The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-01-21
Expressions On the Proposal for
an Exposition.
IDEAS ON THE PROMOTERS
Do Not Ask Much of Town People.
Views of Local Men-faVOr-
able and Unfavorable.

The last steamer from San Francisco
brought a second letter from the pro-
moters of the Industrial Exposition and
Agricultural Fair scheduled to be held
year. They state that the manufacture
ers, merchants and producers of the
Pacific Coast, who have resolved to
participate in the Exposition, are very
merchants in Honolulu toward their
scheme. Nothing has been received by
them from the Islands in reply TO the
letter sent by Hawaiian Consul Charles
T. Wilder, of San Francisco (pub-
lished in this paper) in which the aims
and objects of the proposed Exposition
were fully outlined.
Charles De GarmO Gray is the auth
or of the last letter He is anxious to
impress upon the minds of the mer-
chants of Honolulu that the exhibitors
have no desire, or intention, to change
the present system of business in Ho-
nolulu. ''They simply wish to show
| by spending their own money" writes
Mr.. Gray, that they desire the friend
| ly relationship already existing be-
tween the Hawaiian merchant and pro-
ducer, to continue. Since the writing
of our first letter to Consul Wilder
a desire on the part Of a large number
| Of other manufacturers, to make eX-
hibits in Honolulu, and we are now as
sured of a sufficient number who will
pay literally for space, to meet all eX-
penses There is no question but that
the Exposition will be held during May
or June, if the merchants will only give
us an expression of their feeling to-
ward the project. The manufacturers
insist that they must have the patron
age and moral support of the mer-
chants before they will undertake it,"
Mr.. Gray also mentions in his letter
that the manufacturers will make ex-
penditures in Honolulu aggregating
over 10000 in connection with the Ex-
position.
Mr. Gray will be notified that the en-
tire matter will be taken up and dis
cussed at the next meeting of the
Chamber of Commerce.
The Advertiser mas interviewed a
number of merchants concerning their
attitude toward the scheme. All have
their own ideas about the matter and
very few coincide. Secretary J. G..
| Spencer, of the Chamber Of Commerce,
| says there was unfavorable talk among
some Of the merchants at the last meet
| ing of the Chamber. President Ather-
| ton was confined at his home on ac-
count of illness, and his views on the
matter could not be ascertained yester-
| day.
w. w Hall, of E. o. Hall & Son, has
no objections to offer. He would pat
ronize the Exposition and would be
glad to become acquainted with the
manufacturer or represen tatiVe of any
| line of goods carried by him.
| Fred Lewis, of Lewis Brothers, has
the same feeling about the matter. Mr..
Lewis does not believe, however, that
the proposed Exposition would accom-
| plish the results that would warrant
the manufacturer to make heavy eX-
| penditures. You see the entire pop
| the consumption Of any particular
brand Of goods must necessarily be
small and limited. While the Royal
| Baking Powder Company has a busi-
ness with the Islands amounting to