The San Francisco call., 1898-03-16
Prominent Citizens Will ina to Conduct the Pre-
 liminary Work.
Mayor Phelan Will Name a Committee Within the
 Next Ten Days.
The Celebration May Be Postponed Until After the Close of the
 Worlds Fair.

Mayor Phelan will, in all probability announce before the end of the week the names of the citizens selected by him to take charge of the preliminary details of the exposition to be held in commemoration of the fiftieth ami versary of the admission of California into the Union. At meeting of rep resentative citizens held several weeks ago Mayor Phelan was given power to name a committee of fifteen to out line the plan of the celebration, and also decide on the time of holding it. In accordance with the spirit of the meeting, the Mayor sent out on Satur- day last invitations to fifteen of the best known citizens of San Francisco, inviting them to serve on the com mittee He has already received eleven answers, and expects replies from the others within the next few days. All of those who have replied to the Mayor have expressed themselves as being heartily in accord with the movement. Five of them have expressed willing ness to serve on the committee, and the others have asked to be excused from such service because of business en- agreements that preclude the possibility Lnelr SlNlnS luG tiu1S lIletI III DC required to arrange the preliminary de- tails of the grand celebration.
 There has thus far been an expressed desire on the part of those invited by the Mayor that the exposition be de- layed until 1901, in order that there be no conflict with the Worlds Fair which will be held in Paris in 1900. It is sug- gested by them that there would be nothing out of the way in delaying the 1Q01 ing a the Chicago fair to commemorate the four hundredth anniversary of the discovery of America did not take place until 1893, while America was discov cred in 1892 They are also of opinion that if our exposition is not held until 1901 many of the exhibitors at the Worlds Fair will ship their exhibits here and make it a grand international affair.
 Whether the exposition is held in 1900 or not until a year later is not of any moment so long as it is made a success and properly brings the attention of the world not alone to the wonderful prod ucts and resources of California but also to those of the entire Pacific Slope. The Mayors of many of the leading cities of the State have promised hearty support, and that every one is interested in the project is evidenced by the following letter of suggestion sent to Mayor Phelan:
 PETALUMA, Cal, March ', 1897.
 Hon. Mayor Phelan-Dear Sir: l see by the papers that you are deeply interested in the golden wedding of California, which seems to be right and proper, and hope 1t will be great success and do honor to our great State. AS humble citizen of the State since February, 1858, allow me to call your attention to matter which I think ought to be connected with that great celebration. It is this: Let all liv- ing in California who have been married and lived together for fifty years have some special place in that event, and let some good speaker be chosen to set forth the fact that marriage is not failure, as some say, but one of the mainstays to our civil and religious liberties Do this for the benefit of young people especially. l am, sir, most respectfully, your obedient servant, c. H. CRAWFORD.
 Mayor Phelan sent out another batch of invitations yesterday, and expects that before many days he will have a committee that will take up the work of carrying the exposition project to a successful issue He will not announce the committee, however. until he has the acceptances of fifteen prominent citizens who will be able to give the time required to the movement.