The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-07-26
Attendance at Worlds Fair
Is Disappointing.
MASSES OF THE PEOPLE
Do Not Seem to Appreciate the
Greatness of the Show.
MORE PUBLICITY DESIRED.
President Carter, of the National Conn.,
mission, Writes a Letter to President
Francis in Which He Complains ct
the Small Attendance Thus Far.

st. Louis. July 22.-Because they
believe the fair is not being properly
exploited by the press in this and
other countries, the national commits
sion has caused the following letter to
be addressed to President Francis, Of
the exposition:
by direction of the national COM
mission, l respectfully call your atten-
ton to the apparent need for an en-
largement of the publicity feature OF
the exposition.
"The zeal and efficiency of the press
of st. Louis has demonstrated what
may be done in the creation Of active
interest by enlightened exploitation
through the public press. Within the
range of the general circulation of the
papers published in this city all fea-
lures of the fair have been made
known; but ,unhappily, the journals OF
this city, like those of all other cities,
enjoy general circulation only in @
| limited area
| Beyond the line of the special in
fuence of the local press extensive
descriptions and interesting details OF
the fair do not appear to. the commits
sion to have been made known to the
general public to the extent or in the
manner calculated to inspire the In
terest and secure the attendance war
ranted by the extraordinary merits OF
the great educational force herein
stated. In the opinion of the commits
sion this delinquency does not arise
from any lack of devotion to the pub
lie welfare by the press of the country
at large.
"The magnificent recognition Of the
fair by the general government at
ltracted national attention The inv1-
tation extended by the president OF
the United States, under authority OF
law, to the nations of the earth to par
lticfpate in the exposition, supplement
ed by the cordial cooperation Of our
diplomatic and consular represent
atives abroad, secured the most ex-
tensive foreign participation ever ac-
corded to any like. undertaking. Moved
thereto by the example of the national
government, the states, territories and
dependencies of the United States
ioined in the exposition with unparal-
! leled enthusiasm.
"The groups of palatial buildings
erected by the foreign governments
and by the states and minor sub.
divisions of our country, together with
the exhibits installed in the exhibition
palaces provided by the company
bear the amplest testimony of theiI
desire to make the exposition pro
nounced success. The splendid ex
: hibit installed here by the government
: of the Philippine Islands rises to the
nroportions of an exposition on IL!
: own account.
"The buildings are completed, the
exhibits are installed and the exposi
ton has been in progress for substan
TALLY three-sevenths of its allotet
period. The faith of the management
in the merits of the exposition hai
! been justified by the approving judg
! ment of all who have entered tn
: gates, but the daily attendance ma
been far short of what 1t should be-
'Unhappily the magnificent proper
tions and the numberless attraction
: of the exposition do not seem to b.
fully understood by the masses OF tn
people throughout the United States
whence attendance must be chiefly ex
pected. The results obtained from tn
: territory commanded by the press O
:. ST. Louis warrant the belief that tn
: unsatisfactory conditions prevailin
would be overcome if the country q
/. large could be adequately advised
what is to be seen, learned and en-
joyed within these grounds.
. cit is far from the intention OF tn
commission to interfere with the opel
alton of any of your own plans, br
| the failure of expected attendance 9
the exposition is a matter of such 81
: preme importance as to comman
every available force in directing tn
attention of the people of the whol
,r country to the attractions OF the 81
Il position.
THOMAS II. CARTER,