The herald., 1896-04-27
The SUCCESS Of IA FIESTA
John F. Francis Points Out Two
Factors That Made It
TIE PRESS AND THE PUBLIC
The Commercial Bodies of the City Gave
Fiesta Standing
Noble Work Unanimity Among the
Members OF the Committees

La Fiesta de Los Angeles, 1896, is
| thing of the past 1t is generally ad-
| mitted to have been success artistic
| ally and otherwise. Mr.. John r. Fran
| els, president OF the executive commit
tee, was seen yesterday, and, though
| tired, consented to answer the ques-
| tons propounded by reporter. He
said:
| You ask my views regarding the
| success of La Fiesta. At the outset 1
will say that the two factors who pro-
nounce the celebration just closed
| grand success have made it what it
was. By this l mean that the press
| and the public make or mar a cele-
bration of this character. The press
| supported it with its hearty co-opera-
ton, Notwithstanding the fact that the
| committee had decided that for the ben
eft of Southern California they would
| expend dollars in eastern advertising
| where they spent cents at home. The
| public endorsed the enterprise by fur
nishing the sinews of war, without
which Fiesta would be an impossible
| ity. The gentlemen who have consti-
| tuted the committees this year and who
| have labored hard and earnestly are
| to be congratulated for having the pub
| lie sentiment In their favor.
Il attribute this condition to the fact
| that the three commercial bodies of
| this city had the management of the
Fiesta and thereby installed a conf
| dence that assured wise and judicious
stewardship of its affairs And in addi-
ton l desire to state that the public is
probably unaware of the extent to
which the success Of the Fiesta is due
to the corporations. 1t has become the
custom to denounce corporations as
soulless, and If they are, their agents
here have certainly not proven them
eslves of that character. Without the
hearty cooperation of gentlemen like
Messrs. Wade, Crawley, Byrne, Wood,
Wincup, Sherman and Hook and others
some of whom kept the wires hot in re-
questing or demanding favors from
headquarters for our executive commit
tee, we never could have realized such
satisfactory results or made the Fiesta
a success"
THE press has bestowed many COM
pliments upon me and | would not be
human if l did not appreciate them, but
l am too well aware of how much of that
honor is due to others, who have worked
and planned for the success of the un-
dertaking, to appropriate the lions
share of that distinction. The commit
tee of thirty and the members of the
various subcommittee have all done
noble work, and the result of their ardu-
GUS labors is best shown in the success
full termination of the several events
that composed the Fiesta. In fact, they
all ''stood in and pulled together" for
tanned.
ITO the executive committee, per-
haps, was assigned the most laboriouS
and exacting duty, that of planning and
pcrfecting of the details. They were
charged with the creation of harmoni-
GUS combination of many ideas and
realization. Out Of What al THIS HIST Seemed
and unique display. And right here
would like to state that the working
members of that committee, Messrs.
Willard. Pridham, Rule and Walton,
during five months of arduous labor for
the benefit of the city we all love- never
had difference of opinion that could
not and did not quickly and amicably
adjust itself, and each of them is enti-
| tied to much praise and honor for their
share in making the Fiesta success.
| ITO one of their number, however, we
| are indebted to a greater degree than
any other of the band Of active work.
| ers for the great achievements, and that
| is the quiet, unassuming secretary OF
our committee, and of the chamber of
| commerce, Charles Dwight Willard.
Through the long months of pressing
| duties, even in the face of serious ILL
ness. his strong hand never left the helm
| and to his experienced and accomplish
| ed guidance is in a great measure due
the safe arrival at our destination.
The successful tinanciering of the en-
terprise, the constant endeavors to
| make NO shoe fit No. 10 foot, is
due TO his watchful eye. One of the
most serious and difficult problems
| with which we had to cope was the
| financial question, how and where to
raise the money to carry out our plans,
and where to economize without jeo-
pardizing the success of the Fiesta.
How well he has succeeded in this per-
| picking duty, the results have and will
| show, and now, while the smoke of bat
! tie still fingers over the field, / nomin-
ate c. D. Willard for president of La
Fiesta de Los Angeles of 1897.
with a Willard on the quarterback
and a Pridham, Rule, Walton and Wig
gins to assist in steering the ship, the
Fiesta OF 1897 would give our city and
our state worldwide reputation, not
exceeded even by New Orleans.
There are many other factors that
have aided in making our Fiesta a
success, and I am happy that the press
OF this city and this state have given
credit and prominence where it was due
We owe a debt of gratitude to the gra-
cious and beautiful lady who has so
successfully carried out her difficult and
arduous part of queen of La Fiestd,
and also to the charming ladies OF her
court. Long live the queen and her
court!
ITO the fire department and it's
worthy chief, to Chief Glass and his ex-
cellent force, to the ladies and gentle
men who made floral day an event long
to be remembered. 20 our noble school
children, and to many others we are
greatly indebted.
| Personally, Ihave done what could
to create success, and feel that
am amply repaid for my feeble efforts
by the kind expressions Of my friends
and the beautiful badge of knishthood
and diploma presented to me Ly the
hands of our beautiful queen, anu by the
kiss bestowed by my little W.T., when at
midnight on SATURDAY. | informed her
that the Fiesta had come - Il su.c"ss-
full close without loss Of life or scrioGs
accident.
In conclusion, I desire to express per-
sonally and on behalf of the executive
committee our sincere regret that cir
cumstances prevented the father of La
Fiesta, Director General Max Meyberg,
from witnessing the celebration this
year. We were more than pleased to
receive the assurances of his interest
and cooperation in La Fiesta through
a telegram that was published in these
columns"