The record-union., 1891-04-22
CALIFORNIA'S EXHIBIT AT THE
WORLDS FAIR.


WORLDS FAIR.
Yesterday the RECORD-UNIo eX-
pressed the opinion that unless col
lective exhibit can be made at the Co
lumbar Worlds Fair by California it
would be better for the State to refrain
from exhibiting at all. The reason for
this belief is obvious. CaIifornia's pro-
ducts, shown with the products of other
sections in department and distributive
exhibition, will be swallowed up and
lost.
That is to say, while our contributions
would add materially to swell the entire
exhibit of the United States, California
would not receive the benefit contempla-
ton of which is a chief motive in our ex-
hibiting at all. California is not wanting
in national pride, but her collective ex-
hibit viii do more to enhance the exhibits
of the nation by far than if she played
minor part in the distributive or general
exhibition. All the conditions here are
so dissimilar to those of States east of the
Sierras, that to exhibit conformity with
the other States will not present us in the
light that will make our showing intelli-
gentsto the observer.
But this is not all; the Constitution for
bids the use of State money except it is
for State institution, and handled by
State agency responsible to the State
Under that provision of the organic law,
the bill appropriating 100000 passed the
Legislature, and under it the State Com
mission to manage California's interests
has been selected. In order to make the
100000 available, therefore, the State
Commission must have control of the
California exhibition, and if that cannot
be secured, the Controller of State will
not be authorized to draw his warrant for
the money appropriated. The legal OBJ
stacle to distributive exhibition is, then,
insurmountable. Yet it is telegraphed to
the coast that the Commissioner APP
pointed by the late Governor Waterman
upon the National Board opposes a col
lective exhibit by California, and is pro-
ceeding before the national body as if
the matter is settled, and he possessed
the power to pronounce the ultimatum in
the case.
This position of Mr.. De Young is
unaccountable upon any reasonable
ground, and is very great disappoint-
ment to the friends of the Commissioner.
For it is well known that he was aware of
the position the Legislature was TO be
asked to take. Indeed, he took part in
nrging the passage of the bill, and in ex-
planning it to the Legislature. The as
sumption is justified that his change of
front since he has been called to Chicago
is attributable to either of two causes:
the stated opposition of the National
Commission to collective exhibition, its
desire being to odepartmentize the product
exhibits Of the United States; sec
ondly, that if California's contribu-
tions are distributed in departments, Mr..
De Young, as the head of some of those
departments, and as Gubernatorial Cal
ifornia Commissioner, will control the
exhibit and be able to crafty personal
vanity. He would, in that case, have
more to say than anybody else as to what
shall be exhibited, who shall be favored,
and the method of arrangement of ex-
hibits. But if a collective exhibit is made
it will be in California building wholly
under the control of the State Commits
sion, subject only to the general laws of
the fair, and observance of the National
Boards conditions and rules for the uni
that one of two things is inevitable, either
the State must be permitted TO make
cumulative exhibit, such as the new local
Board of Control shall determine, or the
State Commission must refuse to allow
the money to be used, and ought to do so.
That the people here are attributing to
Mr.. De Young desire to control the
California exhibit, he must charge to his
own position. For there is not the slight
est disposition todo him injustice, or treat
his views harshly. The situation is one
of his own creation, and he cannot COM
plain if it is criticised by the people as it
is. They have, through the highest rep
resentative body they create in the State,
expressed their desire to have collective
exhibit, and Mr.. De Young has seen fit to
pronounce from his position upon the