New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-17
PROMOTERS OF THE FAIR.
MEN ACTIVE IN COMMITTEES.
INTERESTING OBSERVATIONS UPON THEIR
WORK


THE METHODS, CHARACTERISTICS AND 1NpI'
yrpuAL EFFORTS OF THOSE WHO HAVE
IN CHARGE THE GREAT COLUMBUS
EXPOSITION FOR 1892.
One of the interesting results OF the Worlds
Fair movement in New-York has been to bring
together and make known to each other many of
the representative business mon OF the city whose
contemporary interests ordinarily do not furnish
opportunities for the cultivation of extended
or intimate acquaintanceship. 1t has also re-
suited in showing, as possibly nothing OF lesser
magnitude could have done, the methods winch
men who have achieved success adopt when crap
ping with problems upon the solution OF "nion
depend results OF grave Importance 10 .ne cum
munity Whether the Fair is held III new, ,or>
or not or whether it is success Vi " i"''Ui0
these results will be OF permanent oehon''
they give the representative men Vi '"e 0''s
n closer estimate and clearer valuation OF each
- - onohIe the people at large to under
..a :; some degree the manner OF men that
- Leaders, in the large concerns OF the city
really are
Close observers Of the progress OF the enter
prise have noticed that many of the mon who
were most active and enthusiastic at the boom
,ne period, or at about the time when the COM
mjttees were being organized, and for o while
sfterward have retired to the background their
places being taken by others equally if not
more. enthusiastic, active and determined. This
ought not to he construed an indication that
those who were most prominent at the start
have lost interest in the project, or have become
discouraged. 1t shows, rather, growth OF
energy, bringing new forces to the front, and in
II, .l,o
Of the men by whom the responsibility is shared
70 do all that can be done to make the Exposition
first a reality, and then credit to its pro-.
jectors, to the city and to the Nation.
FIRST TO OFFER A DEFINITE PROPOSITION.
The first committeeman to offer a definite propo.
eition as TO the extent, cost and scope of the
Exposition Jesse Seligman, the banker, who
Ct the first meeting of the Committee on Finance
submitted an elaborate plan, involving the many
questions of finance connected with the great
undertaking. Mr. Seligman rs figure in the
city with whom the people generally are not so
we'll acquainted as they are with some Of the
other leaders in the movement ! am a Jew,
and am glad of it, he said recently in his
quiet way when talking about the abors in behalf
Of his race performed by Sir Julian Goldsmid,
O member of Parliament, whose achievements are
bringing him forward the successor OF Dsraell
and Montefore. Mr.. Seligman, who appears to be
about sixty years old, impresses one as being slow
and methodical, but deeply earnest. He is not
good speaker as far oratorical effects are
cerned, but what he says is forceful, comprehen-
sive and concise Tie has been punctilious in his
attendance at the meetings OF his committee
not having been absent from one since it was
organized. His work in behalf of the project
is done quietly. and consequently it does not
haCop lp
those who have closely followed the course Of
events know that he has dropped word here
and a suggestion there which have resulted in
securing 10 tho fund many thousands of dollars
that might have been still unsubscnbed
quE TREASURER OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
J. Edward Simmons, another member of the
Finance Committee. is better known. As presl-
dent of the Fourth National Bank and as president
Of the Board Of Education. he has been before
tbe people more directly than many of his col
leaoues Like Mr. Soligman, he, too. is quiet
conservative and methOdical When advocating
measures at the committee meetings his manner VI
speech is deliberate but not falterng' ponderous'
hr. 6nisbed Mr. Simmons enjoys the honor
Of having brought before TIE Oeherai
Committee the fist proposition outslue
NJ those incident to the technical WORK OF
organization II was a resolution oil uozeh
words. simply declaring it 10 be the sense OF the
committee that Worlds Fair should be held in
Nev-York in 1892. As treasurer Of the Finance
Committee. Mr.. Simmons assumed labors and re
spolsibilities which must have added much 10 the
weight Of the ordinary cares that rest upon him.
In this way he has done more than one mans share
20 help the enterprise along. lie is never enthu
sias,ic. but is earnest in everything he does He
is man of few words under all circumstances,
but what he has to say for the Fair is weighty
THREE ACTIVE FAIR WORKERS.
August Belmont, another banker, whom many
people know as the owner Of Raceland and
other splendid performers on the turf. was also
an active worker for the Fair in the beginning.
As conservative as either Mr. Seligman or Mr..
Simmons, he is, like them, methodical, deliberate
and precise But Mr. Belmont, unlike the others
named is capable OF showing well as feeling
enthusiasm AS a banker and as promoter OF
the Fair he is a conservative, but as a turiman
is almost if not quite an enthusiast. He is now,
as he was in the beginning, an earnest worker for
the Exposition but his influence is felt rather than
displayed
The real enthusiast OF the Finance Committee
is William Steinway, the piano maGufacturer. or
rugged physical proportions indicating the stOid
characteristic Of the German he is nevertheless de-
VOID Of any phlcgmatic accompaniment. lie pitches
into whatever he undertakes with an energy that
compels successful accomplishment. lie is the
only member Of the Finance Committee whose
activity has never waned He has attended all
Of the meetings, and since the plan for raising
guarantee fund was adopted, he has devoted him
self during his leisure hours 20 personal effort in
soliciting subscriptions. In this connection it
may be said that it is somewhat surprising that the
actual work Of raising money has been chiefly done
by members of the other committees, the Finance
Committee having done nothing as a body beyond
preparing the form OF subscription TO the guarantee
fund. Only seven Of the twenty five members OF
the committee too, have personally subscribed 10
The fund. The redeemng feature of tins, by the
way, is that it shows the extent CT the resources
70 be drawn upon for the balance Of the fund