New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-07

w.
social distinction were left out in the composition
Of the Committee on Ceremonies That meant they
coud rot occunv front seats They could not
bobnob with the Cabinet ladies. Worse than
that they could not drive with a real live Duchess
and real live Duchcsses are rare in Chicago. Hence
they were mad" and they displayed their anger
by backblting. circulating all kinds OF stories
and making all kinds OF threats, until at last
the whole Board was in a ferment. and the more
tmid looked for an explosion which might seho
il into fragments and forever end ITS usefulness
The little handful of indictments who stirred
I'M all this silly muss did not count, however,
upon Mrs Palmers diplomatic tact ana her aoiii'y
a. riso spneror 10 any emergency Mrs Palmer
has done much that is admirable in her official
position but nothing more admirable than the
manner in which she Aoored these indictments
and rallied the whole Board to her side except
Miss Phoebe Cozzens, who is looked upon by her
enemies as a hopeless case. Mrs. Palmer had
been made the victim OF much shrewisi assault,
but in spite of it she carried herself with perfect
self.restraint, and at the same time disposed OF
her assailants most efectually. It is safe to say
they will not attack her again. Mrs. Palmer had
the good sense and tact TO appeal to the emotional
side of her hearers rather than talk back ana In
dulce in vtuperaton.
Her statement, as it went on, carried conviction
with it. The little peroration, II am mistaken in
that estimate-if it is only a struggle for few
little passing honors liz may call them SUCH, and
we are all torn up and pulling hair over an
introduction to Duchess or some other atten-
ton to somebody elsc-my time ia too valuable
your time is too valuable, the Government money
is too valuable, to be wasted in this way. have
nothing else to say TO this Board except that ]
feel deeply Inundated, melted her audience and
dissolved it in tears, and after good cry the
women rallied around her TALL except the obdurate
st. Louis woman, who, IL ono Ia TO believe the
Chicago newspapers, never cries. the clouds roilcu
BY the sun came out and the Cove OF harmony
lowered over the sobbing asscmblage. All the
little jealousies were put away in the woInen's
reticues, where let it be hoped, they, will remain
Because the newspapers, and notably the press
of Chicago. are paying just now good deal OF
attention to numberless and almost always dcs-
reputable attempt at eXtOrtiOn practlsed by res
taurant-xcepers and others holding concessions
and privileges in Jackson Park, certain people
connected with the Fair management pretend 10
boil with indignation at the want of patriotism
displayed by the unwilling victims. Now, 1t Will
be admitted by any unprejudiced observer that
the newspapers here with few exceptions, have
been the best friends of the Fair. They have
Trained on innumerable occasions from offering
criticism or suggestion lest such expression might
operate against the successful achievement of the
grand results. The newspapers have been the
faithful friends Of the project and have contributed
more to its promotion than all other agencies COM
bincd They did this because they believed that
the Fair would be the wonder of the nineteenth
century, and that it would he distinct forward
step in the progress of splendid universal civil
lization. That was the view taken by those who
subscribed for the stock. The educatlOhai
features of the enterprise were urged upon
the city. State and National Governments as
the prime, and practically the only reason Ior
voting appropriations in aid thereon. Inc
Worlds Fair when completed will be worthy OF
this high aim 1t is great in its incomplete |
shape but it is not sacred, and when the news
papers and other true friends see a disposition u
convert it into a machine for eXtortlng the IDS,
penny from visitors and exhibitors IL becomes
a proper subject for criticism, and, II need De- |
OF condemnation The newspapers owe duty |
TO the Fair, but they owe a higher duty to the |
public and It is for the protection of the public |
that they are now lifting their voice in indg- |
nant protest against the stand-anddeliver tactics
that have been introduced In and around jack
son Park Those who have their money In the |
Worlds Fair would like TO get it out in whole |
or in part but as a business proposition, they |
do not all agree with the management that the |
way to do this is to begin heartless graD game |
the minute the gates are opened or to tolerate |
such practices in others over whom control Is
exercised. If one is to be fieeced, let 1T De Dy |
gentle and seductive methods. that. one may |
not know it, The American people have an I'M
conquerabe antipathy against barefaced extortion,
and they are very likely TO show their resent
ment by keeping out of the way Of the agents |
Of organized plumber. |" 1t is folly to assume
says :" The Journal tonight, that if the news
papers would refrain from criticism the public |
would not discover that it is being robbed. The |
500, 900 people who have visited the Fair thus
far formed great skirmish line of advertisers,
and the public at large bases its judgment on
the merits and dement's Of the show by what
the skirmshcrs say about it. To have angered
this great army OF advertisers by an unseemly |
exhibition of rapacity inside and outside the
grounds was shortsishted piece of business.
endeavOr new lines to overcome the bad i'm
preston made on the general public by the often
sye intrusion of the commercial Idea as the basic
There is the rolling chair company. for in.
stance. Its rates are ridicuousy high, to say
the least. A man who hires one by the day
formation about anything, pays So for the out.
fit. lie is also required to leave 81 as de-
pCst. This is to insure the price OF the service
and. in case the guide is dispensed with, to
insure the return of the chair The "pushers"
arc it is said. for the most part the theological
students from the small colleges, and hence it
is that the chairs have already been irreverently
Dubbed 9" gospel chairs" "a rigid rule pre-
venting the introduction OF other roller chairs
of any kind has already created much feeling.
The Columbia Company insists that it pays
leavy tolls, and must have the exclusive right.
with them, but no people TO wheel The camp
hair company also objects TO visitors bringing
their own chairs Its charges are only 0 cents
4 mere tribe according to the company idca-with
, small deposit. Both concerns insist that the
enforce the exclusion act TO the letter
Z is a question whether it will be done. since no
bring their lunches each day, and
while the weather is bad for picnics and cold meals
he people think the plan is better than quiet
admission to big rates for very poor service and
God