The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-05-27
A FAILURE HlNTED Ar
Hon. Patrick Walsh, Chairman Of Southern
States Exposition Talks Plain Language.
WHERE 1AE RESPONSIBILITY RESTS.
Oh Account OF the inactivity orTen-
There In "a Probability That the
Opportunity TO Exhibit Southern
Products ut Chicago Will Demuit.

Augusta. Ga, May 2s.-To the people
or the South
On account of the great interest mani
tested IN the reported postponement OF
go and In response to numerous tele-
graphic Inquiries. 1 make the following
statement:
Tho announcement of the postpone
ment OF the Southern States at Chicago
on account OF the Tennessee centennial
was totally unauthorized by the advisory
board. Neither the chairman or the
secretary of the board authorized any
such statement. The dispatch sent out
from Chicago last night by the Associu-
ted Press that the secretary of the board
at Augusta made such II proposition in
the Interest of the Tennessee centennial
Is wholly unfounded. Before my depar-
ture for Washington last week, I'm the
interest OF the Exposition, / wrote IL let
ter to Mai. j. w. Thomas President OF
the Tennessee Centennial. who was until
recently the Tennessee member OF he ad-
visory board. deprecating the inaction of
Tennessee In this letter. I informed Mai.
Thomas that Ii Tennessee was hostile or
indifferent to tho Southern States Expo
sition would resign my position as chair
man forthwith.
The answer to this letter confirmed me
in the belief that nothing had been done
In Tennessee, and Major Thomas form
ed me taat 1t would be impossible TO
prepare Tennessee's exhibit in three
months. was In Washington when
Major Thomas reply reached Augusta
On Ns receipt General Manager DeBar-
ard and Mr.. Thomas X. Scott, who has
taken an active interest 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 delegatl before
the Tennessee Commissioners. advocat-
ed the Southern Exposition and agreed
TO subscribe one thousand dollars 10 the
fund.
Mr. DeBelard came orr to WASHINGTON
and explained the situation in Tennes-
see
returned to Augusta last Wednes-
day TO find that eleven apporment. had
oeen made for me In Georgia by PresI-
dent Nesbiut, of the Georgia Exposition
company. wa: not satisfied with the
general situation and my appointments 9
were postponed. found an Official no
ice from the chairman of the Ohica GO
committee that the South must have ex-
!:.ntS from nine States. This was the
agreement entered into al Chicago A
prominent citizen of C,tcago wl,clte me
commercially tnat he thought the Oh.ca-
so management would be satisfied with
exhlb:ts from seven States
| could only see, in sight exhibits from,
lour States, supplemented by exhibits
from the Southern railway the Mnhiic
and Ohio and the Georrin railroad
Shu I ',heSe circumstances, with a noti-
ilcation from Chicago thai the manage
meht there would have to be Informed
or the South's actions. before the o5th
l Issued call for meeting of the South
trn adVisoiy Comm,.tee 10 be held in
Augusta on Thursday next I wired the
ChicaGo management OF the Augusta
meeting and invited Chairman Law
renee 10 be present or TO send q tfele-
gation, as the meeting was importa MT
In response to this Chairman I,awrence
wires to-day:
The committee deem 1t unnecessary
written"
l have not been officially informed of
the postponement of the Exposition by
the Chicago Company II the South-
ern Exposition is n failure IL would he
a perVersion OF the truth to place the
blame on the merchants of Chicago who
have made the most public spirited and
most liberal offsr ever made 10 odver-
Use the products and resources of the
South. If the proposed Southern E,y-
position falls let us place the responsi-
biiity where II belongs. on the citizens of
the States who have failed to avail them
selves of Chicago's, unexampled opnor-
tunity TO advertise the varied products
and unrivalled natural bounties of the
Southern States
l nave given three months time TO the
southern States Exposition of Chicago
ana feel that the work has not been in
tsigned PATRICK WALSH,