The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-22
THE WORLDS FAIR.
Dinner Given by the New York
State Commissioners.
Large and Representative Gathering at Del
mOniCGS Banquet Hall.
Remarks by Hon. ChaunCay M. DspeW, Presi-
dent Palmer and 0therS-The MaSni-
tuda Of the Great Enterprise.
Epetial to THE MORNING CALI

New YORK, Dec. 21.-DelmonicO' big
banquet hall had no mere distinguished or
representative gathering this season than
that which assembled tonight to participate
in the dinner given by the New York State
Commissioners to the Worlds Columbian
Exposition, Depew, Thatcher and Allen.
The feast was given to consider the Empire
States interests and duty in connection
with the great event. There was host of
distinguished men present, including all the
principal officers of the exposition and promi-
nent representatives of commercial, profess
sional, literary and political circles of the
country. Among those who sent regrets
were Secretary Tracy, ex-President Cleve-
land, Vice-Presdent Morton, Mayor Grant
and Lyman j. Grace of Chicago who is very
i'll in his apartments at his hotel. The in-
mense white and gold banquet hall was
hung with the national colors and banners,
and there was q lavish display of flowers.
The clock tolled the hour OF 10 before the
good things OF the banquet were fully dis
cussed and the company was ready for
spteches. DR.. Depew then arose and was
welcomed by generous outburst of ap.
plauSe.
DEPEw'S REMARKS.
Mr. Depew said in part: THE Colum-
bian Exposition comes at a most opp0rtune
time Unprecedented crops this year and
an equally unprecedented demand for our
food products abroad will give us for
twelve months an eXhi arating period Of
prosperity. In the ordinary course of fnan-
cial experience overcontidence, with prob
ably different relations another year be-
tween the farm * the markets ot the
world. would be followed by collapse;
but this great industrial exhibition at Chi
cago will take up The frayed threads OF
opportunity too lavishly employed and
weave them into new cables TO draw the
car of American progress; save us
as nation from dangers which
might threaten. and crystalline into
permanency thousands of enterprises w hich
otherwis would fail for lack of confidence
or capital. The citizens OF Chicago are TO
be complimented and congratulated upon
the courage and forethought which have
characterized the local preparations for this
grand event. They have already expended
$4,000, coo of their own money and their
patriotism and resources are not yet eX-
hausted. But the expense Of this national
enterprise should not be wholly borne by
the locality where Congress placed it, The
nation should do its part to second the eff
forts of the citizens of Chicago to have the
exposition surpass any yet held in any
country"
AMERICAN PROGRESS.
Speaking of New York, Mr.. Depew said
1T is an insult to the Intelligence of the
State 10 ask where should be New \ ork's
place in this grand exhibition. Speaking
for the people of New York. | would say
to the country: New York will be at the
Columbian Exposition, and she will be there
in the full grandeur of her strength and de-
velopment." Speaking Of the magnitude
OF the great exposition, Mr.. Depew said
Its creation, its magnitude its location. its
architecture, and its striking and enduring
features will be American. The city in
which it is held, taking rank among the
first cities in the world after an existence of
only fifty years. Is American. The great in
land fresh water sea, whose waves will dash
against the shores of Jackson Park, is Amer
lean. The prairie extending westward with
Its thousands Of square miles of land, half
century ago wilderness, but to-day grid
lroned with railroads, spanned with webs
Of electric wire, rich in prosperous FARMS
growing villages, ambitious citizens and
energetic, educated ard progressive people,
Is purely American. The exposition COM
memoratss the discovery OF continent
which as become the home of the people of
every race-a discovery which has accom-
plshed more for humanity in its mate
rial, intellectual and spiritual effects than
all other events since the advent of Christ"
NoN-PARTISAN MANAGEMENT.
Mr.. Palmer, President of the National
Commission, said the charge had been made
that partisan politics has had something to
do with the management of the exposition.
To him the charge seemed without the
slightest foundation. He called attention to
the fact that the principal Offices In both the
commission and the Local Directory were
divided between Democrats and Republi-
cans, and said he believed that each of
those gentlemen would consider themselves
dish0Dored if they lent themselves to and
did not oppose on any and all occasions the
slightest tendency to partisan dis
elimination "The creation OF so large n
board Of lady managers land | am glad TO
say here that the board would have much
preferred the nam6 of woman to that of
LADY, was the cause of some adverse COM
ment. The course of that board, however,
has Justified the action Of the commission.
1t was the first time our Government had in
any such way recognized woman. 1t has
digntfed woman; it has given weight to her
opinion; II has opened new avenues to her
efforts. To those who believe in more va
ried work and better wages for woman. who
appreciate her artistic taste, who believe
the more woman is dlgnified the greater the
assurance of worthy sons to be given the
republic, the action Of the commission
needs no defense" Mr.. Palmer spoke at
length OF the interest taken in the fair, Of
its great importance in many ways. and
said: Il have never felt doubt of the ab-
solute and entire success of the enterprise
any more than | have a doubt of the flow of
Niagara or the continuance OF the atmos-
phere."
AN IMMENSE UNDERTAKING.
President w. T. Baker of the Chicago
Local Directory said he was happy to see
that almost every trace of bitterness over
the loss of the fair to New York has dis
appeared. He Iecounted the details of the
vast undertaking and said the estimated
cost of the fair will be S15, III, 800, exclusive
of the cost of administration, which is esti-
mated at 81. 10000 up to the opening Of the
exposition.
John Boyd Thatcher, one of New York's
Commits soners, said New Workers did not
deny feeling of disappointment when tn
Worlds Fair winged westward flight but
there is no ill-feeling now. Chicago deserves
our support. To raise ten millions for
sentimental purpose is task which any
metropolis might approach with hesitation.
chicago has accomplished this in a few
short weeks. Our blood runs faster as we
recognize this magnificent courage, and we
would share in her labor that we may justly
share i'll her glory
A UNITED NATION
Director General Davis of the exposi-
ti0n said in part: Il think the exposition
Is not only going to draw sister nations that
are near US closer together, but l believe it
will draw all the nations Of the earth nearer
together; that it will cement the. States of
the Union so closely that hereafter there
will be no North. no South, no East, no
West, no black, no white. no German, and
no Irish, but one cemented American ma
tion, under one flag, and that bearing across
Its stars and stripes in letters of light that
tile nations of the world can read, Peace
on earth. good will TO men, To such con-
summation let us unitedly work.
President Smith of the Chamber of Com
merce, New York. said he was member of
the Merchants Club, an organization which
last week asked the Legislature TO appro-
pirate $5O0000 for the fair "and," said he,
I'VE argued that the fair was entitled to
the hearty. support of New York on the
grounds of patriotic sentiment and self
interest. Mr.. Chairman, let us insist that
the State of New York does her whole duty
toward Chicago in this matter"