The record-union., 1892-04-30
THE "DREsS REHEARSAL MAT
TER AGAIN.

Mr.. James D. Phelan, Vice President o.
the California Worlds Fair Commission
has written a letter to the RECORD UNION
for the purpose of explaining away what
he conceives to be misunderstanding OF
facts relative to the "dress rehearsal"
We print Mr.. Phelan's letter in full be-
low, and take occasion thereafter to point
out that the misapprehension is entirely
with the commission and not with the
interior, and that so far from this matter
being one of local jealousy, it is as broad
and long as State interest:
SAN FRANCISCO, April 20, 1892,
EDS. RECORD-UNIoN: l notice that at a
meeting IN Sacramento resolutions discourag.
ing the preliminary Worlds Fair Exhibit OF
California, 10 be held at the Mechanics Insti-
tute Pavilion in this city, were passed.
NOW this objection is due TO q misunder-
standing of the facts, which would like to
explain for the benefit of all concerned. The
idea OF such preliminary exhibit has been
generally approved by the press and people
up to this time, and the commission has de-
clded definitely TO have such an exhibition
for several reasons:
taken of our eXhibitand its deficiencies shown
before shipment to Chicago, and the commits
sion can make more intelligent selection of
e&nlb1ts. II they are forced to accept all eX-
hlbits at terminal points on the railroad they
cannot do 1t with nice discrimination.
lnasmuch as the commission have agreed to
pay 1relgnt on all accepted exhibits the people
OF the interior ought to gladly facilitate their
work.
Furthermore, it is agreed that even the ex-
h1oitS sent to the preliminary fair in San
Francisco, and accepted there for Chicago,
Will cost the exhibitors nothing for freight to
san francisco, which will be remitted. Those
not accepted viii only pay half freight.
1hls Is check on the sending OF poor, ex-
ceSslFe or unavailable exhibits. People thus
sendlng exhibits 10 san Francisco in good
talth may be reasonably sure of a remission of
all freight charges. The commission is en-
abled To do this by arrangement with the Me-
chanlcs' Institute. The commission is at
no expense or risk whatever for this pre-
Iiminary fair. 1t can lose nothing so the
states money is not involved.
On the other hand the commission will
probably be in receipt Of sum OF money
rom the fair which will better enable ii 10
carry out It's promises to the counties and ex-
nioltors TO pay transportation to Chicago.
mus the counties will be benefited. IN con-
Yenuon the county Geieg1tes approved The
plan tor preliminary Worlds FAIR exhibit
OF California IN this city. IL is not obligatory
Ior the counties to make an exhibit, bnt it
viii mantfestly aid the commission in making
selection. Then, again. October 14th is the
GATE OF the quadricentennial OF the discovery
OF America by Columbus, and every State is
expected 10 celebrate the momentOus event.
This local Worlds Fair will be our celebra-
Jion. Standing by itself, without reference 10
the fact that IL Is preliminary to tie gFea ter
fair, this exhibition ought to be welcome to
those enterpIising counties which always are
alert TO advertise their splendid resources.
san Francisco Is the central point from which
settlers ana buyers radlate, and here the
counties can best exhibit themselves.
sacramento may feel injured that the pre-
uminary show was not given at that point
but IL was mere question OF business adj
vantage, which no one can dispute that the
rehearsal would have more value here to all
parties concerned, the management and the
exhibitors. But TO accommodate the State
and the county fairs, while the exhibition
opens August 30th and closes october goth,
1892, 1t will be open for the reception of COM
petitive exhibits till October 9th Thus the
counties can bring in their exhibit after the
local alrs and win prizes. However, extra
prizes amounting to 81 900 will be awarded
10 the counties having the best exhibit in
place on the first Saturday after the opening.
10 hold two-months fair it was necessary
10 open IL on August 30th TO avoid the ma
tional elections in November and the rainy
season in San Francisco. The expenses, in
Guiding light, attendance and music will be
$500 per day. 1t will be an opportunity for
the counties TO embrace second only to the
Worlds Columbian Exposition itself.
Inc commission is studying the interest of
the interior, and do not wish to be misun der
stood. Local jealousies should give way to
the public good. JAMES d. PHELAS
Vice-President Commission.
1t is to be observed that no one objects
to the preliminary exposition of the Cali
fornia exhibits. On the contrary, the
idea originated with the State Board of
Agriculture and was communicated bv it
officially to the Governor. 1t had long
ago the hearty Endorsement of the REC
ORD UNION, the first paper to suggest 1t,
which advised and urged it, and pointed
out its manifest benefits.
This disposes completely of the explain
atory and affirmative portion of the Vice
Presidents communication. But we in
vite attention to the fact that while the
transportion of exhibits to San Francisco
is TO cost the commission considerable
sum, to transport them to the State Fair
would cost nothing, and that at that ex-
position the commission could as intelli-
gently take off the rough edges and weed
out the undesirable exhibits. and that.
too, without entailing half cost for freight
) upon the torwarder Of the exhibits that
may be rejected.
We are assured that the States money
is not involved in the dress rehearsal.
that the commission takes no risk, though
the expenses will aggregate $500 a day.
The Mechanics Institute Fair Associa-
ton is to assume the risk, pay the premi-
ums and costs, and give to the Worlds
Fair Commission 25 per cent. of the net
as is publicly explained by the manager
the commission has selected to run the
dress rehearsal. 1t is thus disclosed that.
despite disclaimer. the Mechanics In
stitute Fair corporation is furnishing the
money, taking the risk and practically
managing the whole affair.
1t is, therefore, entirely logical to con-
clude that that corporation has made it a
condition precedent with the commission
that it, the institute corporation, in con-
sideration of abandonment of its usual
fair. must have full two months of time
in which the exhibition shall be kept
open; also, that in pursuance of the pol
icy pursued by that corporation for many
years, the dress rehearsal must open be-
fore the State Fair and continue over the
whole period of the State Exposition.
To emphasize this, it is provided tha.
$1,000 in extra premiums is to be given