Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-13
GAUSEOF GREAT REGRET
FAILURE OF PRESIDENT TO AT.
TEND RAILWAY EXHIBITION.
Statement Made by Mr.. George E. Post
Regarding an Alleged Mis-
understanding.

The failure of the President to inspect
the railway appliance exhibition is still
source of regret among the supply men who
were numbered among the exhibitors. The
fact that the Vice President and members
of the cabinet paid so much attention to
the show. and that the general public had
manifested an interest that was utterly I'M
expected, led those in charge to believe
that the President would visit the grounds
and make a cursory examination of the APP
| planes shown, even IL he could not ind
time to visit all the booths. as Vice Presi-
dent Fairbanks had done.
So sure were they that such a program
would be followed that all expressed a
willingness to remain until midnight to-
| night, If necessary. so that the show
should be in the best condition possible
for the view of the chief executive of the
| nation The announcement by Secretary
Loeb, made yesterday morning, that Mr.
Roosevelt found his time too much occu-
pied to attend the exhibition. was received,
therefore, with feeling of great disap-
pointment.
1t is openly asserted by some of the
exhibitors that 1t Is their belief that the
President knew nothing of the visit of Mr..
Post to the White House. and did not know
Of the expectations of his presence. They
argue that this seems to be borne out by
the fact that Mr.. Loeb called up Mr.. Post
by telephone this morning. before the latter
had breakfast. to make inquiries as to
when 1t would be convenient for the Presi-
dent to attend the exhibition. Mr.. Post
| could not be reached at the time the mes
sage was received. and Mr.. Loeb called up
again half an hour later when Mr.. Post ar
rived at his Office.
Just what the conversation was between
the two gentlemen the officials of the ex-
hibition will not divulge, but 1t Is under
| stood that Mr.. Post expressed his regret
that the decision of the President to visit
the show should have come so late. The
exhibitors began tearing out their ap
pliances yesterday at noon, and the grounds
are now in chaotic condition. There
fore, it is understood Mr. Post explained
that neither the exhibitors or the President
would be satisfied with a visit under these
conditions. The incident, therefore, is
closed.
Statement by Mr.. Post.
Mr.. Post was seen by reporter for The
star this morning and asked for a state
ment regarding misunderstanding of the
White House authorities
'Of course, it was a great and bitter dis
appointment to us that the President could
not visit our exhibition" said Chairman
Post, but we would not for a moment
manifest any displeasure at any decision
our President made, based upon a lack of
| time owing to the great pressure of public
duties demanding his attention. Our great
| industry, one of the largest in our country,
mas installed an exhibit of the products of
our factories that had commended the adj
mlration OF the railway officials from all
| the world; we were happy and content
BeIore we came to Washington we I'M
derstood that the Presidents plans for a
well-earned vacation would preclude the
possibility of his presence in Washington
But when 1t was learned that he had cut
his vacation short and would arrive in
Washington on Friday morning there was
| instantly voiced by our exhibitors a desire
| that our President should see what we
| had done in honor of the great interna-
tiOnai railway congress. We wanted espe-
cially in the presence of the foreign del
egates to the congress, to show how Amer
leans show their homage to our nation
chief. We had planned to give him such
| greeting would have warmed the
cookies of his heart, and his distinguished
presence would have closed our exhibition
J IN a BLAZE OF enthusiasm.
We were willing to await the pleasure
of the President, and not q hail would
have been driven until our exhibition could
have been honored by the Presidents ar
rival whenever he could have found q
brief respite from his executive labo-s |.
will frankly say that we felt that If we
could have seen the President himself the
result of our call at his office would have
had different result, but that plea sure and
honor was denied US through what we
think was an error in judgment of his sec
rotary. who did not seem to realize what
the purpose of our mission was To our
Presiden' We doff our hats. We know
that under no circumstances would he be
ungracious. and while we regret the disap-
pointment that came to us, we taude- to
our chief magistrate the assurance of our
loyal affection"
Brought to Close Yesterday.
The exhibition was brought to a close
yesterday. The announcement that the
show was formally closed at noon yester-
day was made in the morning. At o'clock
the gates were finally shut. and the band
which was on duty at the grounds during
the ten days of the show, under the direc-
ton of Exhibitor Martin, called at all the
buildings and played Aud Lang Syne."
The executive offices were first visited
Chairman Post was called on for a speech.
he thanked the exhibitors for their efforts
toward the success of the exhibition and
congratulated them on the showing made
Director Of Exhibits Brown, when called
on to speak, asserted that speaking was not
part of his business and he intended to keep
his mouth shut. The exhibitors began NOV
ing away their appliances yesterday after
noon and today the buildings are being
despoiled Of their contents and decorations.
The committee in charge has agreed to
store the grounds to their normal condition
by May "a and much work will be required
to accomplish this.
Session Yesterday Afternoon.
At the general session of the congress-
yesterday afternoon the delegates endeav-
ored to clear up the calendar SO there would
be little left to be done today but adjourn
the section meetings formally and prepare
for the last general meeting this afternoon.
The session was longer than on Thursday
as the members had made up their minds to
clean up everything in sight. The matter
OF organization Of a cheap service in
branch lines and on light railways was re-
ported from; the fifth section. The reporters
were Mr.. Joseph Rocca. chief Inspector of
the board of directors of the Mediterranean
railway of Italy, and Mr.. Cornell Tolnay,
general superintendent of the Hungarian
state railways In concluding the report as
to the conclusions, 1t was recommended
that the importance Of the question be not
lost sight of and that the permanent COM
mission should Incorporate it in the pro-
gram for the next congress. The delegates
also discussed reports from sections on
traffic conveyed by automobiles, reporters.
Messrs. Lechelle. Eugene Sartiaux and
Keromnes, all of France: and on bookkeep-
ing. reporters, Mr.. A. H. Plant of the