New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-19
THE COMING PdTR.
West show

Chicago is getting ready for the Fair which
is to be the crucial test Of her enterprise, her
executive ability and her staying powers with
all her might The choice of William T. Baker
for the presidency Of the Fair Directory is gen.
orally commended, and evidently is most adj
mirable one. Mr. Baker is now serving his
second consecutive term as president of Chi
cago's Board of Trade, and is fitted by his
sterling integrity and his great business ability
! to direct the Fair wisely and well. The fact
that he has promised to devote all his time TO
Fair work proves he has determined that il
the enterprise fails to meetthe best expectations
the fault shall not be his. lie was elected with
out dissenting vote, so it is safe to as
sumo that in his administration OF the manifold
duties of his office he will be heartily supported
by all his associates.
The result of the recent Chicago elections IS
another cause of congratulation for those who
are interested-and who is not?-in the FAR
"The Journal" of that city quotes one OF ITS
contemporaries as saying that the knowledge
that the city government viii not be under the
control of the most disreputable element OF the
population will be distinct gain to the Worlds
FAIR This is so obviously true as to need no
comment. No sane man would tolerate the idea
that the Fair should be brought into politics, or
politics brought into the Fair. All the same, the
majority of the people of the United States in
side or outside of Chicago must feel that it is
decided advantage for the Fair that the newly
elected Mayor stands for the best elements in
the community, stands for those who do most
TO conserve its genuine progress. That the
Mayor is Republican is Offset by the fact that
the president of the directory, MIR. Baker, is
Democrat. Hence, honors from the point OF
view Of political parties may be said to be easy.
Passing from politics to education and art,
third cause Of congratuation for the Fair boom
ers is to be noted. If the recommendation OF
the Commissioner of the Bureau of Education at
Washington is adopted, as it is likely TO be- all
the exhibits, domestic and foreign that belong
to education and to art will be grouped into one
department. Commenting upon this recon-
mendation, "The Chicago Tribune" directs at
tention to the fact that " at the previous exhibit
tons in London in 1864 and 1862, and at Paris
and Philadelphia, the best results were not OBJ
tanned on account of the scattered location Of
educational exhibits. There was much con-
fusion at former Worlds Fairs, and the hapleSs
mixing up of displays did not provide either
visitors or exhibitors with the best opportunity
for purposes of comparison and of classification"
II Is proposed, "The Tribune" explains, to or
ganize local committees in every State to take
charge of all matters appertaining to educational
exhibits, and it adds that the school collection
will be prominent feature of the Exposition.
All this is promising. To be sure, there have
been some designations Of late from some of
the working boards accompanied by pessimistic
remarks not calculated to encourage the general
public. To be sure Secretary Phoebe Couzins,
of the Board of Lady Managers, has been re-
moved from Office and will carry her resentment
to the courts. To be sure, st. Lous-which
never did have wild enthusiasm for Chicago
cannot be counted upon to stand by her. But we
believe that none of these things or things OF
related significance will move Chicago. She
must realize that no vast undertaking like a
Fair was ever prosecuted to a triumphant con-
without enc0untering all sorts of
from all sorts of people. Perseverance
conquers all things. Let Chicago persevere.