O R I G I N
AS TO THE BEGINNING? HOW WAS IT?
Since the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago, 1893, the belief had
been prevalent throughout the Great West that a Comprehensive Exposition, held
at some central point, would be of incalculable and lasting benefit to every
state, territory and interest within the Trans-Mississippi Country. California
held its Mid-Winter Exposition,- a state enterprise,- at San Francisco, January
to July, 1894. Kansas City advocated the holding at that city of a
Mid-Continent Exposition. Denver had proposed a Western States Exposition and
had secured subscriptions for a large amount, and had extended some $15,000 in
exploiting it, but feeling that the times were not propitious, had determined
to postpone and planned to hold it in 1903, celebrating the purchase of
Louisiana territory from France. Texas had planned to hold a Western and
Southern Stages Exposition at Galveston, celebrating particularly the opening
of deep water transportation from Gulf points. Minneapolis and St. Paul
advocated a Northwestern States Exposition for the twin cities.
The Trans-Mississippi Congress (see foot note) meeting in St. Louis, Mo.
in November, 1894, was persuaded, through the efforts of the Nebraska
delegation, headed by Robt. W. Richardson, Judge L.H. Bradley of Omaha and Hon.
W.J. Bryan of Lincoln, and on the invitation of the then mayor of Omaha. Hon.
George P. Bemis, to hold its ensuing session of said Congress at Omaha in
November, 1895.
The pledges made to secure this Congress involved assuming the expenses of
the meeting (about $3,000.00) and a conference on the subject was held with the
then mayor, Hon. George P. Bemis. Mr. R.W. Richardson suggested the sending of
invitations to a meeting to arrange for securing the needed sum, and further
suggested that, as a general feeling existed favoring a great Exposition
somewhere in the Trans-Mississippi country, Omaha, entertaining the
Trans-Mississippi Congress, might reasonably hope to have such an Exposition
officially sanctioned by the Congress, locating it at Omaha. The suggestion
was accepted and the mayor requested Mr. Richardson to prepare the letter of
the invitation, which he did. (This was not the origin of the Exposition idea,
which was in the general desire for one, but it was the origin of the
successful purpose to secure the official approval of the Exposition by the
Trans-Mississippi Congress and its location at Omaha) Mayor Bemis issued the
call, the meeting was held, a Committee as appointed with Mr. Isaac Carpenter
as Chairman, who with the able and earnest assistance of Judge L.H. Bradley,
Mr. A.L. Fields, and others soon secured and made available the desired amount.
At the Omaha meeting of said Congress, held November 25, 26, 27, and 28,
1895, resolutions prepared under instructions of the Nebraska delegation, by a
Committee of five, viz: Orville C. Holmes, Chairman, Prof. Wm. Rees, James
Walsh, Jas. C. Dahlman and Dudley Smith were presented for consideration on
Nov. 27th by the Hon. William J. Bryan, who had just been elected as President
of said Congress, as follows: (quoting from official proceedings of the
Congress).
"At the unanimous request of the Delegation of Nebraska I ask consent to
offer the following resolution at this time. It won't take but a few minutes of
time, and I believe we have five minutes in which to present it. This
resolution, while it immediately concerns the city of Omaha, concerns also, in
a general way all of this Trans-Mississippi country. Those of you who attended
the World's Fair know you met people who have never been West. I have met a
number of people who have never been West, and they told me that they thought
Chicago was "West". There is now being held in Atlanta what is know as the
Atlanta Exposition, and people are going there and seeing that country who have
never visited that country before, and who would not have been there but for
this Exposition. It is not only necessary that the merchant shall have good
wares on his shelves, but it is also necessary that the people who want to buy,
shall know that he has the wares there. People who live in the East do not
know the West. Any person who travels from the West to the East will be
astonished by ignorance he finds there in regard to our Western country. They
have no idea of our resources, and we believe an Exposition here will bring the
people from the East and other parts of the World, and it will be of a great
and lasting benefit to the whole Western country. It was said by one man down
east, that under certain conditions the West would do all of the manufacturing
for the country. It does furnish productions that are not know down in the
East. We believe that an Exposition here will draw people here that will be of
great value to all of the citizens. The only difference of opinion would be as
to the particular place for holding this Exposition. There are other great
cities that would like to have it; Saint Paul, Minneapolis, Denver, Kansas
City. We believe that Omaha would be the best place. All of the northern part
of the country can find its way here on direct lines. We believe this City is
the proper place for this Exposition and therefore we state it in the
resolution. All we ask is to have a vote upon this resolution, and we would
like to have all votes in favor of a Western Exposition, and to locate it at
this place. If the people here think this is the best place, we ask you to
vote for this in this resolution. I ask the unanimous consent that this
resolution be placed upon its final passage at this time.
"Whereas, We believe that an Exposition of all the products, industries
and civilization of the States west of the Mississippi River, made at some
central gateway where the world can behold the wonderful capabilities of these
great wealth-producing States, would be of great value, not only to the
Trans-Mississippi States, but to all the home-seekers in the world; therefore,
Resolved, That the United States Congress be requested to take such steps
as may be necessary to hold a Trans-Mississippi Exposition at Omaha during the
months of August, September, and October in the year 1898, and that the
representatives of such States and Territories in Congress be requested to
favor such an appropriation as is usual in such cases to assist in carrying out
this enterprise." (Applause.)
Member from Minnesota: I might say on behalf of the State of Minnesota
that there is a movement on foot to have a North-Western Exposition to be held
in Minneapolis upon which work has already commenced. I think there should be
two of these; Atlanta for the South west, and I think Nebraska would be a good
place for the North-west. There can be arrangements made whereby there will be
no friction.
Hon. John Doniphan (of St. Joseph, Missouri): I rise with the desire to
second the resolution of the President of this Congress and to ask that I may
be permitted to give the explanation of why I think it should be held here. I
desire to say to the Convention, that I don't think a more appropriate place
than the City of Omaha could be selected at which to have an Exposition of the
wealth, of the growth and the products of this Trans-Mississippi country.
It would be an Exposition that would be united in bringing people from all
parts of the world-the United States at least. It is nearly central as to
point of location. As has been well said, the people East of us know but
little of the capacity and nothing of the possibilities of this great
Trans-Mississippi country. Indeed the City of Omaha is the best example that
could possibly be made of what can be done. Ninety years ago, if you
recollect, the first civilized expedition was made up this river by Lewis and
Clarke. In the city where we now stand the first treaty was made with the
savage men of the West. This country then was an unknown wilderness. We find
now, what? Fourteen States and another soon to be admitted. (Applause from
the New Mexico delegation). We find nearly twenty million people occupying it.
We find that the wealth of the country has been added-at least one-third of the
wealth of the country has been added since the census of 1850, on this side of
the Mississippi River. This City of Omaha is one of the grandest inland cities
of the whole United States. Therefore, I hope we will not divide in reference
to two or three cities, but that we will be united on a central point in trying
to have one Exposition and have it at the City of Omaha, the gateway, as it
were, of the West. (Applause). If we could throw the reins to imagination and
think what the next half a century will do with this country; if we could go to
sleep and wake up fifty years hence, we would see the mighty wealth which would
be developed far beyond we could conceive of. I could imagine that, at that
time, Omaha would be as great as New York-greater perhaps than New York or
Chicago or any other city that exists on this continent, because of the wealth
in these mountains and the great wealth in these valleys. (Applause).
Mr. H.R. Whitmore (of St. Louis, Mo.): I do not wish to be considered
conceited when I say there is no one on this floor that realizes more fully
than I do what it means for any city to undertake to entertain a Convention
like this. We are indebted to Omaha for the invitation; we accepted the
invitation and we are here. The people of Omaha have labored for weeks in
preparing for this Congress and making arrangements for our entertainment while
we are here, and I don't think these people would ask anything from this
Congress which we would not willingly grant, and I think in no better way can
we show our appreciation of their courtesy and generosity than by the unanimous
passage of this resolution.
Hon. Geo. Q. Cannon (of Salt Lake City, Utah): I rise to second the
proposition of an Exposition, and to have it held in Omaha. I thoroughly agree
with all of the remarks that have been made concerning the hospitality of this
city, as being a suitable place for this Exposition. Standing as it does as
the gateway of the Great West it seems to me that it will attract more people
now and in 1897-8 than any other spot that might be selected. I have had great
interest in Nebraska and especially in the City of Omaha. It was my pleasure
to roam over these hills fifty years ago this coming summer. I spent the
summer of '46 in the hills around Omaha, and the winter of 1846-7 I spent six
months above here on the river. Of course this was all Indian territory. The
Omahans roamed over this country undisturbed. I have taken great interest, in
consequence of these early associations, in Omaha and its growth, I confess
that I felt very great surprise, and I might say I was amazed when I was taken
around by the Mayor and proprietor of the Bee, to see the structures that have
been erected, especially the city hall. I have never seen a building that
attracted me more than your city hall here. The council chamber I think is a
marvel of beauty, more beautiful than the Senate of the United States. I went
through the Bee office and I was astounded at it. I went through it with a
feeling of amazement to think that such a structure was erected in this town,
where my recollection of its early days are so vivid. I could not help but
compliment the Mayor and Mr. Rosewater on the wonderful structures that have
been erected. I have not had much opportunity to look through the town, but
what I have seen so impresses me with enterprise of the citizens who have built
up such a grand city on the banks of the mighty Missouri River. Therefore, in
view of all my feelings in regard to these matters, I most heartily second that
resolution, that we shall have an Exposition of the Trans-Mississippi products,
manufactures, etc., and that the Exposition be held in Omaha. (Applause).
Mr. Howell Jones (of Topeka, Kansas): I rise to state that at the
conference of the deep water convention held at Topeka, Kas., on the first day
of October, 1895, a permanent committee of five from all the States and
Territories west of the Mississippi River was selected and that committee was
clothed with power to hold an Inter-American Congress or Inter-American
Exposition anywhere in the West and the intention is to call an Inter-American
Exposition to be held on the Gulf of Mexico in 1897, exhibiting everything that
it is possible to exhibit and it was their intention to invite the American
people to make an exhibit of what products and manufactures they have to
exchange, and therefore I think it is my duty to explain to these people here
what the people on the Gulf of Mexico intend to do in 1897 so that you can look
forward to getting a great deal of information and products for your Exposition
in 1897.
A Delegate(from Arizona): I do not care to make a talk, but I rise to
present an explanation. One of these gentlemen, I won't say which one,
insisted that I should make a speech in favor of this Exposition in 1898. I
decline to make a speech on a question on which there is absolutely no
difference of opinion.
The resolution was carried unanimously.
And thus it was!
The Trans-Mississippi Congress is composed of the leading and
representative men of all classes, professions, and business interests of the
states and territories lying west of the Mississippi River, who assemble at
stated periods to discuss measures for promoting the Commercial and material
welfare of the region they represent, and recommend such measures as their
judgment dictates to the National Government, the states and the people for
adoption. It is representative in its capacity, its membership being secured
through operations of Section Six (6) of its plan of organization, reading as
follows:
"Six. The basis of representation shall be as follows:
The Governor of any state or territory may appoint the delegates; the
Mayor of each city one delegate, and additional delegate for each five thousand
inhabitants; provided, however, that no City shall have more than ten
delegates; each County may appoint one delegate through its Executive officer;
every business organization one delegate, and an additional delegate from every
fifty members, provided, however, that no such organization shall be entitled
to more than ten delegates."
It is advisory in character, and its discussions are mainly on any
subject, national or local, bearing upon the welfare of its constituency. This
region embraces nineteen states and five territories, or more briefly,
twenty-four states and territories, and embraces two thirds of the area, one
third of the population, and one half the wealth of this great republic.
(Foot note to chapter on origin.)