The Indianapolis journal., 1903-05-03
Stories Of Big Hack Bills and Other
Attempted GOuges Almost Too
Numerous to Mention.
OFFICIALS WERE NOT PREPARED
AN EVIDENT LACK OF SYSTEM IN
THEIR ARRANGEMENTS.
Governors Of Other States Also Felt
that They Had Been Treated
Cavalierly.

tentlOn SHOWN the various Governors VINO
went to st. Louis to participate in the
dedication of the exposition have aroused
a great deal of interest locally, and the
interest was by no means abated yesterday
when Governor Durbin declined to make
any statement in regard to the matter.
His silence in the face of reports Of such
character could not be taken otherwise
than a confirmation, but he could not
be induced to admit even that.
''It is not matter that 1 care to dis
cuss, nor one that 1 think should be dis
cussed," was the only statement he would
vouchsafe last evening.
Governor Durbin's attitude was in strik-
ing contrast with the actions Of Governor
Odell, of New York, Governor Peabody, of
Colorado, and one or two others Of the
State executives who were similarly neg
lected. While these Governors did not
permit themselves to be quoted, they spoke
through personal representatives, and spoke
in no uncertain terms, and to such effect
that the mistakes were speedily righted,
as far as could be done at that late date.
Governor Odell indicated through of
his colonels that if the exposition officials
did not give some evidence that they
that her Governor and 200 of her soldiers
were in ST. Louis. he would take his party
back to the Empire State in the shortest
possible time. Governor Peabody and his
staff declined to take part In the big
parade on Thursday, the opening day, and
through one of his officers he notified the
management of the exposition that Col
orados appropriation of $135,000 for the fair
would be unexpended unless the State. and
it's representatives were accorded the recog-
milton that might reasonably be expected.
Governor Durbin did not drop hint of
complaint during his brief stay in St. Louis,
and he requested the members OF his OFF,
cial party to be equally reticent, but i'm
mediately after the parade Thursday he
went to his hotel and made arrangements
to return to Indianapolis the next day.
He did not make any effort to participate
in the other ceremonies, and aside from re-
ceiving formal calls from several of the
Governors and their staffs, and returning
them, he took no further part in the
SOME LAME EXCUSES.
No one seemed to be able to give satis-
factory explanation of the situation, al
though the exposition officials offered some
lame excuses at a late hour and did their
utmost to induce Governor Durbin to re-
main until yesterday, as he had originally
that one littee had thought that an
other would look after the gubernatorial
guests, while the second committee thought
the first would attend to that. with the
result that neither made a move until too
late The facts in the case. so far as the
Indiana party is concerned, learned by the
Journals representative who was on the
ground, are these:
Governor Durbin and his staff arrived in
l<of~ . ~f.lA Ill
day evening on the train that he had noti-
fled the exposition management he would be
on. There committee at the train
to receive him-nOt even one lonesome men,
Der of the reception or entertainment COM
mittee. There is but one station in st. Louis,
so the receiving party, If there had been
one, could not have gone to the wrong sta
same neglect 20 Governor Odell. Governor
Durbin and his staff proceeded to the
Planters Hotel. which had been announced
as their headquarters, went to their apart
ments later had dinner and then waited
for some representative of the exposition to
appear and take cognizance Of the fact that
the Governor of Indiana and his official
party were in the city, and, incidentally,
furnish some information as to the part the
Governor would be expected to take in the
events of the next three days. No one ap-
peared. The Governor had arranged to
have the horses for himself and staff
brought down to the hotel at o'clock the
next morning, as he felt that he had to ap-
that perhaps, the neglect of the exposition
officials was but temporary and due to the
confusion attendant upon the arrival of so
many delegations. Consequently il was de-
cided that Indiana would take the initiative
for the time being, and Secretary Lockwood
and Adjutant General Ward started TO make
some inquiries. They communicated with
fifteen different officials before they learned
the position Indiana was to take in the next
days parade
Mrs. Durbin and the wives of a number
of 4 fha ,horS of Sfa
in the party. They were there at the invi-
tation of the exposition officials and ii was
known that they would be there, but there
was not the slightest evidence that any ar
rangements had been made for their enter
tainment. No seats had been provided for
them on the reviewing stands, and no seats
at the dedicatory exercises, and but for the
fact that N. A. Gladding, the Indianapolis
member of the Indiana Worlds Fair Com
mission. belongs to the Missouri Athletic
Club and had tickets for the clubs review
ing stand Mrs. Durbin and the other ladies
would have remained at the hotel.
GOT WRONG POSITION
Because of the poor handling Of the
| parade Governor Durbin and his party die
not get the position assigned to them in the
printed programmes, but they were there
! and they were warmly recognized all along
| the line of march. Arrived at the Presi-
dents reviewing stand. the Indiana party
went into the tent. where luncheon was
| served to the distinguished guests. but they
did not go because they were invited-they
| went because they were famished and tha,
was the only place refreshments could be
secured. The scene In the tent was one OF
almost indescribable confusion-even Pres
| ident Roosevelt and Mr.. Cleveland were
| pushed and jostled I'm the scramble until
| they could scarcely handle their refresh
ments, which were served in exceedingly
| democratic fashion at counters where ever3
| one stood, II he could keep his feet In The