The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-24
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In my Judgment the mistakes which
have been made already have seriously en-
dangered the success of the Worlds fair.
The first of these mistakes was in the To-
cation of the fair at Chicago.
1t was made plain on the argument be-
fore the senate committee and in the de-
bate in the house of representatives that
the natural and proper place for success
fui fair was the city of New York.
The arguments of Messrs Depew and
Cochran and of the New York members
were never successfully answered.
The statistics and experience of other
nations which were quoted in favor of the
location of the fair in the largest city of the
country, in the center Of a cosmopolitan
population and at the gateway of the COM
merce of the United States, were unan-
swerable.
The second mistake was in the manner
in which the question of location was de-
clded. The fair has not only been located
In the wrong place, but ii was put where it
is for wrong and unpatriotic reason.
Political advantage was made the main
object.
No one who is familiar with the circum-
stances attending the vote by which Chi
cago was chosen as the place for the fair,
can doubt that if New York had been a
Republican city she would have been sue
cessiul in her application to have the fair
held here.
Those of our citizens who desired to have
the fair held in their city were substan-
TALLY refused the opportunity on account
of their political belief.
Men from New England, who, if they go
to Chicago from their homes, go there
through tie city of New York, voted
against ..'r neighbors here because of
party affiliations.
No business enterprise which depends
for its financial success on the cooperation
of the whole country, can be successful
when controlled for party advantage.
The third mistake which was made. was
the hostile legislation of the Fitty-hrst
congress toward all commerce and COM
mercial intercourse with foreign nations
The invitation to the world to partici-
pate in the fair, was accompanied by legis-
lation which made il plain TO the people
who were invited that the party in power
had no desire to do any business with
them, and viewed them as its enemies.
Whether in the face of all these disad-
vantages the gentlemen in charge of this
undertaking can make it relatively sue
cesful is problem which time alone can
solve.
1t would seem to me as if they would
need for that purpose much more unani-
nifty, much more enthusiasm and much
more confidence in each other than they
have shown so far.
| am certain that if congress could have
known in advance how they would behave
they would never have been successful in
getting the management of such an under
taking placed in their hands. Certainly no
New Yorker in the debate made any ac-
cusations against them at all equal to the
record which they have made for them
seves in the way of showing that the fair
should not have been committed to their
hands.
If they will get together and support
Loyalty sensible scheme, there is no rea-
son why we should not all do what we can
to help them.
| am. however, not in favor of any fur
Their disbursement by the national govern
ment, except so far as to put in proper
condition the national exhibit.