New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-22
THE WORLDS FAIR OPENING
SHOULD The DATE BE CHANGED
COMMISSIONER DELAFIELD FAvORS OCTOBER
81. 1892. INSTEAD OF OCTOBER 1o-THE

a0ners OF the Worlds Columbian Exposition NJ Chl-
caro believes that the date Of the dedlcatorv exercises
should be changed bv act OF Congress from October
H. 1892. to october 2I 1892 and also that Congress
should make the appropIia ion OF $5,OOOOOO which
Chicago demands He gives his reasons to The Trb-
follows:
"As TO the change OF the dato TO October 81 The
State Of New York has through lis Legislature seeced
October IL for the celebration In New-loFk ClV' VIC
concede that the Government should not change
fixed da:e OF this kind under ordinary circumstances
otherwise Il might be confronted with the fact that
every State I'm the Union might be asking an accom-
mediation Of a National date TO suit some local ceeDra
taon The proprietv OF National dates taking
precedence OF State dates has been settled long SINCE
Those Interested in having the National celebration
at Chicago and the celebration In Newiork take place
on different dates are confronted with the fact that
the New-York Legislature has adjourned: 10. even II
II were possible that that BODY could and would make
q change far the State date Is concerned. 1t Is
now late to do ANYTHING; recourse to our Legis-
lature Is impraccabfe; therefore any change
viii have 10 be through an act Of Congress.
:" The obstacles that arise so far rs the Columbian
Exposition Is concerned are that invitations have been
sent to all foreign 10 attend the National cee-
braion Oh October IL: all printed matter. both In
Congress and the Bureau Of the Worlds Fair. mas
been issued as OF October 12 Notwithstanding this.
We believe that 1t Is to the interest Of all concerned
that Congress change the date from october IL TO
the 2lst. and OF The for so doing are:
"First-October II is not the correct date OF CO.
lumbuss discovery il is what is termed the 'od stvle'
and belongs 10 the Julian Calendar this calendar
showed discrepancy with the Astronomical Calendar
and q new calendar adopted IN 1882 correcting
all dates OF the Civil Calendar prior TO that ume ana
II now stands that the ana correct date OF the
discovery would be october 81 1892 The 2lst day
of October of this year falls Friday, and 1t IS
strange coincidence that the New World was first seen
OIL Friday so those who look the celebration with
sentiment Will feel that they are celebrating an event
that took place on Friday exactly 400 years ago.
should the celebration take place on the 18th OF DC
tober Il will lack nine DAYS OF being the exact date
The astronomers will satisfy the world on this point
and the Worlds Fair IS practically an educational
system the public should hold the celebration at the
correct time and so have 1t handed down in history
On this principle the old calendar stated tha'
Washington born on the 18th day OF February
Yet we celebrate his corrected birthday on The 22d Of
February which is the Style This point was
urged by John Bovd TEACHER exMayor OF Albany.
before a commission at Washington on Nav 90
Second-As n matter Of convenience. the change
would undoubtedly be benefit to every one; 1t would
enable the President of the United States and wash
ingon officials to pass through NewYork. taking part
in the celebration there and going to Chicago thus
swelling the importance OF the event.
An argument which might be raised against chang
inc the date would be the Inconvenience 10 already
invited guests both from Europe and in this country
This should not be vital point, for the reason mat
the change Of the National date from October l" to
October 81 would onlv be matter OF n.ne DAYS. ana
as the event Is still five months off, by ample nouce
being given to the guests little Inconvenience would
be caused. II is the wish of manv persons Ill Inc
West to be present at the opening exercises on october
IL in New. York. 1t would be an accommodation ID
that section o. the country. There are also hhh' III
the East especially State officials. that desire 10 ~
In Chicago at the dedicatorv ceremonies Ihereiore
the events occurring in NewYork and Chicago nine
all 40 ici n1tn
f. with this fact in mind that special committee OF
four consisting of Gorton w. Allen, John Boyd
Thatcher. Louis NJ Rowland and Richard Dsahelo' were
selected to visit Washington and bring the mauer
before Congress-. Every indication now points towar0
the approx al Of Congress.
"As 10 the matter Of the appropriation OF S5oooooo
undoubtedly The Chicago funds provided for carving
On the work OF The Exposition gradually being
depleted. and either Congress will have to make
loan or appropriation for the continuance d 'he
work. or the state Of Illinois will have to raise 'he
money Ii may lie said that the West has iuoerhHeh
more than 1t carry out and that the people OF
the East believe that New-YOrk CITY. had she secured
the Fair. would have been able 10 provide suniciet
money without any call the National Treasury. ana
have carried 1t successfully through. Notwihs'o''d
Ing all this. there is higher position TO be taken
viz that wherever the Exposition was held. the
National Government should be prepared to staho
back of and protect II. 1t Is doubtful II any foreign
nation would with this country If 1t came before
them as a New-lork Exposition or chicago En-
position. As National Exposition alone would we
be listened 10 by foreign countries IL Is the security
that the Nation gives by its strong arm of protection
that induces foreign countries 10 make Applications
for space, which applications are no" MANY thes
greater than possibly be granted
"Should Chicago be forced 10 borrow from trust
or organization Of capitalists. what protection would
the exhibitors from foreign countries or our own
exhibits havel III such a the lender would have
E.ip and 4 va itSp Ill
Into venture whereby any charge could be made 10
exhibitors not only for admission but 10 all apDL
anees that would have to be utilized. such Us steanl
power and charges for space. etc, which now
are free. II capitalists or any local organization
controlled the fair no New-York exhibitors would send
their exhibits TO Illinois any more than they wouia
IN any state celebration. The people at home and
abroad want the sense OF security which only the
Government give them. II such be thc case
thon tive Government should aid the EAposuoh'
whether it DO a. d loan an appropriation IL matter
fos Congress to settle As the matter stands Omcaso
claims 10 have provided $4,000. 900; she wants
$4,000 900 more should she receive this and the Fair
costs 81 eO00oOO or SOOoOOOo she proposes W give
bonds absolutely secured by people who VIII PROVIDE
for the faithful carrying out of this work in excess
OF the $l5,OCO,OU $500 . -,
M, aid her. carry out the Exposition "a successful
compisuon and il there is 70 be any claim. on the
Governmen and not by any Organization OF p ali,,s
The question OF providing soCOGoS BY the PROPOSED
uoon BY number OF people happy solution u
tie settlement Of this inat,cr II Is claimed mat u
the Government adopts this, it will be absolutely
secured not merely from the profit on coinage, but
from tile fact that a large quantity OF these silver
shuyenirs will bc taken out OF the country snd Kept
AS mementoes and never have 10 be redeemed There
fore the $5.OCOOOO in souvenirs would practically be
tie same as a loan, and every indication points
toward the Fair being financial success. II would he
practically no loss II there were only dividend
OF 80 per cent returned the Government II would
st out all right at greatest not to exceed
deficit OF sl,00O0OO.
Tie matter of appropriation or loan VIII prob
ably he settled by Congress within the next ten days
and II Is vital To- the interest of this country that
the Government should come 10 the 'front.' establish
the sense Of security. interest It's people and aid iiie
Exposition. The securing of itself Is mnttcr which
congressman should certainly be able to determine.
I'll Ct 20