Las Vegas free press. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1891-1???, 1892-04-22
WORLDS FAIR CONTROVERSY.

In conversation with Hon. w. IL
Thornton, president of the New
Mexico Worlds Columbian fair com.
mission, that gentleman said yester-
day:
"We propose to proceed at once,
as you will see by our notice of meet.
ings published in todaY's New Mexi.
can, to every county in the territory
for the purpose Of organizing the
work in the several departments.
As you know, we held meeting a
few days ago in Las Cruces, where
we met the Commercial club, and had
this club to call meeting of the cit
izens of the county for Tuesday of
last week, at which meeting l was
present, and explained the program
of procedure marked out by the
board. This program was unani-
mously endorsed by resolution; $4l5
was at once subscribed by the gen.
tlemen present to aid the work in
that county, and the assurance given
that $4,000 would be raised, if neces-
sary. The club agreed to earnestly
aid the work and give personal atten-
tion to the collection of the exhibit
in that county. We intend to pro-
ceed in the same manner in the 9th
er counties, and hope to meet with
like success"
"Speaking of the meeting in Las
Cruces, what have you to say about
Mrs. Bartlett's resignation"
Nothing, except that it was a
surprise to me, and that l deeply re-
gret it, as realize that she was the
most jealous, active and faithful
worker connected with the Worlds
fair from this territory, and know
ing that it would be difficult to Sc
cnre any one to take her place we de-
clined to accept her resignation, hop
ing that she might be induced to re.
call it,"
"Did not the action Of the board
compel her to take the step she did
to save her self respect"
"No, the board has always been
partial to her and has given her at
her request much work to do outside
of the ordinary woman's work"
"What about the action of the
board in appointing joint committees
in San Miguel county? Was not
this in violation of the original
for subdivision of the
work?"
"No; what was done was simply
to authorize one financial committee
instead of two in San Miguel county,
and this was at the written request
of the county commissioners of that
county, of the Commercial club of
Las Vegas, of the trustees of East
Las Vegas, and large number of in
fluential persons of that county. The
action did not affect any other coun-
ty, and we could not have declined
TO allow the people of San Miguel to
do the work in their own way with
out practically stopping the work in
that great county. This action was
not to affect any money already
raised or the organization of the
several committees of the lady man
ayers; each was TO prosecute In her
own way, and with her own commit
tees, the work assigned them."
"Mrs. Bartlett rendered her resig- !
nation before the vote was taken,
not, as some seem to think, of her po-
sition of lady manager, but of the
special work given her by the board
at her request. Her position as lady |
manager is in no way affected, and
| am informed she is now in San
Juan county prosecuting this work
with her usual zeal and good sense.
81 desire to say right here that no
i'll natured filings, either of indlvid-
uals or of the press, can force me
into aposition of partisanship in this
matter. have duty to perform
and / feel that the interests Of New
Mexico in the Worlds fair exhibit
are too great to be jeopardized by
taking part in petty quarrels."