The Forrest City times., 1902-02-14
HANDS ACROSS THE BRIDGE.
The Great St. Louis Worlds Fair Nakes All the World Akin and Friends
 of Old Rivals.

Chicago, Feb. f2.-Arrangements for the dinner to be given to the of. ficials of the Louisiana Purchase eN- position by the Chicago Press club, next Saturday evening. were prac- tically completed yesterday. The din ner has taken much wider scope than was at first anticipated. and has become of the nature of love feast" between the state of Illinois and the city of St. Louis, with the Worlds fair at the other end of the Eads' bridge as the topic.
 The St. Louis officials who will make set speeches are ex-Gov. David R. Francis. president of the Exposi- tion Co; Frederick !. Y. Skiff, direc- tor of exhibits; Isaac :. Taylor, di- rector of works, and Walter B. Ste vens. secretary.
 Several other officials of the expo sition, including William II. Thomp- son, chairman of the finance com mittee. and Corwin II. Spencer, first yice-president, are expected to be present.
 A number of st. Louis editors, in- oludng George $. Johns, of the Post Dispatch and Nathan Frank, of the Star, have accepted invitations and will make brief addresses. $. NJ. Felton. president of the Chicago & Alton railway. who is director in the exposition company, also will be present, and may make brief talk on the position of the railroads and the fair.
 On the Illinois side, k. W. Patter- son, editor of the Tribune, will ex- tend the good wishes of the Chica- go press toward the St. Louis fair. Thomas E. Bryan, the father of the White City, will speak for Chicago's worlds fair. E. R. Graham will reply briefly to the toast of Mr. Taylor, director of works at St. Louis. Mir Graham was assistant director of works at the White City, and appears in place of D. H. Burnham, who is absent in California.
 For the state of Illinois, Gov. Yates and H. M. Dunlap, president of the Illinois commission to the Louisiana Purchase exposition. will be the speakers On account of sickness Mayor Harrison will not be present, but will be represented by l.. F. Me Gam, city comptroller. Ferdinand w. Peck, late commissioner to the Worlds fair at Paris, who is now absent in California, will be repre- sented by telegram to the meet ing.
 The greeting of the press of the northwest to St. Louis in her enter prise will be given by Lafayette Young. editor of the State Capitol. of Des Moines, Ia., member of the club. The remaining speeches, which will be largely expressions of good will, will be brief
 There has been a widespread in. terest aroused in the dinner. and the committee has been obliged te turn away great many applications for tickets. It is the first time the St. Louis officials have gone away from home to tell what they are do. ing in fair construction. and on that account the event will be specially interesting.
 The Exposition company has over Slo'oo0,000 to expend on it's fair. not counting the amounts which the va rlous states will spend in the cree. ton of their buildings and installa- tlon of their exhibits. It is expected that the Worlds fair of next year will be second to no Worlds fair with the possible exception of Chi cago, ever held. Plates will be set for l25 guests, the limit of the clubs accommodations.