The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-01-24
WILL NOT Be POSTPONED.
Executive Committee of St. Louis
Fair Declare Emphatically Ex-
position Will Open in 1903.
TAKE ACTION AT A SPECIAL MEETING.
Meet the Report from Washington,
That Opening Would Not Occur
Until 1904, by Positive Resolutions
President Francis, of Exposition
Company, Makes an Explanation.

Company, Makes an Explanation,
ST. Louis, Jan. 20.-"Whereas, The
public press has agitated the question
of postponement of the Louisiana Pur-
chase exposition,
Resolved, That under the act of con-
gress and under every plan of the
board Of directors and executive COM
mittee, the exposition will open and
close in the year 1903"
These resolutions were unanimously
adopted at a meeting of the executive
committee of the exposition company
Friday evening to set at rest a state
ment coming from Washington to the
effect that the worlds fair might have
to be postponed from 1903 until 1904.
The dispatches from Washington quot
ing President D. r. Francis and Di-
rector Adolphus Busch, of the worlds
fair company, as intimating that the
Louisiana Purchase exposition might
not be held until 1904 created surprise
among those who have from the first
consistently adhered to the statement
that the worlds fair would open and
close in 1908. William II. Thompson,
treasurer of the Louisiana Purchase
Exposition company, when shown the
dispatch from Washington, expressed
his surprise. A call for a meeting of
the executive committee was issued. In
the absence of President Francis, w. H.
Thompson, vice chairman of the COM
mittee, presided. Those members pres
ent were Charles W. Knapp, c. G. War
ner, John Scullin, Howard Elliott, Muir
ray Carleton. L. D. Dosier. James
Campbell, A. L. Shapleigh and Breck-
inridge Jones. The matter for which
the meeting was called was discussed
at considerable length, all present be-
ing of the opinion, it was stated, that
the original intention of holding the
fair in 1903 should be adhered to.
Denied by President Francis.
Washington, Jan. 20.-EX.-Gov. Fran
els, in response to a request, made the
following statement regarding reports
that the Louisiana Purchase exposition
would be postponed from 1903 to 1904:
"I was much surprised to learn that a
statement had been printed to the effect
would be postponed from 1908 to 1904. have
never advocated nor contemplated such ac-
ton. On behalf of the local company,
desire to say that it can be ready for the
exposition in 1903 and will be ready. When
some newspaper men asked me to-day II the
fair would be postponed and made neg
alive reply I was asked if could not pre-
pare better fair in 1904 than in 1903. re-
piled: Yes, and SO can we prepare better
fair for 2004 than for 1904 cannot say why
this statement should be construed as an
admission that the Louisiana Purchase ex-
position would be postponed from the date
fixed by congress and announced by the
president in his proclamation inviting for
eign countries to participate. Some of the
European governments have sent replies
declining, and one object of my visit to
Washington is to ask the state department
and the administration to bring additional
pressure upon such governments to recon-
slider their conclusion. If, however, they
refuse to do so, it would not mean that st.
Louis would not have exhibits from those
countries as our commissioners would
make appeals to manufacturers and other
exhibitors therein. One or more of the for
eign countries have gwen as reasons for
their declination that they have not time
in which to prepare Whether the govern
ments so declining would participate in the
event of a postponement has not been as
certaned.
st am still in conference with the state
department and trust that within the next
few days some plan will be evolved where
by foreign governments that have declined
can be induced to reconsider.
eff" continued Mr.. Francis, "the state
department or the administration or con-
gress should desire this fair postponed in
order to give foreign governments longer
time in which to prepare, 1 have no doubt
the local corporation would readily accede
to such wishes"
do you expect that such a contingency
will arise?" Mr.. Francis was asked.
"No, 1 do not expect it, but firmly believe
that everything will be in readiness and
the fair will open on time"