Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1905-10-17
THE STORY OF THE FAIR.
j. M. Shawhan in Portland Sat
urday Review.

There mas been altogether too
much license accorded to the men
who have been running our Fair,
and it is time now that a halt
was called and a public account
ing of all funds received and ex-
pended be demanded from the
Fair officials.
The undercurrent of feeling
pervading all Portland and other
sections of the West and North
west who have contributed large
ly in the way of money and
brains, to the success of the Lew
is and Clark Exposition, is run
ming so high at the present time
that the explosion is at hand and
after Portland Day, unless full
and satisfactory explanation is at
hand, some startling and sensa-
tional exposes may be looked for
From all reports Mr.. Goode
has been running the Fair very
much as if it were one of his
personal belongings; and his
autocratic methods, his discour-
tesy to different committees in
neglecting or refusing TO consult
with them before taking action,
has been the cause of hurting
anathemas of virulent order on
his head.
The people of Portland desire
to know primarily why "Port-
land Day" was changed from
September 16 to the goth when
the probability of rain would
tend to mar the success of the
greatest day of the Fair.
It is a we'll. known fact that
today is one of two Jewish holi-
days in the year. which every
Hebrew observes, and the change
OF. this day savors too much of a
sop to this element of our popu-
lation to be palatable to the
American public.
The fact that all Jewish houses
will be closed on this day, and all
or nearly all Christian houses
will remain open and publish the
fact, adds strength to the suppo-
sition that there is a ''nigger in
the wood pile' somewhere and
that he should be unearthed.
Will Mr.. Goode who is gener-
ally accredited with making the
change, kindly inform an expect
ant public why it was made and
for what consideration if any?
The entire country press are
complaining of the conduct O.
our Fair, Notwithstanding the
glowing reports sent out from the
press bureau of the Fair that it i.
the most successful on record
this bald statement does not carry
conviction with it in view O
many circumstances tending tt
discourage and discredit th'
statement.
I was asked today what becam
of $40, 900 alleged to have beel
turned over to somebody in til
Fair management by the Ney
York commission as an entertain
ment fund and tor which no &C
counting had ever been rendered
Knowing that this is an ope
question the Fair management
might enlighten us on this ques
ton.
I happen to have some know
ledge of the inception of th
Lewis and Clark Exposition, an
also how Mr.. Goode came to al
sorb it and look upon it as b
personal property.
A visit of a prominent man,
facturer and member of prom
nent business organizations visi
ed Seattle and while there ca1le
upon several trade organization
During a conversation with tx
president of one of these bodie
that official said that it would
a great idea for Seattle to hold
Worlds Fair in 1906 on Il
completion of the canal joinir
the Sound with Lake Washin
ton and Lake Union.
To forestall Seattle, on the I
turn of this manufacturer to Poi
land he broached this matter
the Board of Trade, and a col
mission of twenty-five men "
appointed to take the matter OF
worlds fair at Portland und
consideration
This was the inception of t