievements, with all its successes,
is to us but an incentive and guide for the future progress of
our country. America still beckons to the oppressed of all lands
and holds out the gifts of freedom, and we at this time and upon
this occasion should renew our adherence to those policies which
have made us a great nation. The future is before us, and the
patriotism and self-sacrifice of those who made the country's
history so glorious should be an Inspiration to us for all
higher ideals of citizenship. Through the golden gates of
commerce pours an unceasing stream of immigration which must be
amalgamated with American ideas and American principles.
The battles of the past have been for freedom and liberty, and
the struggle of the future will be for their preservation, not,
however, by force of arms, but through the peaceful methods
which come through the education of our people. The declaration
which brought our Republic into existence has insured and
guaranteed that liberty of conscience and that freedom of action
which does not interfere, with the prerogatives or privileges of
a man's neighbors.
Capital and labor are the two great elements upon which the
prosperity and happiness of our people rest, and when,
therefore, aggregations of the one are met by combinations of
the other, it should be the aim of all to prevent the clashing
of these great interests. The products of toil are worthless
unless there be some means by which they can be substituted or
transferred for that which labor requires. The concrete form in
which these transactions are conducted is the money power or the
capital of the land.
Without work all of these fertile fields, these teeming towns,
would have been impossible; and without a desire to benefit and
elevate humanity, its onward progress would have been useless.
To work, to labor, is man's bounden duty, and in the performance
of the tasks which have been placed upon him he should be
encouraged, and his greatest incentive should be the knowledge
that he may transmit to his children and his children's children
a higher civilization and greater advantages than he himself
possessed.
Trade conditions which would permit to the toiler but a bare
sustenance, the bare means of a livelihood, would be a hindrance
to human progress, a hindrance not to be removed by all of the
maxims of the philosopher or the theories of the doctrinaire.
Promise without fulfillment is barren, but when you can place
before the mechanic the assured fact that the performance of his
duty means success in life, and that his nonperformance means
failure; when you can show him that this law is immutable, you
have made of him a useful citizen and have instilled into his
mind a firm belief that the freedom and liberty of which we
boast is not an inchoate substance to be dreamed of and not
enjoyed.
But this desired result can not be secured if combinations of
capital, which produce the necessaries of life cheaper and
better, are assailed as the enemies of mankind. There is always
a mean between those who seek only a fair recompense and return
for that which they produce and those who seek undue advantages
for the few at the expense of the many. The laws which have been
enacted, if properly executed, are sufficient in their force and
effort to encourage the one and to punish the other, but in our
condemnation let us not forget that with the expansion that has
come to our country an expansion of our business relations is
also necessary.
This growth has brought us into intimate contact with the
markets of the world, and in the struggle that is always before
us the competition of trade, if we are to hold our own among the
world's producers, we should encourage, not hinder, those who,
by their energy, their capital, and their labor, have banded
together for the purpose of meeting these new
conditions--problems which our individual efforts alone can not
solve, but which require the concentrated force and genius of
both capital and labor.
Incentive for good citizenship would indeed be lacking if these
were taken from us--the opportunities for development, the
opportunities for the young man to follow in the footsteps of
those who have written their names in the history of our country
as the great captains of industry.
Success will always follow perseverance and genius. Every
heresy, every doctrine which would teach the young man of this
country differently, is an insult to the intelligence of our
people, and is in the direction of building up a dangerous
element in American society which in time would threaten not
only the peace and prosperity we enjoy, but our very
institutions themselves.
When you have placed before the young man all of his
possibilities, you have made it impossible to make of our
Republic a plutocracy controlled by the few at the expense of
the many. The individual should count for as much as the
aggregation of individuals, because an injury to the one will
lead to the destruction of the many.
The question of adjusting and harmonizing the relations of
capital and labor is the problem before us to-day, and is one
which will become more urgent in the future. Its solution must
be along those lines of constitutional right which every citizen
has been guaranteed.
Every man is entitled, in the prosecution of his work, to the
broadest possible liberty of action and the protection of
law--of that law which is the outgrowth of necessity and which
seeks to encourage and not to oppress. Such recognition can
always be secured if there is a determination upon the part of
those charged with the responsibility of government to have it.
And who is not?
Every man possessed of a ballot is responsible and has the power
not only to formulate, but to criticise and punish as well. If
the right be properly exercised, an honest and efficient
administration of our affairs can always be secured.
The greatest solvent for political heresies, for doctrines which
are antagonistic to popular government, is education. To the
educated mind there comes a conception of duty which is not
possible to the ignorant.
Sixth. Grand chorus.
Seventh. Benediction by Rabbi Leon Harrison:
Unto Thee, Almighty God, the God of Moses, the God of Jesus, the
God of Mohammed, and the God of every living creature, God of
the church, of the mosque, and of the synagogue, unto Thee we
bring homage and praise.
We worship Thee in this temple of labor, reared by faithful
hands, and implore Thy benediction on the work, for, unless the
Lord blesses the house, the labor is in vain. May it be
dedicated to the enlightenment of humanity that brotherhood may
be increased and patriotism deepened.
Bless this august assembly. Bless this great cause, its tireless
leaders, and faithful workers, and above all bless our beloved
country, the haven of the oppressed and the home of liberty.
Bless its rulers and its people.
May it go on as from the beginning, from strength to strength,
that the nation and the Government may increase in power and in
the end be a union of all mankind, all races, all nations,
proclaiming one God, one law of righteousness, one humanity, and
saying Thy God shall reign from generation to generation. Amen.
Eighth. Centennial salute of 100 guns.
A grand display of daylight fireworks took place at the conclusion of
the exercises in the building.
Immediately after the close of the ceremonies in the Liberal Arts
Building, the governors present proceeded to the building sites selected
for their respective States, where corner stones were laid and State
colors were raised with appropriate ceremonies.
The lady managers of the exposition were conducted by military escort in
advance of the parade each day to the reviewing stand. They were
accompanied by the wives of the members of the Diplomatic Corps, members
of the Supreme Court of the United States, members of the Cabinet,
members of the Joint Committee of Congress, the Admiral of the Navy, the
Lieutenant-General of the Army, the grand marshal, the governors of the
States, the officiating clergymen, and members of the National
Commission.
Receptions were held each day by the board of lady managers during the
progress of the dedication ceremonies.
The magnificence of the spectacle will live long in the memories of the
hundreds of thousands of people who witnessed the ceremonies.
All the nations were present by their diplomatic and accredited
representatives.
The presence of Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States, and
of Grover Cleveland, his only living predecessor in office, intensified
the interest of the vast concourse of people at the dedication
ceremonies. Their addresses were listened to by 80,000 persons assembled
in the Liberal Arts Building.
The committees appointed by the respective Houses of Congress to attend
the dedication ceremonies consisted of the following Senators and
Representatives:
_Committee of the Senate_.--Messrs. Burnham, New Hampshire;
Depew, New York; Penrose, Pennsylvania; Dolliver, Iowa;
Hansbrough, North Dakota; Mitchell, Oregon; Teller, Colorado;
Berry, Arkansas; Martin, Virginia; Foster, Louisiana.
_Committee of the House of Representatives_.--Messrs. Jas. A.
Tawney, Jas. S. Sherman, Thad. M. Mahon, Richard Bartholdt, H.
C. Van Voorhis, Richard W. Parker, Jesse Overstreet, Jas. R.
Mann, Walter I. Smith, Jas. M. Miller, E.J. Burkett, S.M.
Robertson, C.L. Bartlett, John F. Shafroth, Jas. Hay.
Special rules and regulations providing for an international jury and
governing the system of awards, which had been in course of preparation
by the Commission and the Exposition Company for some time, were finally
drafted and sent to the Commission for approval on May 2, 1902. As
approved by the Commission and subsequently promulgated the rules read
as follows:
UNIVERSAL EXPOSITION, ST. LOUIS, 1904, COMMEMORATING THE
ACQUISITION OF LOUISIANA TERRITORY.
1. The total number of jurors in the international jury of
awards shall be approximately 2 per cent of the total number of
exhibitors, but not in excess of that number, and each nation
having 50 exhibitors or more shall be entitled to representation
on the jury. The number of jurors from each art or industry and
for each nationality represented shall, as far as practicable,
be proportional to the number of exhibitors and the importance
of the exhibits.
Of this selected body of international jurors three graded
juries will be constituted: One, the general organization of
group juries; two, department juries; three, a superior jury.
2. Each group jury shall be composed of jurors and alternates.
The number of alternates shall in no case exceed one-fourth of
the number of jurors, and they shall have a deliberative voice
and vote only when occupying the places of absent jurors.
3. The United States jurors and alternates of the group juries
shall be nominated by the chiefs of departments to which the
respective groups belong. The jurors and alternates of the group
juries representing foreign countries and the United States
insular possessions shall be nominated by the commissioners of
such countries.
The Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company shall certify to the
board of lady managers the number of groups in which the
exhibits have been produced in whole or in part by female labor;
to each of the groups so certified the board of lady managers
may appoint one juror and one alternate to that juror; such
appointees, when confirmed, shall have the privileges and be
amenable to the regulations provided for other jurors and
alternates.
All the above nominations shall be made not later than August 1,
1904, except that nominations made to fill vacancies may be made
at any subsequent time.
Jury nominations made by commissioners of foreign countries
shall be forwarded to the president of the Louisiana Purchase
Exposition Company.
Nominations made by chiefs of departments and by the board of
lady managers shall be submitted to the director of exhibits,
and when approved he shall transmit them to the president of the
Exposition Company.
The nomination of group jurors and alternates, when approved by
the president of the exposition, shall be transmitted to the
president of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission for
the approval of that body.
These nominations having been considered and confirmed by the
authorities, as provided by section 6 of the act of Congress
relating to the approval of the awarding of premiums, the
appointments to the international jury shall be made in
accordance with section 6 of Article XXII of the official rules
and regulations of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company.
4. Each group jury shall choose its own officers, consisting of
a chairman, a vice-chairman, and a secretary.
Of the two first-named officers one shall be a citizen of the
United States and the other shall be from a foreign country
represented in the division of exhibits.
5. The chief of each department shall have general charge of the
organization and direction of the group of juries in his
department for the purpose of securing the proper examinations
of all exhibits and to see that the work laid out for the juries
is conducted strictly in accordance with the official rules and
regulations.
He shall be admitted to all sessions of these juries for the
purpose of directing their attention to matters relating to the
judging of exhibits.
6. The work of the group juries shall begin September 1, 1904,
and shall be completed not later than twenty days thereafter.
Examinations or other work not completed in the time specified
herein will be transferred to the department jury.
7. Group juries may, on the recommendation of the chiefs of
their respective departments, and with the approval of the
director of exhibits, have authority to appoint, as associates
or experts, one or more persons especially skilled in matters
submitted for examination. These experts shall participate only
in such special work as they are selected to perform and shall
have no vote on the question of the merit of the exhibit under
consideration.
8. Each group jury shall carefully examine all exhibits
pertaining to the group to which it has been assigned. It shall
also consider and pass upon the merits of the collaborators
whose work may be conspicuous in the design, development, or
construction of the exhibits.
The jury shall prepare separate lists presenting the names of
such exhibitors as are out of competition, awards recommended to
exhibitors in order of merit, awards recommended to
collaborators in order of merit, a report giving an account of
the most important objects exhibited, and a general account of
the group as a whole.
These papers shall be certified to the chief of the department
to which the group belongs, and the chief of the department
shall certify the same, with such recommendations as he may deem
advisable, to the department jury.
9. In order to expedite their work group juries may be divided
into committees for the examination of exhibits.
These committees shall be governed by paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 of
rule 8, just cited; when they have completed the work assigned
them they shall report to the full jury, which shall review the
findings after an inspection of all the exhibits in the group.
10. When the exigencies of the work require such procedure, and
when recommended by a chief of a department and approved by the
director of exhibits, two or more group juries may be combined.
11. In the case of temporary exhibits and such other exhibits as
are developed through a considerable period of time, or which
for other reasons can not be governed by the time limits
prescribed, the juries of such groups may continue in service
throughout the entire period of the exposition. Special juries
may be formed when urgently needed for special occasions.
At the close of each temporary exhibit or competition the jury
having the same in charge shall prepare a list of awards
proposed in order of merit and shall certify the same to the
chief of the department to which the exhibit pertains.
Special awards for such temporary exhibits or competitions may
be provided by the chief of the department to which the exhibits
belong, on the approval of the director of exhibits and the
president of the Exposition Company.
12. Each department jury shall be composed of the chairman and
vice-chairman of the group juries of the respective departments,
with one member of the directory of the Louisiana Purchase
Exposition Company, to be named by the president of the company,
and one person appointed by the board of lady managers.
The department juries shall choose their own officers,
consisting of a chairman, three vice-chairmen, and a secretary.
The chairman and first vice-chairman shall be, one a citizen of
the United States, and the other a citizen of a foreign country.
The secretary may be selected by the members of the jury from a
list of persons recommended by the director of exhibits.
13. Each department jury shall complete its organization and
begin its work on September 20, 1904.
The duties of these juries shall be to consider carefully and
review the reports of the group juries; to harmonize any
differences that may exist between the recommendations of the
several group juries as to awards, and to adjust all awards
recommended so that they will be consistent with the rules and
regulations.
No more than ten days may be devoted to this work, and when the
awards recommended by the group juries have been adjusted, the
department juries shall, through the chiefs of their respective
departments, submit their findings to the director of exhibits,
who shall, within five days after the receipt thereof, certify
the same to the superior jury, including such work as may have
been left incomplete by the department jury.
14. The officers and members of the superior jury shall be as
follows: President, the president of the Louisiana Purchase
Exposition Company; first vice-president, the director of
exhibits; second vice-president, a citizen of the United States
to be named by the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission. The
members of the jury shall further consist of the
commissioners-general of the nine foreign countries occupying
with exhibits the largest amounts of space in the exhibit
palaces; the chairman and first vice-chairman of the department
juries; the chiefs of the exhibit departments, and one person
appointed by the board of lady managers.
Two additional vice-presidents and such other officers as may be
required shall be elected by the superior jury from the members
herein provided for.
No chief of a department shall represent more than a single
department. The president of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition
Company shall appoint from the United States membership of the
department juries such other members as may be necessary to give
to each exhibit department of the exposition a representative on
the superior jury.
There shall also be a secretary of the superior jury, who may be
selected by the members of the jury from a list of persons
recommended by the president of the jury.
15. The superior jury shall determine finally and fully the
awards to be made to exhibitors and collaborators in all cases
that are formally presented for its consideration.
Formal notification of the awards shall, in each case, be sent
by the president of the jury to the exhibitors at the place of
their respective exhibits.
If, for any reason, an award is not satisfactory to an
exhibitor, he may file written notice to that effect with the
president of the jury within three days after the date of the
official notification of the award; and this notice shall be
followed, within seven days after said date, by a written
statement setting forth at length his views as to wherein the
award is inconsistent or unjust.
In the adjustment of differences and in considering the
recommendations of the department juries, the superior jury may
provide for hearings of members of the department jury and of
exhibitors, but in no case shall it be required to consider
matters which have not been regularly presented as heretofore
provided.
16. The work of the superior jury shall be completed on October
15, 1904, and, as soon as practicable thereafter, formal public
announcement of the awards shall be made. A final complete list
of awards shall be published by the Louisiana Purchase
Exposition Company, in accordance with the provisions of section
6 of the act of Congress, and section 6, Article XXII, of the
rules and regulations.
17. A committee, consisting of the president and the four
vice-presidents of the superior jury, shall continue the work of
the superior jury as long as may be found necessary after that
jury has disbanded.
This committee shall have charge of the preparation, collection,
and publication of the official list of awards and shall make
the necessary provisions for the proper distribution of the
awards.
18. The deliberations of all juries shall be strictly secret.
The president of the Exposition Company, the director of
exhibits, and the chiefs of departments shall have the privilege
of attending any sessions of the several juries.
A majority of any jury shall, in all cases, render and confirm a
decision.
19. The exhibits of persons serving as jurors or alternates over
groups embracing their exhibits shall be classed as
noncompetitive and shall not be examined by the juries. This
rule applies to managers, agents, or others representing a
company or corporation which is entered as an exhibitor. It does
not, however, apply to the officers or representatives of
governments which are entered as exhibitors.
20. Each regular exhibitor may receive an award, although his
exhibit be joined with that of others in a single installation.
Only one award shall be given to a collective exhibit, but the
names of all the contributors to such collective exhibit may be
entered on the diplomas awarded, and each participant shall
receive a copy.
If so desired by a group of exhibitors, a single award may be
made to an individual representing such group.
21. An exhibit shall receive only one award in any group.
The same object, shown in several groups and adjudged by more
than one jury, shall be entitled only to the highest award
accorded to it.
An exhibitor who has different objects entered as exhibits in
different groups may be given an award in each group.
22. Exhibitors who desire to have their exhibits excluded from
competition shall notify the chief of department as to their
wishes when making application for space, giving their reasons
at length for their request and objections to a competitive
exhibit; and these papers shall be transmitted through the
directory of exhibits to the president of the Louisiana Purchase
Exposition Company with such recommendations as may be deemed
necessary. Exhibits thus exempted from competition shall not be
examined by the juries, and shall not be entitled to official
recognition in connection with the system of awards.
23. In addition to the awards prescribed for exhibitors, an
award may also be made to the inventor, designer, or artisan,
who, as collaborator, has, in the judgment of the jury, shown
more than ordinary skill in connection with an exhibit. A
collaborator is a person who has distinguished himself as the
designer or producer of remarkable objects shown at the
exposition. He is not a person who has merely aided in the
arrangement or installation of exhibits.
In order that this may be equitably accomplished, each exhibitor
who has received an award may furnish the chief of his
respective department, for transmission to the proper jury, a
list of the names of his collaborators, arranged in order of
merit, based on skill, ability, magnitude and value of work, and
length of service. It will then remain for the jury of awards to
determine whether the assistance rendered by the persons named
in the manner described has been sufficient to entitle them, or
any of them, to the rank of collaborator, and to name the award
which may be conferred therefor.
24. Whenever it is applicable, a decimal scale system shall be
used in judging the merits of exhibits, 100 representing
perfection; and as a suggestion to juries, for instance, in
commercial exhibits, the following is offered:
(a) Value of the product, process, machine or device, as
measured by its usefulness, its beneficent influence on mankind
in its physical, mental, moral, and educational aspects.
Counting not to exceed 25.
(b) Skill and ingenuity displayed in the invention,
construction, and application. Counting not to exceed 25.
(c) Merits of the installation as to the ingenuity and taste
displayed, the cost and value as an exposition attraction.
Counting not to exceed 10.
(d) Magnitude of the business represented, as measured by the
gross sales during the calendar year preceding the opening of
the exposition. Counting not to exceed 10.
(e) Quality or cheapness, with reference to the possession by
the exhibit of the highest possible quality, or the fact that
the article is sold at so low a price with reference to its
quality as to make it a valuable acquisition to the purchaser.
Counting not to exceed 10.
(f) For completion of installation within required time and for
excellence of maintenance. Counting not to exceed 10.
(g) Length of time exhibitor has been in business as showing
whether exhibit is a development of original invention or is an
improvement on the work of some prior inventor. Counting not to
exceed 5.
(h) Number and character of awards received from former
expositions. Counting not to exceed 5.
25. A special award, consisting of a gold medal in each
department, may be recommended by the department jury for the
best, most complete, and most attractive installation.
26. The following scale of markings shall be used in determining
the final merits of an exhibit and fixing the award that should
be made, 100 being used as indicating perfection:
Exhibits receiving markings ranging from 60 to 74 inclusive,
bronze medal.
Exhibits receiving markings ranging from 75 to 84 inclusive,
silver medal.
Exhibits receiving markings ranging from 85 to 94 inclusive,
gold medal.
Exhibits receiving markings ranging from 95 to 100 inclusive,
grand prize.
27. The diplomas or certificates of award for exhibitors shall
be signed by the president of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition
Company, the president of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition
Commission, the secretary of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition
Company, the director of exhibits, and the chief of the
department to which the exhibit pertains.
28. Special commemorative medals and diplomas may be issued to
the officers of the exposition, to the United States, State, and
foreign commissioners, to the members of the international jury
of awards, and to such other persons as may be deemed worthy of
special recognition.
29. The compensation of foreign jurors shall be fixed and paid
by the countries which they respectively represent.
30. United States jurors, except such as are officers and
employees of the exposition, shall receive actual cost of
necessary transportation, and compensation at the rate of $7 per
day for such time as they are actually engaged in the work
assigned them at the exposition.
DAVID R. FRANCIS,
_President._
FREDERICK J.V. SKIFF.
_Director of Exhibits._
APPROVED.
THOMAS H. CARTER,
_President Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission._
ATTEST:
WALTER B. STEVENS.
_Secretary Louisiana Purchase Exposition._
The Commission early experienced great inconvenience in preparing and
submitting its monthly reports, as required by law, to the President of
the United States, of the financial condition of the exposition, owing
to delay in receiving monthly statements from the company and the
incomplete nature of such statements when received.
From an examination of the reports furnished by the Exposition Company,
it will be observed that they were at all times deficient in that they
did not show the outstanding liabilities of the company. The Commission
assiduously endeavored to secure such amendment to the books of account
kept by the company as would secure the incorporation of a statement of
such outstanding liabilities.
The following correspondence between the Commission and the Exposition
Company shows the repeated efforts of the Commission to obtain the
information essential to the preparation of the monthly reports referred
to:
OCTOBER 3, 1902.
DEAR SIR: I am directed by the Commission to refresh your memory
as to our conversation yesterday with regard to furnishing a
statement of all outstanding liabilities of the Exposition
Company.
Section 11 of the act of Congress, approved March 3, 1901,
requires the Commission to furnish the President of the United
States a summary of the financial condition of the Exposition
Company, and this can not be done in a satisfactory manner
without a statement of outstanding liabilities under contract,
expressed or implied.
It is the desire of the Commission to furnish the President with
detailed information of the character indicated, in connection
with the report for the current month, to the end that he may
have complete data available for consideration in connection
with his message to Congress.
It will greatly oblige the Commission to have the statement
referred to furnished in duplicate.
Yours, very truly,
THOMAS H. CARTER,
_President._
Hon. D.R. FRANCIS,
_President Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company, City._
ST. Louis, U.S.A., _October 15, 1902._
DEAR SIR: In reply to your letter of October 3 with respect to a
summary of the financial condition of the Louisiana Purchase
Exposition Company, I desire to say that the attention of the
proper officers of the company has been called to this request
of your part, and I may assure you that the desired information
will be prepared and furnished at an early date.
Yours, truly,
D.R. FRANCIS,
_President._
Hon. THOMAS H. CARTER,
_President National Commission, St. Louis, Mo._
ST. Louis, U.S.A., _November 1, 1902._
DEAR SIR: I am directed by President Francis to transmit to you
the following information of the total receipts and
disbursements of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company to
November 1, 1902:
As shown by the report of the treasurer, the collections on
account of subscriptions to the capital stock to November 1,
1902, amount to $2,478,030.83.
The treasurer has received from the city of St. Louis the
proceeds of the sale of $5,000,000 in bonds, said sale having
been made in June, 1902, at a price slightly above par.
The total disbursements to November 1, 1902, as shown by the
books of the treasurer, amount to $21,284,141.01.
The outstanding obligations and contracts, including
disbursements to November 1, 1902, amount to $6,931,853.41.
There is in the hands of the treasurer, November 1, 1902, the
sum of $5,193,889.82.
Respectfully,
W.B. STEVENS,
_Secretary._
Mr. JOSEPH FLORY,
_Secretary Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission._
ST. Louis, U.S.A., _November 26, 1902._
DEAR SIR: By direction of the Commission I respectfully call
your attention to the following entry in the minutes of the
proceedings at a meeting of the Commission held on October 2,
1902, as follows:
"President Francis was requested by the Commission to furnish a
detailed statement of all outstanding contract obligations and
other liabilities of the exposition for transmission to the
President of the United States with the monthly report for the
current month. He said the statement would be furnished the
Commission as requested."
The statement referred to was not furnished to the Commission
for transmission to the President of the United States with the
monthly statement for the month of October. Presumably this
default occurred because of your inability to have the statement
prepared in season for transmission with that report. It is
deemed by the Commission absolutely essential that the statement
should be transmitted with the report for the month of November,
to the end that it may be on file and available for examination
by the President or by Congress.
You are, therefore, respectfully requested to furnish such
detailed statement to the Commission at the earliest practicable
date, to the end that it may be examined during the present
meeting of the Commission.
The Commission desires that the statement should show the
contract obligations for the several buildings, the names of the
contractors, the dates fixed for payment, the amounts heretofore
paid, and the date for final completion of each structure. Also
all contracts existing requiring the payment of money for the
acquisition of grounds and improvements to be made thereon, and
for services rendered, or to be rendered, together with the
amounts heretofore paid on the respective contracts, and the
names of the contractors to whom payments have been or are to be
made. In short, it is the desire of the Commission that the
statement should give the substance of each and every contract
for the payment of money made by the Exposition Company prior to
November 1.
The Commission also desires that the statement should embrace an
approximate estimate of the cost of all contemplated
construction, improvements, and necessary expenditures connected
with the exposition as contemplated by the plan and scope
thereof heretofore approved.
The Commission deems the statement referred to necessary under
the requirements of section 11 of the act of Congress approved
March 3, 1901, which requires the Commission to give a general
summary of the financial condition of the exposition.
The Commission will appreciate the courtesy of the statement in
duplicate.
Very respectfully,
THOS. H. CARTER,
_President_.
Hon. D.R. FRANCIS,
President Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company,
_St. Louis, Mo_.
ST. LOUIS, _November 26, 1902_.
DEAR SIR: I beg to acknowledge receipt of a communication dated
November 26, signed by President Carter, requesting a detailed
statement of the financial obligations and expenditures of the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company up to and including
October 31, 1902.
Respectfully,
W.B. STEVENS,
_Secretary_.
Hon. JOSEPH FLORY,
_Secretary National Commission, City_.
ST. LOUIS, U.S.A., _November 26, 1902_.
DEAR SIR: I send herewith a statement of the disbursements and
liabilities of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company, which,
I think, meets the request made by the National Commission.
Respectfully,
D.R. FRANCIS,
_President_.
Hon. THOMAS H. CARTER,
_President National Commission, St. Louis_.
ST. LOUIS, _November 29, 1902_.
DEAR SIR: I send herewith the financial statement and duplicate
duly certified in accordance with the request of the National
Commission.
Respectfully,
W.B. STEVENS,
_Secretary_.
FEBRUARY 5, 1903.
DEAR SIR: Referring to conversation had with you this morning,
relative to the detailed statement of disbursements and
liabilities transmitted this Commission each month, I wish to
say that the statement does not furnish all the information
requested.
By reference to letter addressed President Francis by President
Carter under date of November 26, 1902, on the second page of
which you will note this Commission desires a statement showing
the contract obligations for the several buildings, the name of
the contractors, the dates fixed for payment, the amounts
heretofore paid, and the date for final completion of each
structure. Also all contracts existing requiring the payment of
money for the acquisition of grounds and improvements to be made
thereon, and for services rendered or to be rendered, together
with the amounts heretofore paid on the respective contracts,
and the names of the contractors to whom payments have been or
are to be made, giving the substance of each and every contract
for the payment of money made by the Exposition Company prior to
November 1. If you could have the statement include the months
of November, December, and January it would be appreciated.
You will also note that it is desired that the statement should
embrace an approximate estimate of the cost of all contemplated
construction, improvements, and necessary expenditures connected
with the exposition, as contemplated by the plan and scope
thereof heretofore approved.
This Commission will meet on March 10, and I will appreciate it
if you will have the statement furnished at your earliest
convenience.
Thanking you in advance for your kindness, I beg to remain,
Yours, very truly,
JOSEPH FLORY,
_Secretary._
W.B. STEVENS, Esq.,
_Secretary Exposition Company, Building._
ST. LOUIS, U.S.A., _February 19, 1903._
DEAR SIR: The information asked for in your letter of the 5th
instant, namely, "A statement showing contract obligations for
the several buildings, names of contractors, dates fixed for
payment, amount heretofore paid, and dates for final completion
of each structure," is being prepared and will be forwarded to
you.
Respectfully,
W.B. STEVENS,
_Secretary._
Mr. JOSEPH FLORY,
_Secretary._
The statements furnished by the Exposition Company following this
correspondence did not seem to the Commission to be sufficiently
explanatory of the financial condition of the exposition, and with a
view of obviating this difficulty, and of insuring better results in the
future, the Commission on March 13, 1903, appointed a special auditing
committee, consisting of Messrs. Scott, Thurston, and Miller, to audit
the books and accounts of the Exposition Company up to April 1, 1903.
Mr. Scott, as chairman, was authorized by the following resolution to
make the audit:
Copy of Resolution.
_Resolved_, That the special auditing committee heretofore
appointed be, and said committee is hereby, directed to inquire
into and report to the Commission at its earliest convenience
the true situation concerning the financial condition of the
Exposition Company in the matter of cash receipts from different
sources, including receipts for admissions and concessions and
other sources; also all disbursements of any nature made by the
Exposition Company. They will also examine all advertisements
for bids; also all competitive bids submitted by contractors
under each advertisement, and compare the accepted bids with the
rejected bids, and determine if the accepted bids are reasonable
in comparison with the material and service rendered. They will
also prepare a comparative statement showing all bids submitted,
and a copy of all contracts as finally awarded.
It is the wish of the Commission that you, as chairman of the
special auditing committee, proceed with as much expedition as
possible to make the examination and secure the information as
set forth in above resolution.
Owing to the magnitude of the work of auditing the books of such an
immense enterprise, Mr. Scott engaged the services of Jones, Caesar &
Co., expert accountants, of St. Louis, to make the investigation under
supervision of the committee.
On June 23, 1903, the special auditing committee made a report to the
Commission, and at various times thereafter submitted other reports of
the financial standing of the Exposition Company, based upon the
findings of the above-named firm of expert accountants, all of which are
in the files of the Commission.
The last report of the expert accountants employed by the Commission,
containing a statement of receipts and disbursements of the Exposition
Company from date of its incorporation to date of April 30, 1905,
together with a condensed statement compiled by said expert accountants,
showing their estimate of the financial result of the exposition, which
they state has been prepared from the accounts of the company to May 3,
1905, and from an estimate of future receipts and expenditures,
furnished by the president of the Exposition Company, is herewith
submitted as a part of this report as "Appendix No. 1."
The Commission was compelled from time to time to call the attention of
the Exposition Company to the apparently excessive number of free
admissions in comparison with the total attendance at the exposition.
On May 10, 1904, the Commission wrote to the Exposition Company,
pointing out that for the first seven days of the exposition, with the
exception of the opening day, the number of free admissions compared
with paid admissions was in the ratio of 7 to 6. On several subsequent
occasions the Commission insisted that prompt action should be taken to
check the indiscriminate use of passes.
On May 24, 1904, the Commission adopted the following resolution:
_Resolved_, That Mr. Thurston, as a member of the judiciary
committee present, call upon Judge Ferris, general counsel for
the Exposition Company, and indicate to him the condition of
correspondence with reference to free admissions to the fair
grounds, and to suggest to him that in the absence of any
disposition on the part of the Exposition Company to take notice
of the protests of the Commission, he has been authorized to
prepare the case for submission to the Attorney-General of the
United States, with request that action be taken in the courts
to prevent further violation of the law and rules as agreed upon
by the joint action of the company and the Commission.
On the same day Mr. Thurston, in a conference with Judge Ferris, general
counsel of the Exposition Company, brought the said action of the
Commission to his attention and insisted that the Exposition Company
should at once take immediate steps to put an end to the excessive and
improper issuance of free passes. Mr. Thurston was assured by Judge
Ferris that he would immediately consult with the exposition officials
and endeavor to secure such action on their part as would meet the views
and wishes of the Commission.
As there was no apparent cessation in the distribution of passes, the
president of the Commission, on May 31, addressed the following
communication to the president of the Exposition Company:
MAY 31, 1904.
SIR: Under date of May 26 Secretary Stevens transmitted to the
National Commission what he denominated "The rules and
regulations governing and restricting the issuance and use of
passes," as adopted by the company and now in operation. This
communication, with the rules referred to attached, was
obviously intended as an answer to the communication of the
Commission to the company on that subject under dates of May 10
and May 19.
I am directed by the Commission to call your attention to the
following sentence contained in my letter of 19th, above
referred to, to wit:
"Persons not entitled to admission to the grounds under article
5 of the rules and regulations can only be legally and properly
admitted by the Exposition Company with the approval of the
National Commission."
With that proposition the answer of the executive committee of
your company takes issue by submitting what you evidently deemed
a sufficient answer through rules and regulations adopted by the
company and now in operation, without the approval of the
Commission.
The Commission understands that the following issues arise from
this letter and the correspondence to which it refers, to wit:
First. That the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company asserts
and is exercising the asserted right to formulate and put into
operation rules and regulations governing and restricting the
issuance and use of free passes to the exposition grounds,
without submitting such rules and regulations to the Commission
and obtaining its approval thereof.
Second. That the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company asserts
and is acting upon the assertion of its alleged right, through
its officers and agents, to issue free passes to the exposition
grounds without the concurrence or approval of the National
Commission, expressed through general rules or regulations or
otherwise.
In reply to these asserted rights, and the exercise thereof by
the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company, the Louisiana
Purchase Exposition Commission denies the right of the company
to promulgate and put into operation rules and regulations
governing and prescribing the issuance and use of free passes to
the exposition grounds without submitting such rules and
regulations to the Commission, and without obtaining its
approval thereof, and denies the right of the Louisiana Purchase
Exposition Company to issue free passes to the exposition
grounds without the concurrence or approval of the National
Commission, expressed through general rules and regulations, or
otherwise.
Upon the two issues here presented the Commission invokes the
judgment of the board of arbitration, provided for in section 4
of the act of Congress, entitled:
"An act to provide for celebrating the one hundredth anniversary
of the purchase of the Louisiana territory by the United States
by holding an international exhibition of arts, industries,
manufactures, and the products of the soil, mine, forest, and
sea, in the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri,
approved March 3, 1901."
For convenience a copy of the correspondence referred to is
hereunto attached.
Hon. John M. Allen and Hon. John M. Thurston, the members of the
Commission appointed to act for this body on the board of
arbitration, will hold themselves in readiness to meet the
members of that board appointed by the company at their
pleasure.
Yours, very respectfully,
THOS. H. CARTER.
Hon. D.R. FRANCIS,
_President Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company._
On June 14 the Exposition Company submitted certain rules and
regulations governing the issuance of passes. The Commission gave due
consideration to the proposed rules, and on June 25 returned them to the
Exposition Company with certain modifications, which the executive
committee of the Exposition Company refused to adopt. Whereupon, on July
7, the Commission, by resolution, demanded immediate arbitration on the
matter and protested against the issuance of free admissions pending a
decision by the board of arbitration.
Mr. Joseph Flory, secretary of the Commission since its organization,
resigned from that office on July 1, 1904. Mr. Lawrence H. Grahame, of
New York, assistant secretary, was elected as secretary to succeed Mr.
Flory.
On July 13, 1904, the board of arbitration of the Commission and the
Exposition Company finally met, and the question of free passes was
discussed. Another meeting of the arbitrators was held on July 18, and
rules and regulations governing the use of passes were drafted.
These rules were subsequently adopted by the company and approved by the
Commission on July 20, 1904. The rules read as, follows:
_Resolved,_ That the rules and regulations governing free
admission to the exposition grounds, prepared by the Louisiana
Purchase Exposition Company, governing the corporation are fixed
and established by said company to read as follows:
The official badges of the officers and directors of the
company, directors of divisions, and chiefs of departments of
the exposition, duly approved by the board of directors of the
company; the official badges of the officers and members of the
National Commission, duly approved by said Commission; and the
official badge of the board of lady managers, duly approved by
said board, shall entitle the officers and members wearing the
same to free admission to the exposition grounds.
Card passes for the entire period of the exposition will be
issued to the following officials and their wives, to wit:
The President of the United States.
The Vice-President of the United States.
Members of the Cabinet.
Judges of the Supreme Court of the United States.
The Secretary to the President of the United States.
Members and officers of the National Commission.
The directors and officers of the Exposition Company.
The mayor of the city of St. Louis.
Card passes for the entire period of the exposition will be
issued to the following persons, to wit:
Members of both Houses of Congress, and the chief officers
thereof.
The Diplomatic Corps.
The diplomatic representatives of the United States abroad.
The governors of States, Territories, Districts, and
dependencies of the United States, and the Commissioners of the
District of Columbia.
Commissioners of foreign countries accredited to the exposition.
Commissioners of States, Territories, Districts, and
dependencies of the United States accredited to the exposition.
Directors of divisions and chiefs of the departments and bureaus
of the exposition.
The widows of deceased directors of the Exposition Company.
The members of the board of lady managers.
Members of the United States Government board.
The commander of the Jefferson Guards and his official aides.
The members and chief officers of the municipal assembly of the
city of St. Louis.
The heads of departments of the municipal government of the city
of St. Louis.
The chief of police and the chief of the detective force of St.
Louis.
Limited admission passes will be granted, under such rules and
regulations as the Exposition Company may prescribe, to the
following classes of persons whose duties require their presence
upon the exposition grounds, to wit:
The judges and jurors of awards.
Employees of the Exposition Company.
Employees of the National Commission.
Employees of the board of lady managers.
Officers and employees of the United States actually in charge
of or connected with the Government exhibits, or otherwise
officially engaged within the exposition grounds.
Agents and employees of foreign governments actually in charge
of or connected with their exhibits or buildings.
Duly accredited press representatives.
Private exhibitors and their employees.
Concessionaires and their employees.
The term "employee" as herein used shall be construed as meaning
only such persons as are actually and necessarily employed
within the exposition grounds, and when in any case such
employment ceases the pass shall be taken up and canceled.
A vehicle may be admitted to the grounds upon payment of 50
cents, but the driver and occupants thereof shall be subject to
the general rules governing admissions.
_Provided,_ That all official vehicles and the vehicles of
officers and directors of the Exposition Company, of officers
and members of the National Commission, and the members of the
board of lady managers shall, with the driver thereof, be
admitted free upon presentation of official permit.
Any person entering the grounds upon a badge or card pass shall
be required to deposit with the gate keeper a personal card with
pass number thereon.
In exceptional cases the president of the Exposition Company may
issue passes to persons not included in the foregoing
classification, when such action is deemed for the best interest
of the exposition.
Passes will not be replaced during the period for which same may
have been issued. When a pass is lost, prompt notice should be
given to the department of admissions in order that notice of
same may be posted and the pass taken up if presented.
When an employee is discharged or resigns, a pass will not be
issued to his successor until the original pass is returned to
the department of admissions.
The Louisiana Purchase Exposition reserves the right to call in
and revoke or cancel any pass at any time.
Passes are void and will be forfeited if showing any evidence of
alteration or erasure. All passes are nontransferable, and will
be forfeited if presented by any other than person named
thereon.
Any person holding a pass may be required to prove his identity
by signature or otherwise.
All passes will be issued subject to the conditions printed
thereon.
All passes issued in conflict with the foregoing rules and
regulations shall be recalled and canceled.
The Exposition Company shall furnish the National Commission a
complete list of all card passes and a statement of all other
passes issued prior to July 1, classified as to departments,
divisions, and bureaus, as accurately as may be done from the
books of the company, and hereafter the company shall keep an
accurate record by departments, divisions, and bureaus, showing
all passes issued by each under the foregoing rules, and shall
furnish a copy of such record to the National Commission with
each monthly financial statement, and such statement shall
contain a list of all card passes issued during the month to
which the financial report refers.
Prior to the approval of the rules and regulations governing free
admissions to the exposition grounds, the president of the Exposition
Company exercised a free hand in the distribution of passes.
On April 30, and during the month of May, 1904, of the 1,841,275 total
admissions only 667,772 were paid admissions, thus making the free
admissions substantially two-thirds of the total.
In June, 1904, the total admissions were 2,448,519, and of this number
1,382,865 were paid.
In July an improvement occurred. Of the 2,498,265 admissions during that
month, 1,514,743 were paid. Thenceforward less than one-half of the
total admissions were free. But notwithstanding the effort to check this
abuse it was indulged to such an extent that the final totals make a
remarkable showing, as follows:
Total admissions during the entire period
of the exposition ....................... 20,066,537
Total paid admissions during the entire
period of the exposition ................ 12,804,616
The total attendance and the paid admissions at the exposition do not
compare favorably with those of the Columbian Exposition of 1893. The
Columbian Exposition was conducted during a period of great financial
depression, while the St. Louis Exposition was held during a period of
remarkable prosperity. The Government aid extended to the latter was far
greater in every respect than was given the former.
The method of advertising the exposition adopted by the company was a
subject of constant and almost universal criticism, and complaints were
made to the Commission and in the public press that exploitation of the
fair was inadequate. On every possible occasion members of the
Commission personally brought the matter to the attention of the
exposition officials and suggested that steps be taken to give the
enterprise wider publicity.
The Commission received communications and personal visits almost daily
from persons interested in the success of the exposition, urging that
some official action be taken to improve the existing advertising
arrangements. So insistent became the demand for greater publicity that
the president of the Commission addressed the following letter to the
Exposition Company, suggesting the importance of properly advertising
the exposition throughout the country.
JULY 20, 1904.
DEAR SIR: By direction of the National Commission, I
respectfully call your attention to the apparent need for an
extension and enlargement of the publicity feature of the
exposition.
The zeal and efficiency of the press of the city of St. Louis
has demonstrated what may be done in the creation of active
interest by enlightened exploitation through the public press.
Within the range of the general circulation of the papers
published in this city all features of the fair have been made
known; but, unhappily, the journals of this city, like those of
all other cities, enjoy general circulation only in a limited
area. Beyond the line of the special influence of the local
press the extensive proportions and interesting details of the
fair do not appear to the Commission to have been made known to
the general public, to the extent or in the manner calculated to
inspire the interest and secure the attendance warranted by the
extraordinary merits of the great educational force here
installed. In the opinion of the Commission this delinquency
does not arise from any lack of devotion to the public welfare
by the press of the country at large.
The munificent recognition of the fair by the General Government
attracted national attention. The invitation extended by the
President of the United States, under authority of law, to the
nations of the earth to participate in the exposition,
supplemented by the cordial cooperation of our diplomatic and
consular representatives abroad, secured the most extensive
foreign participation ever accorded to any like undertaking.
Moved thereto by the example of the National Government, the
States, Territories, and dependencies of the United States
joined in the exposition with unparalleled generosity and
enthusiasm. The groups of palatial buildings erected by the
foreign governments and by the States and minor subdivisions of
our country, together with the exhibits installed in the
exhibition palaces provided by the company, bear the amplest
testimony of their earnest desire to make the exposition a
pronounced success. The splendid exhibit installed here by the
government of the Philippine Islands rises to the proportions of
an exposition on its own account.
The buildings are completed, the exhibits are installed, and the
exposition has been in progress for substantially three-sevenths
of its allotted period. The faith of the management in the
merits of the exposition has been justified by the approving
judgment of all who have entered the gates; but the daily
attendance has been far short of what it should be from any
point of view.
Unhappily, the magnificent proportions and the numberless
attractions of the exposition do not seem to be fully understood
by the masses of the people throughout the United States, whence
attendance must be chiefly expected. The results obtained from
the territory commanded by the press of St. Louis warrants the
belief that the unsatisfactory conditions prevailing would be
overcome if the country at large could be adequately advised of
what is to be seen, learned, and enjoyed within these grounds.
All the National, State, Territorial, and District governments
participating in the exposition are quite as much interested as
the company in the diffusion of knowledge concerning the merits
of the exposition and securing the attendance of the largest
number of people who may find it possible to enjoy the benefits
and the pleasure of a visit to the grounds. It appears to the
Commission that the company may well call to its aid the forces
referred to. The details through which publicity may be widely
extended might wisely be made the result of a conference by a
committee made up of persons appointed by the Exposition
Company, the National Commission, and the representatives of
Governments, States, Territories, and Districts having duly
accredited commissioners appointed to represent them. It is
probable that such a conference would find the representatives
of each Government, State, and District anxious to cooperate by
furnishing detailed information along well-considered lines
concerning the participation of each in the fair. For example,
the people of New York will be interested in a well-prepared
description of the exhibits of that State, whereas the same
subject-matter would not be of like interest to the people of
California; but, on the contrary, the people of California would
be interested in a graphic description of California exhibits.
The newspapers of the respective States will, without doubt,
cheerfully give space to descriptive matter directly relating to
the exhibits and achievements of their readers.
One instance has been called to the attention of the Commission
where the names of visitors to the fair, registered at a State
building, are being forwarded to the leading daily papers of the
State, and published as a matter of news in their columns. The
papers in question not only publish the list of arrivals at the
exposition, but have called for any other matter of interest
occurring here relating to the people or affairs of the State.
This method of publicity pursued by the commissioners of one
State might, as the result of conference, become generally
adopted. The Exposition Company could well afford to aid and
assist in the preparation of descriptive articles, accompanied
by plate matter, relating to different localities, because it is
evident that the creation of interest in any locality will
contribute to the general purpose. But it is not the intention
to here attempt to detail the many ways of securing merited
publicity which would undoubtedly evolve from a general
conference by representatives of all the interested forces.
The commissioners representing the various States and
governments are persons of wide experience and broad
intelligence; and they are all, in their respective spheres,
undoubtedly as anxious to contribute to the success of the
exposition as the directors and officers of the Exposition
Company are known to be.
It is far from the intention of the Commission to interfere with
the operation of any of your own matured plans; but it is
respectfully submitted that the failure of expected and
necessary attendance at the exposition is a matter of such
supreme importance as to warrant the employment of every
available force connected with this enterprise in the work of
calling public attention to the exposition through the press of
the whole country, and such other agencies as may be suggested
and adopted.
Very respectfully,
Thos. H. CARTER,
_President_.
Hon. D.R. FRANCIS,
_President Exposition Company, Building_.
The exposition management did not elect to avail itself of the
cooperation of the National Commission in the matter of exploitation,
but very shortly after the foregoing letter was delivered the
advertising department became more active by advertising in the
newspapers and by the use of billboards in St. Louis and the adjacent
territory.
The National Bill Posters' Association, which met in St. Louis about
this time, observing the inadequacy of the provision made for
advertising, volunteered to cooperate with the Exposition Company by
posting bills on their boards free of charge throughout an extensive
area.
A cursory examination of reports of the daily attendance will show a
very perceptible increase of receipts at the gates in consequence of the
effort made about this time to call the attractions of the exposition to
the attention of the people. Unhappily the exploitation work thus
commenced was practically one year behind time. Undoubtedly the paid
attendance at the exposition could have been very largely increased by
an efficient system of exploitation initiated one year before the gates
were opened and vigorously prosecuted until the close of the exposition.
In order to increase the attendance at the exposition, as well as to
increase the revenues of the Exposition Company at certain periods, the
National Commission at different times cheerfully approved the
modifications of the rules proposed by the Exposition Company
authorizing the sale of season tickets, also of special tickets for
limited periods, at reduced rates. Such modifications proposed by the
Exposition Company were in all instances, except one, approved by the
National Commission substantially as proposed; but in one instance the
Commission was impelled from a sense of its duty to the Government to
decline to approve a rule proposed by the company providing for the sale
of special coupon tickets good for 50 admissions to stockholders of the
company only.
It is proper to say that prior to the submission to the Commission of
the proposed rule, or modification of the rules, announcement had been
made in the newspapers of St. Louis that such tickets would be sold by
the company, and, in fact, the sale of the proposed tickets had already
begun.
The following letter contains the proposal of the company to authorize
the sale of such special tickets to stockholders only:
MAY 18, 1904.
DEAR SIR: I am directed by the executive committee of the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company to inform the National
Commission that the committee has approved the following
resolution:
_Resolved_, That a ticket, photographic, nontransferable, having
50 coupons good for admission at any time during the World's
Fair shall be sold to stockholders at the rate of $12.50; this
privilege to continue to and including June 15, to be open to
all who shall be stockholders up to and including that day.
I am directed by the executive committee to ask favorable action
upon the resolution by the National Commission.
Respectfully,
WALTER B. STEVENS,
_Secretary._
Mr. JOSEPH FLORY,
_Secretary National Commission._
It was the opinion of the National Commission that the sale of the
proposed tickets to stockholders alone at the reduced price proposed was
in the nature of a dividend or pecuniary benefit in which the United
States Government could not participate, and therefore contrary to law;
and in view of the fact that the people of the United States had
contributed through the Government appropriation for the exposition an
amount of money equal to that which had been furnished by the
stockholders of the company it seemed to the Commission that no special
privilege respecting the purchase of tickets should be given such
stockholders that was not given equally to all citizens of the United
States.
This view was especially enforced by the consideration that stockholders
of the company had subscribed for such stock in the belief that the
citizens of the city of St. Louis would reap large local benefits from
the holding of the fair in that city, while it was obvious that the
other citizens of the United States could not in any degree participate
in such benefits.
The Commission, believing that the sale of special coupon tickets at
that time would increase the revenues of the company at a time when such
increase seemed to be especially desirable, submitted to the company a
modification of the proposed rule, as set forth in the following letter:
MAY 19, 1904.
DEAR SIR: I am directed by the National Commission to inform you
that they have had under consideration the resolution contained
in your esteemed favor of 18th instant, reading as follows:
"_Resolved_, That a ticket, photographic, nontransferable,
having 50 coupons, good for admission at any time during the
World's Fair, shall be sold to stockholders at the rate of
$12.50; this privilege to continue to and including June 15, and
to be open to all who shall be stockholders up to and including
that day."
The Commission respectfully declines to approve the resolution
as presented, but, being in hearty accord with the laudable
purpose of the company to offer inducements tending to insure an
extensive sale of admission tickets before the 15th of June,
approves that feature of the resolution by modifying the same so
as to read as follows:
"There shall be sold to the public up to and including June 15
at $12.50 a photographic, nontransferable ticket with 50 coupons
thereunto attached, each good for one admission to the fair at
any time prior to August 31."
In the judgment of the Commission the use of the tickets
proposed should be restricted by a time limit, inasmuch as a
failure to provide such a restriction would be equivalent to a
reduction of admissions to 25 cents each. Moreover, limiting the
time for use of the tickets, as proposed, would tend to
stimulate attendance at the fair during the summer months.
The Commission is not insensible to the natural desire of the
Exposition Company to give some privilege to the stockholders
who subscribed to the capital stock of the corporation, but,
while appreciating the generous motive of the executive
committee, the Commission feels constrained to withhold its
approval for the reason that approval thereof would, in the
judgment of the Commission, violate the letter and spirit of
section 20 of the act of Congress approved March 3, 1901, which,
in so far as applicable, reads as follows:
"That there shall be repaid into the Treasury of the United
States the same proportionate amount of the aid given by the
United States as shall be repaid to either the Louisiana
Purchase Exposition Company or the city of St. Louis."
The proposal to give to stockholders of the Exposition Company
tickets of admission good until December 1 at half price confers
upon the stock a special privilege not contemplated by the act
of Congress, and is apparently in the nature of a dividend or
pecuniary benefit in which the United States can not
participate.
I am also directed by the Commission to say that if, in the
opinion of the company, the best interests of the fair would be
advanced by making the proposed tickets good for the entire time
of the fair the Commission would view such action with favor,
providing the price of the ticket should be fixed at $15.
Yours, very respectfully,
JOSEPH FLORY,
_Secretary_.
Mr. WALTER B. STEVENS,
_Secretary Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company, Building_.
On May 23, 1904, a conference was held between the National Commission
and a committee on conference appointed by the Exposition Company. At
such conference the National Commission insisted that the proposed
special coupon tickets be sold to the public, while the conferees on the
part of the company urged the acceptance of the original rule proposed
by said company, limiting the sale of stockholders only. Finally, upon
the proposal of the conferees of the company, and in order to reach an
agreement, the National Commission assented to a rule whereby the
company should be authorized to sell such tickets to its stockholders,
also to any person presenting an order from the National Commission
therefor, as is set forth in the following copy of the conference
agreement:
At a conference between the officers and members of the
executive committee of the Exposition Company and members of the
National Commission, held at the office of President Francis on
Monday, May 23, it was agreed, after a full and free conference,
that the disagreement existing between the Exposition Company
and the Commission with reference to the sale of 50-coupon,
photographic, nontransferable tickets to stockholders of the
Exposition Company, at $12.50 each, on or before June 15, such
tickets to be good during the period of the fair, was settled by
the adoption of the following addition to article 5, to wit:
"That any stockholder of the Exposition Company, or any person
presenting an order from the National Commission to the
treasurer of the company, may, at any time prior to June 15,
purchase for $12.50 one photographic nontransferable ticket with
50 coupons attached, each coupon good for one admission to the
fair at any time on or before December 1, 1904."
To which addition to the aforesaid article 5 full assent was
given by the company and the Commission.
D.R. FRANCIS, President,
W.H. THOMPSON, Treasurer,
FESTUS J. WADE,
_Chairman Ways and Means Committee,
Committee Representing Louisiana Purchase Exposition Co_.
Thos. H. CARTER,
JOHN M. THURSTON,
GEO. W. MCBRIDE,
PHILIP D. SCOTT,
JOHN F. MILLER,
FREDERICK A. BETTS,
_For the National Commission Louisiana Purchase Exposition_.
The Commission, desiring that the public should have the amplest
opportunity to participate in the purchase of these special tickets at
reduced rates, and in order that the knowledge of such privilege should
have the widest publicity, addressed and sent to the Associated Press
the following notice:
_To the Associated Press_:
Some days ago the Exposition Company proposed to issue a
nontransferable photographic coupon ticket good for 50
admissions for the sum of $12.50, that amount being half rate.
This proposal was disapproved by the National Commission,
because deemed in the nature of a dividend on the stock. The
Commission insisted that if the price of tickets was reduced in
the manner proposed, they should be presented to the public for
sale without preference as to purchasers. As the result of a
conference it was agreed that the Exposition Company might sell
to its stockholders nontransferable tickets at the rate of
$12.50 each for 50 admissions, and that at the same time any
person not a stockholder presenting an order from the National
Commission to the treasurer of the company would be entitled to
the same privilege. The Commission desires to announce that any
person not a stockholder of the Exposition Company may, upon
application to the Commission, procure an order on the treasurer
of the Exposition Company for the delivery of one of the tickets
referred to upon the payment of $12.50. The privilege of
purchase can not be exercised after June 15. Applications for
orders may be made in person or by letter addressed to the
National Commission, Administration Building, St. Louis. Payment
for tickets to be made to William H. Thompson, treasurer,
Laclede Building, St. Louis.
JOSEPH FLORY,
_Secretary_.
The sale of these tickets was larger than had been expected either by
the company or the Commission, and that it was satisfactory to the
company was indicated by its proposal, under date of June 7, 1904, to
extend the sale of such tickets from June 15 to and including July 1,
the price being increased to $15. This proposal was promptly approved by
the National Commission, and the sale resulted in materially increasing
the revenues of the Exposition Company.
JURORS AND AWARDS.
It will be perceived that rules and regulations governing the
appointment of jurors and the awarding of premiums were presented by the
company and adopted by the company and adopted by the Commission on May
2, 1903. These rules required that the nominations of all proposed
jurors be submitted to the Commission on or before August 1, 1904.
Believing that the approval of the jurors by the Commission should not
be merely perfunctory, but that the nominations should be scrutinized
with care before approval, the Commission, on the 18th day of May, 1904,
addressed the Exposition Company the following self-explanatory
communication:
ST. LOUIS, _May 19, 1904_.
Hon. D.R. FRANCIS,
_President Exposition Company_.
MY DEAR SIR: Inasmuch as objections may be urged to the
appointment of certain persons upon juries of awards, it is the
intention of the National Commission to give public notice,
allowing reasonable time for the filing of any objections that
may be offered to the appointment of any individual on the jury.
As this proceeding will necessarily consume time, it is
desirable that the names of persons proposed for the respective
juries be transmitted to the Commission from time to time as the
respective groups are completed by the company. It is believed
that final action can be reached in a more orderly and
satisfactory manner by taking up the names proposed for each
jury separately rather than to have the entire membership of all
the juries submitted for consideration simultaneously.
Yours, very respectfully,
THOS. H. CARTER, _President_.
A communication on the same subject was addressed to the president of
the Exposition Company on May 23, as follows:
MAY 23, 1904.
DEAR SIR: By direction of the Commission, I have the honor to
call your attention to section 6 of the act of Congress making
an appropriation for the exposition, and for other purposes,
approved March 3, 1901, which provides that the appointment of
all judges and examiners for the exposition shall be made by the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company, subject to the approval
of the Commission created by section 2 of the act.
Some days ago a gentleman reported to the Commission that
certain jurors had been appointed and were actually discharging
their duties as judges and examiners. This rumor seemed to the
Commission utterly incredible, but this morning the director of
exhibits confirmed the rumor informally by admitting that
certain jurors had been at work for a considerable length of
time in certain departments of the exposition.
The Commission does not desire to assume a position at all
hypercritical, but I am directed to say that an utter disregard
of provisions of the law can not be countenanced.
To the end that no question may arise concerning the legality or
regularity of the action of any jury or board of examiners, I
have the honor to request, in behalf of the Commission, that the
names of jurors be forwarded to the Commission for consideration
before there is any pretense to giving them authority to act.
Inasmuch as an infraction of the law has heretofore occurred
according to the director of exhibits, I can but request that
the names of the jurors who have heretofore been commissioned to
act be forwarded for consideration without delay. We are not
unmindful that free and full consideration of the names of
persons thus empowered to act without full authority will be
somewhat embarrassing in view of their having been employed for
a considerable length of time before the Commission will have
been advised of their designation by the company.
Yours, very respectfully,
Thos. H. CARTER,
_President_.
Hon. D.R. FRANCIS,
_President Exposition Company, Building_.
As indicated by correspondence hereinafter set forth, the company did
not present the names of jurors to the Commission on or before August 1,
and indeed did not advise the Commission of the names of many of the
jurors until long after the time had elapsed for the performance of
their duties.
After the group juries had performed their duties certain persons,
feeling aggrieved by the awards made, undertook to appeal to the
Commission for redress. The Commission disclaimed jurisdiction to
consider the matter until the awards were submitted to it for approval.
Upon inquiry growing out of these attempted appeals, it was ascertained
by the Commission that the Exposition Company questioned the right of
the Commission to inquire into or in any manner to pass upon the justice
or regularity of any award made. The company having submitted certain
proposed amendments to the rules and regulations, the Commission
undertook by further amendments to settle the question as to the right
of the company to refuse to submit awards made to the Commission for its
approval, as required by law. The right of the Commission to even
inquire into charges of fraud, bribery, or corruption in connection with
awards the company steadily denied and never conceded.
In the records of the Commission filed with this report will be found
charges under oath against a division chief, alleging that he was a
party to negotiations for a bribe of $2,000 to be paid on the awarding
of the grand prize to a certain manufactured article, and that when the
matter was brought to his attention his only explanation was that he had
declined to be the stakeholder or custodian of the money because of
possible criticism in case the transaction should become public. This
individual was a member of the group jury, a member of the department
jury of his department, and a member of the superior jury.
The Commission felt that investigation of such serious charges was
absolutely necessary to guarantee the integrity of the awards.
On October 18, 1904, Commissioner Allen, as acting president of the
Commission, set forth the existing status of the case in a letter to
Hon. D.R. Francis, president of the Exposition Company, reading as
follows:
OCTOBER 18, 1904.
SIR: On October 11 the National Commission sent to the local
company a communication suggesting certain amendments to an
amendment to the rules and regulations governing the system of
awards sent us by the Exposition Company. To date we have not
received reply to the communication referred to, nor have we
heard from your company, excepting a visit from Judge Wilbur F.
Boyle, a member of your executive committee, who called on the
Commission on Friday, October 14, in relation to this matter.
The amendments suggested by this Commission were to carry into
effect the law as we understand it, and what we have been
assured was so understood by your company, to wit: That the
awards, before becoming final, should be approved by the
National Commission. We infer from what was said by you to Mr.
Scott, a member of this Commission, and what was said by Judge
Boyle to the Commission, that the position of your company is
that the approval of the National Commission only refers to the
system of making the awards, and not to the awards of the
juries. While we do not agree to this contention, we desire to
call your attention to what we consider a number of violations
of the rules and regulations governing the system of awards, as
agreed upon by the local company and the National Commission. In
the first place, in paragraph 3 of the special rules and
regulations providing for the appointment of jurors and
governing the system of making awards, it is set forth "that the
nominations for group jurors shall be made not later than August
1, 1904, except that nominations made to fill vacancies may be
made at any subsequent time." It is also provided "that
nominations of group jurors and alternates, when approved by the
president of the Exposition Company, shall be transmitted to the
National Commission for the approval of that body." "These
nominations, having been considered and confirmed by the
authority provided by section 6 of the act of Congress, relating
to the approval of the awarding of premiums, the appointment to
the international jury shall be made in accordance with section
6 of article 22 of the official rules and regulations of the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company."
You will remember that the nominations of group jurors were not
made until long after the time specified in the rules and
regulations, which left but a brief time to notify the jurors
and allow them time to get here to begin the performance of
their duties by the 1st of September.
You will doubtless remember that the writer, Mr. Allen, had an
interview with you and Mr. Skiff, in which he protested on
behalf of the National Commission that no time was given the
Commission to investigate the character of qualifications of the
jurors thus nominated, and that it was placing in the hands of
the chiefs of the different departments the power to fix up
juries and make the awards conform to their own wishes, if they
desired to do so.
You will also doubtless remember that Mr. Skiff, in your
presence, said to Mr. Allen, as he has said to the Commission
frequently before and as he assured us he had said to hundreds
of exhibitors, that after the action of the group juries these
awards would have to pass the department juries, then the
superior jury, then the local company, and finally be approved
by the National Commission, and that if anything wrong was done
by the group juries thus selected ample opportunity would be had
to right such wrong. Acting on this assurance the National
Commission went ahead and approved such jurors as were sent them
for their approval.
Paragraph 4 of said rules and regulations provides that each
group jury shall choose its own officers, consisting of a
chairman, vice-chairman, and secretary. It came to the knowledge
of the Commission that when the group juries were being
organized this rule was being violated, and in most, if not all
instances, the officers of the group juries were being selected
by the chiefs of the departments. We went to see the secretary
of the exhibit department, who had charge of the matter of
juries in that department, and informed him of this violation of
the rules. We were informed by him that he did not know the
chiefs had gone to the extent of informing the juries who their
officers should be, but that they had been instructed to make
suggestions that they might keep the chairmanship of the juries
in the hands of the Americans.
We find that a large number of group jurors have been appointed,
have participated in making awards, have been paid off, and have
gone home without their names ever having been submitted to the
National Commission for approval.
We are informed that the course adopted by the chiefs in the
organization of the group juries was pursued when it came to the
organization of the department juries, and in this way the
chiefs, in violation of the rules, have selected the main body
of the superior jury. We were also informed that the department
juries were instructed to pass the matters that we think would
properly belong to that body up to the superior jury;
consequently the principal duty performed by the department jury
was to enable the chiefs to select two members for the superior
jury. We have been informed that the chiefs in some departments
have taken it upon themselves to forbid the jurors from
considering certain matters that were proper subjects for their
consideration.
In paragraph 15 of said rules and regulations it is provided
that if for any reason an award is not satisfactory to an
exhibitor he may file notice to that effect with the president
of the superior jury within three days after the official
notification of the award; this notice shall be followed within
seven days by a written statement setting forth at length his
views as to wherein the award is unjust. We see now that the
superior jury has been disbanded within three or four days after
most of the exhibitors received their official notification,
thus cutting off the opportunity of exhibitors who were
dissatisfied with the awards to present their cases as provided
for by the rules.
We are also informed that instead of the superior jury hearing
any protests or complaints of the awards, these were referred to
subboards or subjuries made up in the main of jurors who had
been brought up by the chiefs from the various group juries to
the superior jury by the methods heretofore described.
We have also been informed by a gentleman who attempted to make
a protest and get a hearing before these subcommittees so
organized with the superior jury that he was informed he could
only make his complaint to the chief of the department from
which the exhibit referred to came, and when one chief was
approached he said he would not permit the matter complained of
to be investigated by the superior jury. He then appealed to the
full superior jury to hear him, and he was informed that they
had agreed that no one should be heard. So that it occurs to us
that the thing we sought to warn you against has been
practically accomplished, and the assurance given us that the
method by which these things might be corrected has been denied,
so that if we understand your contention that we were only to
approve the system of making awards instead of the awards we
claim the system that we approved has been violated from start
to finish.
We also find that some jurors who were appointed and approved
for certain departments had been transferred to other groups and
departments without the knowledge or approval of the National
Commission.
We are not thoroughly familiar with the character of all your
chiefs for integrity or impartiality, but from some things that
we have heard we are unwilling for some of them to make up a
list of awards without the National Commission's performance of
the duty that devolves on us by the act of Congress and by
section 6 of article 22 of the rules and regulations of the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition, adopted in pursuance of an act of
Congress of the United States, and we again wish to protest as
we have had occasion to do several times before, against the
apparent disposition on the part of the local company to ignore
the National Commission, and disregard the powers vested in this
body by the act of Congress, under which this exposition is
held.
We see from the papers that your company, without any reference
to the National Commission, is proceeding to publish the list of
awards made as heretofore described in this communication. We
wish to enter a protest against this being done, and to inform
you that under section 4 of the act of Congress a board of
arbitration is provided for, "to whom all matters of difference
arising between the Commission and said company concerning the
administration, management, and general supervision of said
exposition, including all matters of difference arising out of
the power given by this act to the said company, or to the said
National Commission to modify or approve any act of the other of
the two bodies, shall be referred for determination," and to
notify you that we insist upon such arbitration if your company
insists upon its refusal to submit these awards to the National
Commission for approval.
The matters to be submitted to said arbitration board are as
follows:
First. The right of the National Commission to have submitted
for its approval the awards found under the jury system and
ready to be promulgated by the superior jury.
Second. If our contention as to our rights in this matter be
found by said board of arbitration against us, then as to
whether or not the rules and regulations adopted by the local
company and the National Commission governing the system of
awards have been so complied with as to bind the National
Commission to any approval of the system by which the awards
have been made.
Third. Whether or not, under the rules and regulations, it is
necessary for the president of the National Commission to sign
the diplomas or certificate of awards; and if so, can his name
be put on such diplomas or certificates without his consent.
We trust any further announcement of the awards of the superior
jury may be withheld until this matter shall have been
arbitrated.
Respectfully,
THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE EXPOSITION COMMISSION,
JOHN M. ALLEN, _Acting President_.
Hon. D.R. FRANCIS,
_President Exposition Company, Building_.
A formal acknowledgment of this letter was received from Secretary
Stevens, with the advice that the same had been placed before the
executive committee for consideration.
At about this time there appeared in several St. Louis newspapers
advertisements of prominent firms of St. Louis, setting forth the
alleged fact that they had been awarded grand prizes on their exhibits,
and in connection with such advertisements was displayed a cut of an
official award ribbon, bearing the facsimile signature of the president,
the director of exhibits, the secretary of the Exposition Company, and
the chief of the department in which the exhibit was made.
The fact that the awards were being advertised broadcast in this manner
before they had been approved by the Commission was called to the
attention of President Francis by Mr. Allen, acting president, by a
letter under date of November 4, as follows:
NOVEMBER 4, 1904.
SIR: If the inclosed advertisement is published by authority of
the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company, it seems to be
directly in conflict with the understanding had with the
National Commission that before awards be announced officially
they were to be submitted to the National Commission for
approval. This advertisement purports to be by authority of the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company, signed by David R.
Francis, president, and F.J.V. Skiff, director of exhibits. No
final action on awards by the superior jury have been submitted
to the National Commission, but nearly all the exhibitors in the
exhibit buildings are advertising what purports to be the
official awards.
We most earnestly submit that this action on the part of the
exhibitors is in direct conflict with the law and with the
agreement had with you by the National Commission, and if it is
being done with the approval of your company, we desire again to
protest against it. We understood after our demand for
arbitration on the construction of the law as to the right of
the National Commission to approve or disapprove of awards, that
your company agreed to our contention, and that these awards
were to be submitted to us before being published. If your
understanding does not accord with ours, we again ask for
arbitration. If it does accord with ours, we insist that the
spirit of this agreement be adhered to.
Very respectfully,
JOHN M. ALLEN,
_Acting President_.
Hon. D.R. FRANCIS,
_President Louisiana Purchase Exposition
Company, Administration Building_.
The following communication was received from President Francis, in
reply to Mr. Allen's letter:
NOVEMBER 4, 1904.
DEAR SIR: I am in receipt of contents of your letter of this
date concerning the advertisement of the Brown Shoe Company of
their awards. It surprised me as much as it did you. I have
instituted inquiries, and as soon as I ascertain by whose
authority the announcement was put in the papers, I shall advise
you. Of course you know that the exposition authorities had no
knowledge of such an advertisement until it was given to the
public. These ribbons are sold by a concessionaire, who was
instructed weeks ago to sell none of them until the awards are
officially announced.
Very truly, yours,
D.R. FRANCIS,
_President_.
Hon. J.M. ALLEN,
_Acting President National Commission, St. Louis, Mo_.
Shortly after the receipt of the foregoing letter from President Francis
another letter bearing the same matter was delivered to the Commission,
as follows:
NOVEMBER 4, 1904.
DEAR SIR: Since writing you a hurried note this morning, I have
read your letter more carefully, and desire to state in addition
that, referring to that portion of your letter relating to what
you term an "agreement" between this company and the National
Commission that no award can be made without being approved by
the Commission, I beg to say I am not advised of such an
agreement or understanding having been made. It was our
understanding that, before official notification to exhibitors,
a list of the awards made by the superior jury would be
furnished by the secretary of said jury to the Commission and
also to this company for their information and for the purpose
of giving to the Commission and to this company an opportunity
to call the attention of the jury (or the committee of five now
acting as such) to any errors which the Commission or this
company might discover, so that the same might be considered and
corrected before giving official notification to the exhibitors.
My understanding is that the committee of five are sending these
lists as fast as its clerical force can make them out.
Yours, truly,
D.R. FRANCIS,
_President_.
Hon. JOHN M. ALLEN,
_Acting President National Commission_.
On November 5, Mr. Allen addressed another communication to President
Francis, as follows:
NOVEMBER 5, 1904.
SIR: The National Commission is in receipt of your two letters
of the 4th instant, in reply to one of same date sent to you.
The first of the two letters recognizes our contention. Your
second letter is one of the most surprising communications we
have ever had from the local company. You seem to have mended
your hold after your first letter of the 4th instant and for
some reason repudiated what Mr. Miller, Mr. Betts, and the
writer clearly understood to be an acquiescence in and an
agreement to the contentions as to the rights of the National
Commission contained in our letter to you of October 18. We
inclose herewith a copy of said letter of the 18th instant for
the purpose of refreshing your memory without the necessity of
looking it up.
You will see that in that letter we defined the contention of
the National Commission as to its right to approve or disapprove
of the awards of the juries, and it concludes with a demand for
arbitration unless this right is conceded by your company.
You will remember that instead of answering this letter you
invited Mr. Betts and the writer into your office, where we sent
for Mr. Miller, to discuss this question. You should remember
that when you broached this subject the writer said to you, "We
are not looking for work, nor are we looking for trouble, but we
think Congress has imposed this duty of approving and
disapproving these awards on us, and we will not shirk it."
There was considerable discussion in your office that day, but
no intimation from you or anyone else that there was still
opposition to our contention. You went on to say that the lists
that you were getting out were not official in any sense and
would not be until we said so.
You will recall that this interview between us was at your
suggestion and intended, we supposed, as an answer to our
communication of the 18th of October, in which we had demanded
arbitration on this very question. You say in your second letter
of the 4th instant that "It was our understanding that before
official notification to exhibitors a list of awards of the
superior jury would be furnished by the secretary of said jury
to the Commission and also to this company for their information
and for the purpose of giving the Commission and this company an
opportunity to call the attention of the jury, or the committee
of five now acting as such, to any errors which the Commission
or this company might discover, so that the same might be
considered and corrected before giving official notification to
the exhibitors." We can not understand where you could have
gotten that understanding. I know that there was nothing said
about the National Commission having a list submitted to it for
any other purpose than the purpose of approval or disapproval.
We never asked for a list for information, nor was anything ever
said about referring anything back to the committee of five.
What was ever said by the members of the National Commission
then present to indicate to you that we withdrew or abandoned
our demand for arbitration if the right of approval or
disapproval was not accorded the National Commission? And if
nothing was said by us evidencing such an abandonment of the
demand, what answer have you ever made to such a demand? If your
conversation with the members of the National Commission in your
office that day was not intended to make the impression on them
that you assented to sending the awards to the National
Commission for approval or disapproval, it was as misleading a
conversation as I ever listened to, and both the other gentlemen
of the National Commission who were present agree with me in
this view.
Right here let me suggest that in the future our written
communications be answered in writing. We will then at least
have a record in writing.
We reiterate that we are not looking for trouble or work, but as
the representatives of the Federal Government we do not propose,
if we can prevent it, to acquiesce in having the awards of this
exposition promulgated without our approval when we think the
law devolves this duty upon us. If your second letter of the 4th
instant, in which you state your understanding, is the course
your company proposes to take about this matter, we reiterate
our demand for arbitration as contained in our letter of October
18. We suppose it will not be contended that we have lost the
right of arbitration. We insist that there be no official
promulgation of the action of the superior jury until such
arbitration shall have been concluded.
Awaiting your early reply,
Very respectfully,
JOHN M. ALLEN,
_Acting President_.
Hon. D.R. FRANCIS,
_President Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company,
Administration Building_.
Under date of November 8, President Francis replied to the foregoing
letter as follows:
NOVEMBER 8, 1904.
DEAR SIR: Your communication of Saturday, November 5, was not
read by me until yesterday, Monday, November 7, and was
submitted to the executive committee to-day. I can not say
whether the tone and spirit of the letter, or the statement that
you misunderstood the position of the Exposition Company, was
the more surprising. I desire to state emphatically that at no
time have I ever told you or said anything that would justify
you in believing that the Exposition Company accepted the
contention that the National Commission has the right to approve
or disapprove the awards of the superior jury before they are
final. It is true I did invite you into my office after the
receipt of your letter of October 18, and also true that I
stated to you I regretted the view taken by the National
Commission of its prerogatives or its duty, but none the less
true that I also said that, inasmuch as the rules governing the
system of awards had been promulgated and acted upon after
approval by the Exhibition Company and the National Commission,
that neither the Exposition Company nor the National Commission
has the right to review the awards or overturn them. I did state
that no official announcement of awards would be made until the
Exposition Company and the National Commission should be advised
of what they were, to the end that, if there had been any
irregularity in the awarding, any errors or omissions, or any
fraud, the same might be corrected; but at no time have I ever
said anything that would justify you or anyone else in the
conclusion that either the Exposition Company or the National
Commission had the right to review the action of the superior
jury with the power to overturn the awards on the ground that
they were not justly made on the merits of the exhibits. It was
certainly my understanding when we parted after the conference
in my office that the situation was clear to you, and I have a
distinct recollection, as does Judge Ferriss, who was present at
the conference, that Mr. Betts accepted the situation. You
offered no definite objection, but did state in an interrogatory
tone that you were not yet ready to relinquish the right of the
National Commission to approve the awards. I have had no
conversation with you since that date on the subject, but Judge
Boyle tells me that in conversation with Mr. Betts on the
subject, after the interview in my office, he told Mr. Betts
that the superior jury was progressing with its work and had no
objection to any member or members of the National Commission
being present at its sessions; and further, that as fast as the
work progressed the results would be informally communicated to
the National Commission, so that if the Commission should find
any errors it could call the committee's attention to same, so
that corrections could be made before an official announcement
of awards. His impression, from the conversation with Mr. Betts,
was that this arrangement was entirely satisfactory to the
Commission, and would obviate any further controversy as to the
right of the Commission to approve or disapprove the awards
before they became final.
I therefore not only deny any intention to mislead you or the
National Commission concerning the position of the superior jury
and the Exposition Company, but state emphatically that I have
said nothing that justifies any belief or impression on the part
of anyone that either the superior jury or the Exposition
Company admitted the contention of the National Commission that
it had the right to approve or disapprove awards finally made by
the superior jury in pursuance of the rules and regulations
adopted by this company and approved by the Commission.
I made two replies to your letter of November 4, and my reason
for doing so was explained in the second letter. My first letter
was dictated immediately on receipt and on a cursory reading of
your communication inclosing the advertisement of an award in
the morning papers of November 4, and was hurriedly made through
earnest consideration for and extreme courtesy toward the
National Commission. It merely advised that I was investigating
the advertisement and would report as soon as I could learn upon
what authority of the Exposition Company or superior jury, if
any, it had been inserted in the daily papers. Upon a rereading
of your letter and a reference of same to members of the
superior jury, my attention was called to the fact that a
failure to reply to that portion of your letter claiming the
right of the National Commission to approve or disapprove awards
made on their merits might be construed as an acknowledgment of
such contention, whereupon I sent to you the second
communication. Until the receipt of your letter of the 5th, I
was under the impression that the situation as it exists was
accepted by the National Commission, as it has been by the
Exposition Company.
I note the request in your letter "that in future our (your)
written communications be answered in writing," and it will be
complied with. Furthermore, if this request is made by authority
of the National Commission, as such, I desire that all
communications of the National Commission to the Exposition
Company shall hereafter be in writing.
As to your request for an arbitration, if you still insist on
having it the Exposition Company will interpose no obstacle.
In this connection, I desire to inform you that the diplomas or
certificates of award provided for in the rules and regulations
are being engraved, and the facsimile signatures of the
president, secretary, and director of exhibits of the Exposition
Company, and of the president of the National Commission placed
thereon. If the National Commission is unwilling to have the
name of its president engraved on these diplomas until or unless
the awards are approved by the National Commission, the fact
should be made known at the earliest possible moment, so that
there may be no unnecessary expense incurred.
This letter has been submitted to the executive committee of the
Exposition Company and has been approved by it.
Yours truly
P.R. FRANCIS,
_President_.
Hon. JOHN M. ALLEN,
_Acting President National Commission,
Administration Building._
Informal conferences were held with the exposition officials from time
to time, but no agreement was reached, and on November 11 the Commission
submitted the following draft of suggestions to the Exposition Company
for the finding of the board of arbitration:
First. The awards as made by the superior jury are final and
binding upon the Exposition Company and the National Commission,
unless the same are impeached for fraud, or unless misconduct
amounting to fraud is proven.
Second. The lists of awards as made by the superior jury are to
be transmitted to the Exposition Company, and certificates of
awards shall be authorized by said company, and thereafter said
lists are to be transmitted to the National Commission and
certificates of award authorized by said Commission, all without
further question or investigation, unless the said awards are
impeached for fraud or misconduct, as hereinbefore stated.
Third. No complaint or protest as to any of said awards will be
received or considered, either by the Exposition Company or the
National Commission, unless the same is made in writing over the
signature of some competing exhibitor and substantiated by
affidavit or other sworn testimony establishing a prima facie
case of such fraud or misconduct in procuring or making of said
award.
The arbitration committee of the Exposition Company replied to the
foregoing propositions as follows:
NOVEMBER 11, 1904.
DEAR SIR: After consulting Judge Boyle I find that the
suggestions you have presented for a finding by the board of
arbitration will be acceptable to both of us if the following
amendments are made:
First. Change in the first clause, so as to read as follows:
"The awards as made by the superior jury are final and binding
upon the Exposition Company and the National Commission, except
as to any award or awards which are impeached by said company or
Commission for fraudulent conduct on the part of said jury in
making the awards."
Second. Omit entirely the third clause.
We are of the opinion that ample provision is made in the rules
and regulations for having any fraud or fraudulent conduct on
the part of any subordinate jury or juror fully considered and
determined by appeal to the superior jury, and that no further
precaution or provision is needed unless the conduct of the
superior jury is shown to have been fraudulent.
Our purpose in striking out the third clause is that a charge of
fraud against the superior jury should be made only when
supported with the character and dignity pertaining to the
Exposition Company or the National Commission, and that the
provision made in the third clause for affidavits is wholly
unnecessary because the charge would not be made by either of
those bodies except upon such evidence as they would be
satisfied warranted making the charge.
Yours, very truly,
CHAS. W. KNAPP,
_Member Board of Arbitration_.
Hon. JOHN M. THURSTON,
_Member Arbitration Board, National Commission._
On November 12, 1904, the Commission addressed the following
communication to the President of the Exposition Company, forbidding the
use of the signature of the president of the Commission to any
certificate of award until the matter at issue was determined.
NOVEMBER 12, 1904.
SIR: Your letter of November 8 received and contents noted. The
statements contained therein as to what occurred in your office
on the 19th of October in your interview with Mr. Betts, Mr.
Miller, and the writer do not accord with the distinct
recollection or understanding of any of the three parties
mentioned.
I am glad to know that our communications will hereafter be in
writing, that these misunderstandings may be avoided. The
National Commission is in entire accord with this position, and
we will try and observe our part of this understanding.
The informal conferences between the members of the National
Commission and representatives of your company seem to have
resulted in no definite understanding, and the Commission
therefore insists that arbitration be had to determine the true
effect and meaning of section 6 of the act of Congress approved
March 3, 1901, as affecting the rights and duties of the
National Commission to approve or not approve the awards.
In the meantime and until this question is determined the
Commission can not authorize the use of its president's
signature on any certificate of award.
In any arrangement preliminary to the settlement of this
controversy the writer will be pleased to confer with your
arbitration committee at any time.
Very respectfully,
JOHN M. ALLEN,
Acting President.
Hon. D.R. FRANCIS,
President Exposition Company, Building.
After many futile efforts to reach an agreement as to the subject-matter
to be submitted for arbitration, it became obvious to the Commission
that it was the intention of the Exposition Company to ignore the right
of the Commission to finally consider or approve the awards of the
superior jury. Under these circumstances the president of the Commission
was directed, on November 22, 1904, by resolution, to forward to the
president of the Exposition Company a communication summing up the
controversy and stating clearly the stand taken by the Commission.
The communication is as follows:
St. Louis, November 22, 1904.
Sir: To the end that an understanding may be reached as to
issues involved in correspondence between your company and the
National Commission, extending from the month of May, 1904,
almost to the present date, relative to the appointment of
jurors and the awarding of premiums, it appears desirable and
necessary that the law and the facts be briefly stated and the
relative position of your company and the Commission clearly
defined.
In so far as applicable to the subjects referred to, section 6
of the act of Congress making an appropriation for the
exposition, and for other purposes, approved March 3, 1901,
reads as follows:
"That the allotment of space for exhibitors, classification of
exhibits, plan and scope of the exposition, the appointment of
all judges and examiners for the exposition, and the awarding of
premiums, if any, shall all be done and performed by the said
Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company, subject, however, to the
approval of the Commission created by section two of this act."
Under and in conformity with the provisions of law above cited,
certain general and special rules and regulations providing for
an international jury and governing the system of making awards
were submitted by the company and approved by the Commission in
the year 1903.
The general rules applicable read as follows:
ARTICLE XXII.
AWARDS.
SECTION 1. The system of awards will be competitive. The merit
of exhibits as determined by the jury of awards will be
manifested by the issuance of diplomas, which will be divided
into four classes--a grand prize, a gold medal, a silver medal,
and a bronze medal.
SEC. 2. No exhibit can be excluded from competition for award
without the consent of the president of the Exposition Company
after a review of the reasons or motives by competent
authorities hereafter to be provided.
SEC. 3. In a fixed ratio to the number of exhibits, but
reserving to the citizens of the United States approximately 60
per cent of the jury membership, the construction of the
international jury will be based upon a predetermined number of
judges allotted to each group of the classification and upon the
number and importance of the exhibits in such group.
SEC. 4. A chairman of the group jury will be elected by his
colleagues in each group, this chairman to become, by right of
his position, a member of the department jury, which department
jury shall in turn elect its chairman, who shall thereupon
become a member of the superior jury.
SEC. 5. Special rules and regulations governing the system of
making awards and determining the extent to which foreign
countries may have representation on the juries, will be
hereafter promulgated.
SEC. 6. Allotment of space for exhibitors, the classification of
exhibits, the appointment of all judges and examiners for the
exposition, and the awarding of premiums, if any, shall be done
and performed by the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company,
subject, however, to the approval of the Louisiana Purchase
Exposition Commission.
The special rules provide for the appointment of three graded
juries, designated as, first, the general organization of group
juries; second, department juries, and, third, the superior
jury.
At the conclusion of the recital of the manner of selecting the
jurors a paragraph in section 3 of the rules provides that "all
the above nominations shall be made not later than August 1,
1904, except that nominations made to fill vacancies may be made
at any subsequent time."
In conclusion, the section last referred to reads as follows:
"The nominations of group jurors and alternates, when approved
by the president of the exposition, shall be transmitted to the
president of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission for
approval of that body.
"These nominations having been considered and confirmed by the
authorities as provided by section 6 of the act of Congress
relating to the approval of the awarding of premiums, the
appointment of the international jury shall be made in
accordance with section 6 of Article XXII of the official rules
and regulations of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company."