Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-11
THE PRESIDENT INVITED.
A Hundred Southern Men Have . Pleasar
Interview With Gen. Harrison.

A Hundred Southern Men Have q Pleasant
Interview With Gen. Harrison.
The delegation Of hundred southern men
who waited on President Harrison yesterday to
invite him to attend the southern interstate
exhibition to be held at Raleigh, N. c., in Oc-
tober and November, and to visit Columbia, s.
G., and Augusta, Ga, had q very pleasant talk
with the President and came away delighted
with the warmth Of their reception and conf
dent that the President would try to find time
to visit the south as invited.
The Raleigh exhibition will be opened during
the month Of July, and is designed to be per-
manent. During October and November a
grand exposition will be held and excursions
run from every section Of the civilized world.
and 1t will be advertised as no exposition has
been advertised heretofore. 1t will remain in
kaleigh until the LIST Of January, 1892; from
thence 1t will be removed to Washington city or
Richmond, or remain in Raleigh, az circum-
stances govern; wherever exhibited to remain
during 1892; thence, in 1893, it will be taken to
chicago and constitute part Of the great Co
lumbar display. Its future location will be
decided by the next southern interstate immi-
grafton convention. But wherever placed,
there it will be permanent.
Senator Ransom headed the North Carolina
delegation, Mr.. Patrick Walsh of Augusta spoke
for Georgia and Col. David R. Duncan for
South Carolina.
THE PRESIDENTS REPLY
In reply to addresses made by Senator Ran
som and Mr.. Walsh the President thanked them
invitation and said it was very gratifying to
him to feel that they had come SO far for such
purpose. Their invitation called for serious
consideration on his part, but he could not now
tell what he would be able to do at the time Of
the exposition. He said he knew he would be
WI ha hal n
very conclusive evidence on that point. He
regretted that it was not his privilege to pass
through North Carolina on his recent trip.
He continued ''No, l cannot promise at this
time. Indeed, 1 am very chary abou
promises. Public men have been severely
criticised for making promises they could not
perform, and l have made a strict rule not to
make promises. There is too much doubt about
the future state Of public business for me to an
ticipate what may be able TODD. You will bear
In mind that October and November are apt to
be very busy times with the Presidentin connec-
ton with the assembling of Congress, and in
the discharge Of my constitutional duty must
try to enlighten Congress to the affairs of the
country So you will see it will not be easy for me
to get away in the fall. I am in full sympathy
magnificent development and material pros
perity in the arts and sciences l will bear
your invitation in mind and will try to arrange
my affairs so as to accept it."
THE CARD OF INVITATION.
The "card" of invitation presented to the
President was in the form of large silver
bound and clasped volume, with covers of ma
tive North Carolina pine, paneled with natural
curled pine, eight panels Of elegant design on
each cover. Within is framed the invitation,
printed on large tobacco leaf Of the far-famed
North Carolina golden leaf. On a leaf II by "a
on the left is printed
''The citizens Of the southern section Of the
Union extend an earnest invitation to Benjamin
Harrison, President of the United States and
his cabinet"
On another tobacco leaf of the same size is
the following:
ITO visit them at the capital city Of the old
North State during the southern exposition,
october and November 1891"
Above and on each side Of both leaves are
punches of rice grown in South Carolina.
Below are hollis Of open cotton representing
the agricultural products Below are sheets Of
mica representing the industrial products of
the south. The background is of black velvet,
lined with gold cord and handsomely framed
with plate glass. Similar invitations in port
folio form will be presented to each member Of
the cabinet.