The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-01
THE WORLDS FAIR OF 1903.
Ii Should Not he Postponed, but Held
on the Day Set.
Philadelphia Press.

4 AiiiobCiplAd ACSS
The talk about the advisability of post
poning the St. Louis fair until 1904 or 1905
ought to spur the managers of hat enter
prise to renewed efforts to make sure of
the opening of the gates on the date orig
inally fixed. When Congress passed the
law authorizing the holding of a worlds
fair in St Louis to celebrate the centennial
anniversary of the purchase by President
Jefferson from Napoleon BOnaparte of
Louisiana Territory it was provided that
the exposition should begin May 1, 1903. In
vitations nave been sent TO foreign nations
to that effect and work has been going on
for months with the expectation that the
terms of the law authorizing the fair are
to be complied with.
To change the date now would cause end
less confusion and encouragement. 1t
would De sure to create a doubt among
foreigners and among many Americans also
whether the fair will be held at all. 1t
would discomfort many plans already made
with the expectation that the promise given
to Congress will be kept. 1t will not be an
anniversary affair if il is not held in 1909.
The event to be celebrated happened in
1903, and 10 choose some other year Will
detract from the honor of the occasion: An
argument for postponement cannot be
drawn from the case of Chicago's Column
bian Exposition. That was delayed a year
so as to carry it beyond a presidential cleo
ton year, while TO delay the st. Louis fair
a year would bring 1t in a presidential
election year.
Instead OF postponing the fair, a bet
ter way would be to hasten preparations
anu nave lie hlD III q ICctoOAldDlC NoN
of preparedness when the day fixed Tor
opening comes. This would be the greatest
achievement and the most attractive fea-
ture the management could offer the PUBIC.
1t has been a standing encouragement and
a humiliation TO the public and the man
ayers that no great fair ever yet held has
been ready for visitors on the opening day.
The record of failures in this respect is a
long and discreditable one. 1t has come
TO be an accepted fact that the public must
wait for weeks and months before the con-
6iffnn Of THINGS anfhOTIyQQ visitors In
this way much valuable time is lost and the
attendance is cut down by thousands. The
backwardness in the preparations at the
Buffalo fair was one of the chief reasons
for the failure of that enterprise.
The managers of the st. Louis exposition
are inviting suggestions for novel features
attractive feature they could have would
be a fair ready for visitors on the first day.
No other feature would contribute so much
TO the success Of the fair. Visitors would
flock to 1t at once and not delay, and, in
many cases, surrender their purpose to at
tend. May is one of the finest months to
summer has not yet begun, and the city
and surrounding country are at their best.
Many people are at leisure at that season
who do not care TO travel far In the sum
mer and who cannot be absent from home
and business in the fall. If they were as
sured of a profitable visit they would at
tend the fair In May and add thousands to
the number of patrons.
The st. Louis fair managers cannot plead
a lack of means for any delays that may
happen. Congress has treated them with
unexampled liberality. When it authorized
the fair it added 5000, 600 as the Nations
gift. Another $1,000 600 has been raised by
popular subscription. and the city of St.
Louis has added q third $5.Oo0,0O0. Here is
a total of SIS, OOO.0 600 to begin with, and to
IT are to be added the appropriations to be
made by Missouri and other States and the
revenue to come from concessions and the
gate receipts. No worlds fair ever started
of with such brilliant financial prospects as
the ST. Louis fair does. If the energy and
sagacity Of the managers are equal to their
resources an innovation will be witnessed
at 81. Louis on opening day i'm May, 1900.
President Francis. of the exposition. says:
The fair cannot and will not be post
pOned." He should have added that il will
be ready ON the date fixed