The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-06-03
posTPoNEMENT OF THEExPosITloN
What the Hon. Patrick Walsh Says About
the Matter.

| the Matter.
| AUGUSTA, May 26.-To the People
of the South:
On account of the great interest man.
ifested in the reported postponement
of the Southern States exposition of
Chicago and in response to numerous
telegraphic inquiries, I make the fol-
lowing statement:
The announcement of the postpone
ment of the Southern States exposi.
ton at Chicago on account of the Ten
nesse Centennial was totally unauthor-
lied by the advisory board. Neither
the chairman nor the secretary of the
board authorized any such statement.
The dispatch sent out from Chicago
last night by the Associated Press that
the secretary of the board at Augusta
made such proposition in the inter-
est of the Tennessee Centennial is
wholly unfounded. Before my de-
parture for Washington last week in
the interest of the exposition, wrote
a letter to Major J. w. Thomas, pres
ident of the Tennessee Centennial,
who was until recently the Tennessee
member of the advisory board, depre-
ciating the inaction of Tennessee. In
this letter, I informed Major Thomas
that if Tennessee was hostile or indif-
ferent to the Southern States exposi-
ton, I would resign my position as
chairman forthwith. The answer to
this letter confirmed me in the belief
that nothing had been done in Tennes-
see, and Major Thomas informed me
that it would be impossible to prepare
Tennessee's exhibit in three months.
I was in Washington when Major
Thomas reply to my letter reached
Augusta. On its receipt, General
Manager Debarard and Mr.. Thomas
K. Scott, who had taken an active in
terest in the exposition, visited Major
Thomas in Nashville. The result OF
their visit is briefly summed up in the
statement that Major Thomas went
with the Augusta delegation before
the Tennessee commissioners, advocat-
ed the Southern exposition, and agreed
to subscribe 81, 900 to the fund.
"Mr. Debarad came on to Washing
ton and explained the situation in
Tennessee.
"I returned to Augusta last Wednes:
day to find that IL appointments had
been made for me in Georgia by Pres
iGent Mesbitt of the Georgia Exposi-
ton company. I was not satisfied
with the general situation, and my ap'
pointments were postponed. On my
return from Washington. I found an
official notice from the chairman OF
the Chicago committee that the south
must have exhibits from nine States.
This was the agreement entered into
at Chicago. A prominent citizen OF
Chicago wrote me conidentially that
he thought the Chicago management
would be satisfied with exhibits from
seven States. could only see in sight
exhibits from four States, supplement-
ed by exhibits from the Southern rail
way, the Mobile and Ohio and the
Georgia railway. Under these cir
cumstances, with a notification from
Chicago that the management there
| would have to be definitely informed
of the south's action by the 25th, Is
sued call for meeting of the south
ern advisory committee to be held IN
Augusta on Thursday next. l wired
the Chicago management of the Au-
gusta meeting and invited Chairman
Lawrence to be present, or to send a
delegation as the meeting was impor-
tant. In response to this, Chairman
Lawrence wires today: Tho COM
mittee deem it unnecessary to be rep
resented on Thursday. Have writ
ten."
I have not been officially notified OF
the postponement of the exposition by
the Chicago exposition company. If
the Southern Exposition is a failure,
it would be a perversion OF the truth
to place the blame on the merchants OF
Chicago, who have made the most pub.
lie spirited and most liberal offer ever
made to advertise the products and re-
sources of the south. If the proposed
southern exposition fails, let us place
the responsibility where it belongs, on
the citizens of the States who have
failed to avail themselves of Chicagos
unexampled opportunity to advertise
the varied products AID unrivalled
natural bounties of the southern States.
have given three months time to
the Southern States exposition OF Chi.
cago, and I feel that the work has not
been in vain. Patrick Walsh.
Chairman.
THE EXPOSITION OFF.
AUGUSTA, May 2S.-The proposed
Southern States. exposition is aband-
oned, because the south did not re-
spond in accordance with the terms OF
the agreement entered into at Chicago
that nine States should be represented.
South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama
would have been ready in time-Mary-
land applied for space. The Southern
railway, the Mobile and Ohio and
other roads had also applied for space.
These roads would have secured eX-
hibits from half dozen more States,
but this would not have been COM
pliance with the agreement.
The depressed condition of business,
rendered it impossible to secure favor
able action in the Virginias, North
Carolina, Florida, Mississippi and 9TH
er States.
Under the circumstances, the South
ern advisory board which met in this
city, declared the exposition OFT. The
| u H.. o,,tl, o,,;,a1 tho fo11om-