Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-01-24
NOT AT THE FAIR
Everybody Thinks the Furni-
ture Men Err
BY REFUSING TO MAKE EXHIBIT
President Weston Is Gfssvously Dissp-
pointed Over the Turn of Affairs
What OUTSIDERS Say.

The Hon. I. NJ. Weston WAS some
what wrought up last evening over tbs
action OF The furniture men ia deciding
not 10 make al exhibit At the word !
fair. Ia SPEAKING about II be referred
twice TO sheo, with marked emphasis
and vigor. He did not say sheol. now
ever. lie used the old verslon.
ssOf course" ne said neryously chew
ing Havana. "tne furniture men
have the right To do as they please
about the matter. But wish they had
decided TO make the exhibit. OF course
the space they were assigned - badly
cut CD by Orders, but the galleries are
high-twenty-two fest. | think. Every
thing Is On such an immense scale that
they do not look so high. / hope that
We can vet get tue space re-assigned
aud that the furniture men will recon
sider their action. MIR. Allison has
been forced to give up on account OF
hls health aud the work has virtually
besn turned over to his assistant.
That may have made some
difference IN the arrangements,
although IL was an exceedingly
difficult matter to assign the space.
There was more space asked for just
furniture EXHIBITS alone than there
is in tho entire building"
Ii Was evident that Mr.. Weston felt
keenly DISAPPOINTED over the matter.
The furniture exhibit had been the ap-
pie OF his eye, and he had fondiy
hoped that 1t might be the GROWING
glory OF Michigan's display At the ex-
position.
When asked.if there we're any posi-
bllliy that the furniture men would re-
consider their action, G. w. Black said
81 don't think there is. The fact of
the inatter is. it is too late for US to at
tempt t. make an exhibit, even If We
had the best space in the building. IT
this matter had been decided three
months ago, as We tried TO have IT. We
could have gone on and made credit
able display, even under adverse car
cumstances. But as 1t is now we have
only ninety days to make the furnl-
ture and get il to Chicago, to cay Moth
ing about arranging the drapery and
getting the furniture into position. 1t
takes three months To make piece of
high grade furniture. such as we should
wish TO take there. 1t takes thirty
days lust to finish 1t. some OF the
leading firms of the city have anncunc-
ed that under 10 conditions will they
attempt TO make an exhibit. l know
We shall not"
The action of the furniture manu-
facturers in refusing to exhibit at the
worlds fair IS causing much comment
among furniture men in the city.
Nearly all think the action was q wise
one, while some express an opposite
opinion.
sam Steineger of Chicago said yester-
day: "They ought 20 show over there.
They have been Growing around that
they are the great and only and now
they should 60 to Chicago and prove
it,"
|. Ashley Dent, of Dent & Daggett,
Chicago. "ls think 1t a wise action.
The idea of not giving Grand Rapids
more space is preposterous. Why it Will
put Grand Rapids at the top. Over
500 foreign buyers will be- here, and 1t
will open a great foreign trade. The
people from over the water have all
heard of Grand Rapids, but none of
them really appreciate tbs extent OF
the furniture industry mere. A visit to
the immense factories will be q revela-
ton to them. Visiting buyers will of
course reap q proportionate benefit,
but the effect on the city cannot be
overestimxted."