Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-05-02
POSTPONE 1HE FAIR
Majority OF the Exposition Direc.
tors Vote to Delay the
Exposition.
President Francis Wires a State.
ment to That Effect to
Congress.
More Time Required in Which
to Get Foreign Exhibits
Ready.

/ Washington, May 2.-Secretary Hay
today sent to the senate a letter stat
ing the necessity for postponing tbs
Louisiana Purchase Exposition from
1908 to 1904. Enclosed with it was a
letter from Chairman Carter. of the
government commission, and a tele-
gram from President Francis, of thu
exposition company, showing the ne
cessity for postponement. Senator
Cockrell had the letter read in the SEN
ate and then offered an amendment to
the sundry civil appropriation bill, now
pending, providing for postponement of
the exposition in accordance with the
request.
st. Louis, May 2.-The following
statement was given out last evening
by President David r.. Francis, of the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition Com
pany:
THE sundry civil bill, which passed
the house several weeks ago and is now
going thru the senate, contains an APP
preparation of s1,04S,000 to provide for
q government exhibit, a special Indian
exhibit and the additional cost of the
government building at the Louisiana
Purchase Exposition. 1t was deemed
to have the date of the fair
definitely fixed in that bill, in the event
any change from 1903 should be decided
upon. For many months past the fair
has virtually been postponed for one
year A decided majority of the direc-
tors preferred 1904 and have for six
months or more. The repeated request
Of both domestic and foreign exhibitors
for postponement; advices from foreign
governments to the effect that they had
not sufficient time in which to make
preparation for representative eX-
hibit in 1903, and the fact that the gen
eral public has for months past consfd-
cred postponement a foregone conclu-
sion, were some Of the reasons that
moved the executive committee to au-
thorize me to inform the national COM
mission that any action of congress
changing the time of the exposition
from 1903 to 1904 would be acceptable.
The telegram from President Carter, OF
the national commission, was received
this afternoon. Senator Cockrell Wired
us this afternoon that the sundry civil
bill would pass the senate on Saturday
and if change of date was to be in
therein congress should be
advised of the wishes of
the local corporation. There was not
sufficient time in which to call a meet
ing Of the board of directors to take
action on the subject, consequently the
executive committee authorized me to
express their wishes to the effect that a |
postponement should be ordained by |
After the receipt of Mr.. Carriers tel
egram I framed a reply, setting forth
the conclusion of the executive COM
nittee, but before sending the message
made an effort to get the views of every
director in the city. Up to this hour
over fifty of them have been consulted
and without an exception every one ia
vored postponement. have, there
fore, replied to President Carter. of the
national commission to that effect and
have asked that our conclusions be I
submitted to congress and to the presi-
dent.
Il think there is no doubt as to the
action congress will take, and that it
will be in favor of postponement An
additional year Of preparation will en-
able us to hold such an exposition as
will be worthy of the great event we
propose to celebrate. 1t will be truly
in character, and will, in
my judgment, be participated In by
every civilized country on the globe"