The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-10-18

,pre1ne power, reached Mr.. Watterson at
his home in this city Friday. The tele-
gram urged him to make the dedicatory
Grafton, and the message was request
for answer at his earliest possible coz
venience. Accordingly, Mr.. Watterson,
placing the matter under immediate
consideration. reached q decision, and
wired his acceptance to President Pal
mer. This settles the much mooted
question as 10 who would be speaker at
the fair dedication. 1t was expected
that there would be some trouble in Sc
curing the acceptance of a suitable man
on the supposition that no one would
wish 10 be second choice.
This belief had been strengthened
since the declination of Senator Daniel.
of Virginia. but Mr.. .Watterson's ac-
ceptance relieves the situation of all
embarrassment. The distinguished
compliment came as complete and
overwhelming surprise both to Mr..
WattersOn and his friends here, and he
all the more keenly appreciated 1t be-
cause such was the case. Mr.. Waiter
son will prepare an address, which will
he one of the master efforts of his life.
A dispatch from Chicago quotes Presi-
dent Palmer as saying: Outside of
Mr.. Watterson's great fitness it will be
the proper thing to ask him, even if he
does not accept" The dispatch further
states that Mr.. Watterson had been
unanimously agreed on with a view to
healing up the trouble with Kentucky,
caused by the Breckenridge declina-
ton.
Mr.. Wutterson's Surprise.
Mr.. Watterson was seen, and when
asked in regard to the Colum bian dedi
catOry address, he said: 81 was taken
completely by surprise by Governor
Palmer's telegram, and my first impulse
was to decline the invitation on the
ground OF insufficient time, but after re-
Election and some consultation with
friends. the matter presented itself to
my mind in the light OF duty, duty
to the great exposition in which, from
the first, | have taken the deepest inter
est, and also a duty TO the natiUnahrieS
of the occasion. which seemed to require
some REPRESENTATION from otT particular
section of the country. OF course l felt
exceedingly hOnOred and hattered, but l
am too old hand at the bellows not to
know the menace to ones vanity raised
by so short d notice, and | sincerely dis
trust my ability TO prepare an address
in anywise equal to the occasion. But
l am going to do the best l can. and if l
say nothing very impressive, hope to
say nothing very foolish or irrelevant.
ought to be able to make a good speech
on such a theme, but in this instance is
very immensely has a paralyZing effect
upon the mind, and one can not but be
embarrassed by the v:,stness of the sub
ject. Still, as l said, in such matters
one can only do the best he can, and if
in my case this is not all that it ought 20
be. 1 am sure the public viii take the
will for the deed"
The Kentucky Exhibit
Kentucly's representation at the
worlds fair is not now SO uncertain.
President Dulaney Friday stated that
the board of commissioners would at
tempt to have the question brought before
the courts before the expiration of this
month. 1t is hoped that this can be
done. If the courts will agree to take
up the matter as the case can be docket
ed, then, both the state and commission
ers being willing. the affair can be set
tied before the end of November.
President Dulaney Friday said: eve
hope for a favorable decision by Nov. l,
time enough to complete a grand state
exhibition. Failing in this. instead OF
waiting court and state action, the COM
missioners will probably sraise the
money by private subscription"
Eventually the 100000 will be appro-
priated by the state again, even if the
courts decide the former appropriation