St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-05-20
PRETTY KETTLE OF FISH.

PRETTY KETTLE OF FISH.
Between the editorial association and
the commissioners and Ibis eXcellency"
there is nice howd'y'do over the dedi-
cation of the building which the good
people of Minnesota have built on the
grounds of the Columbian exposition.
1t is dedicated, and it isn't dedicated.
1t is legitimate, and it is Legitimate
The editors have ridden rough-shod
over official dignity, ceremonial precepts
and sovereign authority. They came
like a pack of young Lochinvars out
of the West ''to tread but one measure,
drink one cup of wine," ana have
snatched from the custodians of the
states thing of beauty their ward and
appropriated it to their own jollifica-.
ton. And in turn they have been
snubbed with all the cold propriety of
official station. They have been off
cially told that their conduct was highly
improper; that the dignity of the state
has been affronted, and that they might
as well know 1t.
1t is a nice kettle of fish, and this is
Vic way ~ oOOuU, do IlCQI l1 dS IllC
GLOBE can get at it in the midst of
some contradictory statements and a
desire on the part of "the adminlstra-
ton" to keep the affair quiet. Precedent
and proprlety, of course. demanded that
the Minnesota building should be dedi-
Gated with all the ceremonial used on
such occasions. The commissioners
were to present it with duly prepared
extempore speeches to the governor,
and the governor with equally studied
unreadineSS was to respond and accept
it on behalf of the mass of the people of
the state, whose only privilege in the
matter was to pay for it all. AS the edit
descent on the White City this year
with their wives and sisters and other
fellows sisters, and as they were
the means by which the most of
the proprietors of the building
could ever know anything about it,
1t was decided to have the ceremonies of
dedication take place when the thought
molders were there. There was happy
blending of business and politics in it
that did credit to the sagacity :, of the
projectors. So the editors fixed on the
18th for their foray, and went off in
great glee and style to the baptism and
| conservation. But meantime there was
another building to be dedicated. The
sons of Thor had built their house, and
had asked the present governor of this
state to take the prominent part to
which, as the only chief executive in the
nation of their race, he was entitled.
This call, any candid person will admit,
took precedence of the Minnesota affair,
and the commissioners compacently
postponed the Minnesota dedication I'M
til June l.
AS the financial condition of the edit
ors, not to mention the pressing home
| duties, would not permit of their re-
| naming over until that date, or of COM
Ing again, they decided that they would
| take matters into their own hands and
have dedication of their own, all by
themselves. So they elected a poet
laureate to versifY the event, and one to
make the speech of presentation and
| another that of acceptance, and those to
make the interludes of talk, and set the
18th for the day. To tell the truth,
the boys and girls did the thing
nicely, as we'll as the regulars could
have done it. 1t was success, they all
agreed with unanimity remarkable
among a lot of editors. While they
were doing the dedicatory act in the
Minnesota building 'hls excellency,' u
as his secretary terms the governor, was
l telling the Norwegians over in theiI