The record-union., 1894-11-02
COUNT coRNELY,s NEW SCHEME.

Count Cornely, of Midwinter Fair
tame, has gone to the City of Mexico to
induce the Government of Mexico to pro-
Ject an international exposition in Oc-
tober, 1885, The Midwinter Fair at San
francisco. whatever its merit, was a god
send 10 street railroads, restaurants, thea
ters, hotels and cheap lodging houses in
that city. Incidentally it accomplished
much good for the State It's organiza-
tion and conduct manifested much execu-
tive ability on the part OF NJ. h De Young
OF San francisco, whose motives were as
patriotic as may be claimed by any citi-
zen of the State of California who has
sought to confer benefit upon his State.
Mr.. De Young, however, was denied that
need of praise which was his due. chiefly
because he is the proprietor of leading
San francisco newspaper. He was also
known to be candidate for UnitedStates
Senator, and his contemporaries with
held from him that commendation which
every citizen displaying organizing
ability of high order, when it is exercised
on behalf OF the community, richly earns
Allowing for the advantages to Cali
fornia arising out of the Midwinter Fair,
1t still remains to be said that it was a
show; that its prime object was gate
money; that the exhibitors who made
the attractions for the show did so at their
own expense; that they were not sharers
IN the gate money; but that, on the con-
trary, they paid for floor space or for
ground space; and parties other than the
exhibitors received, managed and now
mold all the money that was received or
expended, or whatever surplus over the
expenditures may have arisen out of the
transaction.
Mr.. Cornely has gone to Mexico to or
ganize another show. He says that ex-
hibitors will pay a large sum for the priv
ilege of becoming attractions in his show.
The Mexican Government has made a
concession to him of 1000 acres of land
on which to hold the exposition and will
make further concessions. Mr.. Cornely
is now engaged in inviting the people of
the various States of the Union and other
prospective exhibitors who may desire to
advertise their wares, to pay him for the
privilege of making an exhibit; and he
will take the money they pay him, and
the money resulting from admissions.
concessions and all other sources of rev.
enue, and hold such money to pay the
expenses of the exposition, SO far as there
are expenditures, and realize a profit out
OF the whole transaction.
The incidental benefit growing out of
transactions of this kind may be admit
ted. AT the same time it must be admit
ted with equal candor that they have lost
their character as national enterprises.
In the instance under consideration.
Mexico did not Of it's own motion project
an international exposition for the in
struction of its people, and extend
hospitable invitation to the nations of the
world. The project has not the character
of national undertaking. 1t is the un-
dertaking of Count Cornely, and
with no higher or better motive
than that which actuates the pro-
prietor of circus. The public, of
course, will eventually comprehend the
true relation the exhibitor sustains to an
exhibition of this kind. If a circus man
ager should advertise for ground and
lofty tumblers, for bareback riders, for
strong men. for jugglers, for Mr.. Merry
man, the clown, and charge all these peo-
pie for the privilege of performing, and
then take the gate money, we would have
parallel to the kind of international ex-
positions which are now being projected.
Mr.. Cornely's scheme will fail, simply
because the public are acquiring a clear
comprehension of the private character
Of enterprises of this kind.