New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-18
MIST THE FAIR BE ABdNDONED1

Chicago correspondence reports unfortunate
disagieements among subscribers to the Worlds
Fair guarantee fund respecting various queS-
TORS which that enterprise in its iIst stages,
necessarily involves Individual ebulitionS
Of disgust and predictions of disaster would
not signify anything, provided the great work
bad been clearly mapped out and was making
progress along definite lines well approved by
intelligent public sentiment But that is as
far as possible from being the real situation.
and there is danger that the Executive Com
mittce will he generally discredited before 1t
has really shown what il is capable Of. The
newspapers are already giving sharp expression
to discomfort which seems to be spreading.
1t is even alleged that the committee is ring
and the creature of Il ring, and, still worse,
that it is incompetent.
We do not wish to be understood as giving
anv support whatever to these unpleasant as
sertions They may be idle or malicious but
the unfortunate fact is that they indicate. not
only considerable friction where there ought to
be perfect harmony. but also the growth of
misconceptions feeling toward the under
taking In The meanwhile invaluable time is
being wasted and popular interest throughout
the country frittercd away. The truth is that
there never was any profound enthusiasm for
a Worlds Fair except within narrow limits ;
and that almost went out so soon as the honor
was awarded to Chicago If it is to be re-
kindlod and made universal in time TO give to
the work the impulse which il needs, the CIT
liens of Chicago must stop pickering and pull
ing at cross purp~s,S
of thp m cip uul1r miSchancpS In con-
nection with the project is the mysterious and
total disappearance Of that ideal site which
was pointed to as visible, tangible and in
controvertible argument in support of the
Windy City's claims. 1t now appears that no
site has been chosen, and, Furthermore. that
none exists against which vocfcrouS objections
are not hurled so often rs il is mentioned.
Various locations have their strenuous back
erS, but the one irreproachable site which was
in evidence all winter has faded utterly from
view This is an extremely awkward loss for
if Chicago has no place for Worlds fair what
a place for a World, Fair Chicago is. And
then, that guarantee fund. is it or is it not
assuming proportions which will appear salts
factory 70 the National Commission and to the
President? If it is, the country would be IN
tercsted in a statement of account; if it Is
not then how long grace is 10 Ire allowed?
These are only two or three of the vital
questions which il seems to us that it is high
time to answer. Unless new spirit is breathed
into the enterprise, a great many persons will
presently be heard asking themselves and one
another whether il wouldn't be better, on the
whole, 10 abandon it definitely and altogether.
That course is still open. To take il ght
subject the country TO some ridiculc but that
would soon wear itself ont and be forgotten.
The one thing greatly to be feared is a miser-
able display Of mediocIity three years hence.
and in our opinion the danger Of such a mis-
representation is not ncOnsiderahlc. The
/ country can easily afford 10 be laughed at for
not holding a Worlds Fair, but it cannot az
! ford TO be made ridiculous by a third rate show