Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-09-17
FEAR FOR THE FAIR
The Officers Perturbed Over
the Cholera Scare.
GREAT NUMBER or DEATHS
Resulting Largely From the Use Of
Liquor-The Status OF the Sun
day Opening Cause.

mark TO be heard IN Chicago and peo-
pie are beginning 10 bel 1t is true.
One can almost feel me pulse of the
nation in Chicago, and doubt If any
city as far from New York as Chicago
feels the influence of the cholera agits-
ton as much as Chicago does. Nobody
is going 10 New YORK and very few are
now coming from New York west, be-
cause everybody who could got away
from that city At the first lntimauon
that the dread disease Was knocking at
her doors. In this way the effect on
tins city Is notable, but there Is also
al Impalp lpable influence being eIerted
by the daily reports OF the lncIpient
stages of the scourge IN New York bay.
Though business connected with the
worlds fair is by no means being sen-
ously impaired, there 10 feeling AKIN
TO terror, lest cholera should spread IN
Europe and repel for months TO come
the efforts of the continental authori-
ties to stamp it out. In that event
neither visitors nor exhibits from Eu-
rope can possibly get here IN time for
the opening OF the big exposition. The
mere thought that the fair may have
TO be postponed for year as result
of the situation IN Europe. carries with
1t a sense of nausea 10 the men who
have been at such high tension to COM
pletc the gigantic task OF constructing
marvel IN year. Certainly the
cholera will prevent Europeans
from attending the dedicatory services
next month. That Is n foregone con-
clusIon, SO that the visitors 10 the ded-
IcatlOn will be all citizens of the United
States and we Will miss one of the best
means of giving the residents OF foreign
nations an insight into what the exhl-
bltion will be like. Quite limp and dlf-
ferent from the self satisfied and as
su:ed air heretofore carried by them is
the demeanor now of the big heads of
the Columbian show. Fear cast Its
shadow over them aud misgiving has
taken the place of confidence. 1t IS
sincerely to be hoped that all the rush
and hard work of the last twelve
months may not have gone for nsught
and that serious interruption of the
worlds exposition may be sverted.
List of the Killed.
And speaking of the worlds fair
former director of that enterprise said
to me today:
"Do you know how many men have
been killed at the worlds fair grounds
since work was begunY
1.-TWO or three, | amaglne," was my
reply.
"One hundred and eighty-nine men
have lost their lives there" was the
startling statement.
| told the ex-dIrector that this was
difficult to believe.
81 know it," he answered, land /
also know that the papers print COM
plete list of victims at railroad cross
ing and nther species OF railroad accl-
dent, but they have never tabulated or
summed up the slaughter at Jackson
park. As each death occurred they
doubtless reported it in two or three
lines, but they have never made re-
capltulauOn."
''Do you know also that workmen
are permitted TO drink liquor while
working on those high buildings" the
gentleman also asked me. As was
evidently destined to be catechised | IN
formed hlm that he could assume abso-
lutte ignorance by me of al worlds fair
matters and proceed. He continued:
"Well, that II also true, and | regard II
as not only reprehenslble, but criminal.
There is no liquor sold within the
grounds at retail, but beer aud LIQUOR
wagons have free access. ! have been
told that in numbers of the death of
workmen the men fell from the scat
folding while under the influence of
liquor"
Work of Lobbyists.
III
well-known hardware merchant, who
mas long been conspicuous In Chicago
IN religious and business circles. Mr..
CragIn worked to get the tar for Chi
csgo. He was the chief labOreT before
congress IN seeking TO beat New York
and secure the eXpostlon's establish
ment here. SAID he: at ls fact that
certain Chicago men who were lnstru-
mental in the effort TO induce congress
TO appropriate 5000, 900 for the
fair came within an ace OF making Il
impossible for Us 10 get a cent
There "a scandal IN that matter.
They employed the most dlsreputabie
set OF Lobbyists that have ever made
concerted attack on the national
treasury. II was disgraceful. There
was good warrant for the claims that
money was paid, but those who
claimed il did not know half the facts.
This coming from man of Mr.. Crs-
gins prominence ls pretty hot shot.
That gentleman also saId; Though
congress gave 81. 800, 600 with the un-
derstandIng that the fair was to he
closed sunday. Edwin Walker, one Of
the directors. at the directory meeting
last night introduced a resolution 20
keep Il open on sunday That "a
fact that no Chicago paper printed.
The directors induced Walker 20 with
draw the resolution on the ground that
the eve nf an election vss no time 20
str up the matter sgsin. II . evident
thatsn attempt = 60 he made. how
ever. TO get congress 10 TeconsdeT the
matter Of sunday ciosns, but through
poliucsi sNlgencles vii not ~ the
nature of things influence the next
congress since the election rH then
have been concluded. Yet 7 do not
believe the senate can Pc persuaded 20
recede from u position.
Opposed ~ ssioont.t.
senator faviey tod me that the
petition for closing TIE far sunday
vas the best I'D largest petition ever
presented g. congress and that Il con
"a ned more representative snd vel
knovu names II So del bersts "a So
hood that statement that tne "a con
keepers eere among the petit mere fof
nn SUNDAY far. bscsuse ths r. be az
"a ssed. tors ~onId natursi SEEK
tns eslo8ns i kuos thal thsrs Nss
nat roe naHr of s.ngis ssirons eri iar
nu e. sats ssa tat pfn
Nea ~hfh nar berg got
ap IA thlssFa ia hsys eTnsFess rs~.fa
flF - arfa. f@zass ru fha s.rsess.