The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1896-06-03
OF THsEXPOSITlON
What the Hon. Patrick Walsi. Says About
the Matter.

What the Hon. Patrick Waisf. Saws 4 boat
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 unanthor.
lied by the advisory beard. 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 a 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
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, l informed Major Thomas
that if Tennessee was hostile or indif
ferent to the Southern States exposi-
ton, | would resign ny 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 nay letter reached
Augusta. On its receipt, General
Manager Deoarard 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, 600 to the fund.
'Mr. Debarad came on to Washing
ton and explained the situation in
Tennessee.
II returned to Augusta last Wednes-
day to find that II appointments had
been made for me in Georgia by Pres
iGent Mesbitt of the Georgia Exposi-
ton company. l was not satisfied
with the general situation, andmy ap
pointments we're postponed. On my
return from Washington. ound 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. 4 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, l is.
sued a call for a meeting Of the south
ern advisory committee to be held in
Augusta or. 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: The COM
mittee deem it unnecessary to be rep
resented oa 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 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 Chicago's
unexampled opportunity to advertise
the varied products AID unrivalled
natural bounties of the southern States.
1 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-