New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-28
THE UORLDS FAIR IN DANGER.

The Worlds Fair at Chicago is not so man
aged as to satisfy the judgment or the wishes
of the people who have contributed largely
through their State and national governments
10 make il a success nor is il so managed as
TO reflect nothing but credit on the country.
II is not pleasant to say this 1t would he much
more agreeable to record unbroken victories
and mtarnShcd SpendOrs IN an undertaking
to which the credit of the United States has
been so largely pledged. But the formal pro-
te.t BY representatives, of exhibitors from many
countries, including all the more important
and the withdrawal of their exhibitions from
competition for official awards, on the ground
that faith has not been kept with them
in establishing fair and reasonable interna-
tional Jury. are only the latest of many evil
dcnces that the great undertaking is not salts
factolily managed in all essential particulars
The precise point of objection in this case
calls for no discussion, and will bear none.
The exhibition must be in the worst SENSE
failure if in respect to fairness it does not
satisfy the exhibitors. The first object. TO
which every other should have been made to
Weld. was to meet exhibitors with Il treatment
so con>pcuously fair and just that there could
doe, not appear to have intended any injustice
10 foreign exhibitors. as it had 10 motive Tor
any : but it has neglected to give them reason
able assurance that justice will be done, and
the protest under such circumstances leaves no
room for excuse.
Not much need here be said Of the treatment
Of some Of the most important manufacturers IN
this country. who had proposed to eXpend large
sums in contributing to the success of the i aIr
by costly exhibitions. 1t is well known that
not a few of them have Withdrawn in disgust
at the treatment they have received. so tina;
the Exposition will include nothing represent
ing the foremost firms or companies IN some
departments Of industry. No one can give
reasonable excuse for this state Of things, but
it affects the credit of the country less than
the failure to meet foreign exhibitors with such
treatment as must be thought fair and salts
factory. The foolish controversy about music
and musical instruments has also tended strong
" to dicredit the whole performance.
The attempt to disregard express conditions
upon which the United States aid was grant
cd. by opening the Fair on Sunday, likewise
raises question Of good faith. Much might
have been said on either side, if the manage
ment had ghtforwadly refused to touch
the money of the United States in view Of the
condition prescribed. If it was judged ab,o-
mtely necessary to the success Of the enter
prise to admit the public seven days in the
week the only proper time to say so was be-
fore dollar from the United States had been
received or expended. No one is deceived by
the proclamation that the money from the
United States shall be refunded, because there
is no probability from present appearances that
enough will remain after meeting the bonds
and other prior liens on the enterprise, to make
any such repayment. Neither the moral nor
the religious question can properly be raised
at this late day by managers who have re-
cevcd and in part expended the funds granted
under an express condition by the United
States If there are sound reasons for be-
lieying that it would be better for the morals
of all concerned, and more cOnsOnant with
Christian duty, to open the Exposition on sun
day in part the only time TO discuss those
questions was before the grant accepted
and used Under the circumstances 1t can
only be considered an act of bad faith to use
funds granted with a condition, and then to
disregard that condition..
1t may not yet be too late TO make this
great undertaking as crcdtabe in all respects
as it assurcdly is in some. But in view of the
attitude taken by foreign exhibitors there is
not much time to lose.