The Indianapolis journal., 1897-09-26
THE PARIS EXHIBITION
TALK WITH MAJOR HANDY, UNCLE
SANS SPECIAL COMMISSIONERS.
SIX Hundred square Feet OF Space
Chicago Show to BE Improved On.
6correspondence Of the Associated

PARIS Sept. 17.-Maj. Moses T. Handy
the srecial commissioner from The United
states for the exhibition Of 1900 has lost 20
time IT. beginning work, although he has
been in Paris only a few days. Major
Handy is assisted by Lieutenant Baker,
who was connected with the Chicago ex-
position as assistant chief of the foreign
transportation of exhibits. and by Colonel
Chailet-Lory, who is secretary Of the spe-
cial commission In conversation Major
Handy made the following statement
There is a rapidly Increasing interest in
the United States with regard to the ex-
hibition of 1900. There has never been any
doubt about the people taking hold ot it
with enthusiasm. But public attention WAS
20 engrOssed with the presidential election,
with an extra session of Congress, with the
tariff question, etc, that there was no time
to devote to the exhibition. President Nc
Kinley is very much interested IN it and
sent two messages TO Congress concerning
it. The reason why the bill appropriating
5.000000 Tassed by the Senate did not 90
through the House is because nothing went
through. 1t was thought best not TO open
the door for consideration Of any question
except that for which Congress was called
together, because there were so many meri-
torious subjects pressing. Meanwhile
United States interest in the exhibition is
shown by the appointment of Il special
commissioner. 1 am charged to confer with
the authorities here, to give an earnest of
our good will, to secure ground for our ex-
hibit, to prepare report for President Nc
kinley before Congress assemblies, etc.
Though we are late. compared with other
nations, we are eighteen months earlier
than the United States was for either the
elke of or # he Ia Tor
however, a good deal of valuable work was
done by our secretary OF legation, M.
Vignaud.
Since my appointment on July q 1 have
been steadily at work. | spent a month in
feeling the public pulse; / did that largely
through correspondence and through news
paper publications. From the answers re-
ceiVed / feel safe in saying that We shall
need more space in 1900 than at previous
exhibitions and that our exhibit Will be of
a higher order of merit. | am more anxious
to select exhibits which will be truly rep
resentatiVe and characteristic rather than
exhibits merely remarkable for their size
/ shall be guided to a large extent by the
correspondence mentioned with regard to
the amount Of space required, etc. | have
had personal communication with the man
ayers of the larger interests such as the
bicvcle trade, electrical concerns, the fur
niture trade and such like. Men like Pres
ident Depew, of the New York Central,
President Thomson of the Pennsylvania
Railroad, and Mr.. Pullman, of the Pullman
Palace Car Company have given me per-
sonal assurance of their cooperation. ]
have had oVertures from the managers of
representative trades. 1t is better to deal
with them in a classified way.
How do you like the classification made
by the French authorities? Major Handy
was asked.
1T is excellent" he answered. TT is an
Improvement on all preceding exhibitions.
notice that with great propriety education
IS placed first on the list, and art also holds
q high place In these two departments the
United States has some surprises. am IN
consultation with the leading educators or
our country with a view to securing con-
sensus of opinion, so as to form the best
plan for showing the world what We are
doing in the field of education. In all in
ternational exhibitions we have taken very
high place in matters educational ana
think we can do even better the next time.
In the domain of art we have never been
adequately represented. l hope to secure a
better position for the display of the work
of American artists than they had in 1883.
Then visitors had to go a long distance.
with faded appetites and tired legs to an
upstairs room before they could get a look
at what we had to offer in COMPARISON with
other nations.
in your capacity as special commissioner?
''I cannot and would not anticipate the re-
suit of our negotiations, but L fell sure we
shall have all due consideration. our people
have the friendiest feeling Tor france, anu
have great reason to be grateful TO the
French republic for the magnificent exhibit
It made in Chicago in 1898. 1t gives me great
pleasure to meet again the distinguishes
Frenchmen I met in Chicago. and am quite
sure I can rely on their cooperation.
s'Our ambassador. General Porter, who
was unavoidaby absent from Paris when
reached here, left a most cordlal note OF
welcome for me | am quite sure L snail
have the benefit of his priced assistance,
as well as that of the consul general Mean
while | was received with marked courtesy
bv M, Vignaud the charge aHalres may
saw that I have sent Director General
Picard an advance copy of the history OF
the Columbian Exposition. In view or l9Oo
# is particularly valuable, and When we
were preparing for the Chicago exhibition
we would have given anything II a history
of the French exhibition of 1889 We're OBJ
tainable. / hope during my stay mere 10
meet the commissioners of other countries
who NAV be in Paris. | expect to he here
two months and will return in time TO pre-
sent my report TO the president before the
opening of Congress.
.'Since | have come here. short as it is.
have received many applications for space
from resident Americans. one applcatloh
received was for the reproduction or the
process of gold mining from day 10 day.
cannot mention names. but II IS from one
of the largest gold miners in the world.
Il am in great hope that the work set
on foot in Chicago and New YORK VIII
bring a full response, so as TO enaple US 70
Judge as to the space. Ine impression at
present is that can MI credltaDly SIX
hundred square feet. There is no reason
why we should have less than any other
country except France. AS she is the home
country she should have the right OF way.
The retrospective part of the programme,
that is, the part winch SHOWS Wlldl pioS-
eress has been made during the century,
we could easily lead in. We have often
taken the lead in the field of inventions,
and we can do so again. think the United
States will make d generous appropriation.
Appropriations from other countries are
larger than ever before. When we show
Congress the desrability of having the
American exhibit hold a high place on the
banks Of the Seine am sure generous re-
sponse Will be given.
-sThe exhibition OF 1900 will be the greatest
the world has ever seen. In spite OF many
difficulties France did we'll in 1889. Then.
though European countries made respect
able showings. still monarchical govern
ments did not enter into the exhibition
with enthusiasm. Now the republic is no
longer cold shouldeTed. Germany joins en-
Enthusiastically: so do the other countries.
we could not expect that European coun-
tries would have put forth so much effort
for us in 1898 as they will for the exhibition
of 1900 In fact, it required the revelation
we made in Chicago TO convince the world
that we could do it. The next time they
will all come to us with their best foo
foremost No lesson taught by previous
expositions has been lost upon France. TIL
nuch-abused word fn-de-siecle Will appl7