Oregon Historical Quarterly/Volume 2/Suggestions for a Congress of Industry and Commerce, As a Means To Realize the Central Idea of the Lewis and Clark Centennial
APPENDIX.
SUGGESTIONS FOR A CONGRESS OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE, AS A MEANS TO REALIZE THE CENTRAL IDEA OF THE LEWIS AND CLARK CENTENNIAL.
The Lewis and Clark Centennial movement was launched by the late L. B. Cox through the medium of the Oregon Historical Society. The president of the society was called upon to submit a name and legend for the proposed centennial observance. But the relations of this society with the fair can not normally end at this stage of the project's development.
The motive of the exposition is fundamentally an historical one. The best results, processes, and tendencies of modern industry and commerce are to be exhibited, and these are to-day based on science; so, if the central ideas of the fair the historical and scientific are to be upheld, and if the fair is to have unity of purpose, it would seem that the Historical Society must assume a most important part in its further development. This, however, involves no essential connection with the management or material organization of the exposition.
The fair, as the observance of the centennial anniversary of a great event, will be up to its occasion only if it suffices to introduce us into a new epoch. Centennial anniversaries are sources of inspiration, and, fitly observed, they effect a measure of advancement like that accomplished by the achievement commemorated. But no such transformation can be wrought by any magnificence of exhibits in architectural, aesthetic, and industrial arts that directors-general may organize, if the people have no part further than supplying a small portion of the materials and of passively viewing the displays. In order that the fair may mark an epoch in the development of the Pacific Northwest, the thinking and investigating representatives of the people must from now on be planning their part of this project with the same care that Lewis and Clark did theirs, and then must carry it through with the same indefatigable persistence as did they. And what is more natural than that the spirit expressed in the proposed memorial exposition should stimulate, harmonize, and give purpose to all patriotic impulse for the next four years? And thus the event, the fair itself, as a consummation, will actually usher us into a new era we have prepared ourselves for. The potent influence that this idea of an historical commemoration has to inspire co-operation has already been manifest in the prompt and generous responses by our sister states.
The occasion to commemorate a great anniversary, then, is of the nature of a possible tidal event in the affairs of a people, through which it may emerge on a wider expanse of life and activity. To realize this outcome will require united action to a common end an effort that will result in a new mastery of our environment and a better command of our relations with the outside world. This involves a critical historical investigation of every element of the civilization of the Pacific Northwest and a scientific exposition of its resources. The workers along these lines, if appealed to in behalf of a centennial observance, will respond to the charm of this exalted purpose.
That the Pacific Northwest may command the best advantages possible to it in the world's commerce, it must have the geography and principles of international trade laid before it and applied to our conditions and products. This, as I will show, the best authorities on commerce stand ready to do. The Pacific Northwest is a new point of view for them, and they are eager for the light it will throw upon the world's system of commerce.
In these two fields of economic history and science, and of the world's trade relations with the Pacific Northwest, lies the work that this society can do. First, it should organize what would virtually constitute an academy devoted to the preparation of accounts of the development of the economic, institutional, and social elements of our civilization, and of scientific expositions of our natural resources, with the recommendation of policies from which will result their utilization to the highest public welfare. Then, too, the Pacific Northwest has a unity and character of its own as a section of our nation, and therefore many problems peculiar to itself. These get but a scant attention from national agencies for their solution, since we are comparatively so small in population. The peculiar conditions confronted by the different classes of Northwest producers in the world's markets may be taken as representative of these problems. This centennial observance is the occasion for meeting them.
The different departments of our larger universities and agricultural colleges, co-operating with all real students of our problems, could take up this work of determining the essential tendencies of our civilization and the elements of our environment, and would thus be most normally applying their energies devoted to investigation. The patriotic purpose back of the appeal to them would no doubt secure a hearty response from them. In conducting their investigations they would have occasion to elicit the co-operation of the masses generally. The finished results of such investigation would naturally be printed as part of the proceedings of the exposition, and become for all time the most valuable source material for a knowledge of this stage of the development of the Pacific Northwest the best legacy to posterity. Such a plan carefully executed would give records that would have a place in the economic and social history of the Pacific Northwest similar to that held by the Domesday Book and Hundred Rolls in English economic history.
The second phase of the work which this society should do for the centennial observance would take the form of a congress of industry and commerce. To this the results of the preparatory work would be brought to be welded by discussion into general principles and practical conclusions. Here also would appear those authorities whose survey takes in the relations of the Northwest trade and industry and transportation to those of the world at large.
A dominant desire connected with the proposed fair is that through it the Pacific Northwest shall be brought into larger and closer trade relations with the rest of the world, more particularly the nations of the Orient. Our friends in consular positions there would be stimulated to make valuable inquiries in the interim, if they understood that their data and conclusions would have dissemination through such a congress. Lectures given before this congress would bring about the selection of materials of real significance for an industrial museum. To show how the idea of a congress of commerce and industry is regarded in the East, I append the communications received from the only authorities that have so far been consulted in the matter:—
Department of State: Isthmian Canal Commission.
Room 75, Corcoran Building.
Prof. F. G. Young, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon—
My Dear Professor Young: I am in receipt of your favor of the eleventh, and am pleased to know that there is a project on foot to have a centennial exposition in Portland, Oregon, in the year 1905. I believe the idea is an excellent one, and I am sure the great wealth of the Northwest, its present commercial importance, and its bright prospects for the future trade with Pacific countries, and with those of the North Atlantic by way of an isthmian canal, afford all the conditions requisite to a most successful exposition. You ask my opinion in regard to the desirability of having a congress of commerce and industry for one of the features of the proposed exposition. Undoubtedly, one of the chief purposes of the exposition will be to present the commercial and industrial importance of the Northwest, and there can be nothing of greater moment to Oregon and the other Pacific Coast States than the development of facilities for transportation and commercial intercourse. It would seem to me highly desirable for the exposition to emphasize this phase of its educational work, I know of no better way of accomplishing 1 this work of education than that of having a congress on commerce and industry, or one on commerce and transportation and another on industry, at which lectures by those most qualified to speak should be given. These lectures would naturally form a part of the literature printed by the exposition, and its distribution should add much to the information of the people of the United States concerning the economic importance and possibilities of our Pacific Coast.
If I can be of any assistance to you in planning the work of the congress, and if you desire a course of lectures from myself bearing upon the relation of the isthmian canal to the Pacific Coast, and possibly upon other questions of transportation, I shall be pleased to serve you.
With assurances of my interest in the subject of your communication, I am with cordial regards.
Very truly yours,
School of Economics and Political Science.
Richard T. Ely, Director.
Prof. F. G. Young, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon—
My Dear Professor Young: * * * I am very greatly interested in your project of a centennial fair. I believe that a fair could be held in Portland, Oregon, in 1905, which would be successful. There are many features about the plan which would appeal to the people of the country very generally. Naturally, I am especially interested in your idea of a congress of commerce and industry in connection with the fair. I am sure such a congress would be attended by many men of national repute, and would be helpful in the development of the Pacific Northwest, both scientifically and practically. It ought to serve as a stimulus to your university and to the development of an interest in history and economics, showing the peculiar opportunities for scientific work along these lines. In fact, as I read what you write I become quite enthusiastic about your idea. You may use what I say in regard to it in any way in which you see fit, and you may count upon me for such co-operation as I am able to give in the development of your ideas.
I remain, ever faithfully yours,
These letters, it seems to me, go far towards proving the existence of an enthusiastic eagerness among the more profound students of the conditions of prosperity to help the Pacific Northwest find the key to a commanding position in the world's economic affairs. This assistance could best be secured through a congress of commerce and industry in connection with the Lewis and Clark Centennial of 1905.
Possibly it would not be out of place to say a word on the other side of this intimate relation of interdependence between this society and the fair. At the Pan-American Exposition the New York building was put up as a permanent structure, so as to provide a suitable home for the collections of the Buffalo Historical Society. There is a movement on foot that promises a still more bountiful treatment of the historical society at Saint Louis by the Louisiana Purchase Centennial.
But what the fair of 1905 may do for us is a matter for the authorities to decide. Our duty in connection with the fit observance of the Lewis and Clark Centennial was urged on the fundamental ground that there is that in the spirit of the occasion to yield the largest and highest concerted action for advancement. By proceeding with a programme elaborated along the lines suggested, the leaders would be emulating the spirit of Lewis and Clark under the conditions of today, and would thus be doing them the highest possible honor.