Los Angeles herald., 1905-04-19
OPINION DIVIDED
REGARDING FAIR
SOME FAVOR, OTHERS OPPOSE,
PROPOSITION
SAY WE WOULD DO 1T WELL
Secretary Frank Virgins Of Chamber
of Commerce Declares Against
the Proposition, Saying to
-t Him Out

The city council by unanimous vote
has declared in favor of holding a
worlds fair in Los Angeles in 1909.
This action was taken on the petit
tion Of the Good Government league,
of which ]. II. Norton is president,
supplemented by the support of the
Municipal Ownership club, of which
Rev. B. Fay Mills is an active MEM
ber.
II don't approve of it ALL" said Sec
retary Frank Virgins of the chamber
of commerce yesterday. "It's a huge
undertaking, and a few fellows will
have to do all the work. Those who fix
up these things seldom have much to
do after they get the thing going. 1
am not in favor of the proposition.
Count me OUT
Niles Pease, president of the Merch-
ants and Manufacturers association,
heard of the proposition, but has not
given it much thought.
II will read up on the subject tonight
and then say what 1 think about it,"
said Mr.. Pease.
j.. S. SIauson's Views
Judge j. S. Slauscn, who took an
active part in the mdwnter fair of
1884 held at San Francisco, said:
"I don't know what to think Of the
proposition to hold a worlds fair in
Los Angeles. Give me time to think
about it. Such a fair would take a
lot of hard work and lots of money.
1t is a big problem. 1 have been
through it and know what 1t means. I
do not know what to say now"
LOS Angeles will come pretty near
doing anything she undertakes" said
d. A. Hamburger of the Peoples store.
Los Angeles and New York are two
of the best advertised cities in the
world today. We could take care of
the people all right. Low rates for the
eastern people would bring thousands
of strangers here for several months.
We can hold a fair just as well as
Chicago or st. Jeuis.'
James C. Kays, president of the Cen
trail bank and an active member of the
favor of any worthy enterpl ise that
will bring people to Los Angeles.
Il think very favorably of the idea,"
said Mr.. Kays. "Many people would
be sure to come from distant parts of
the country. The American people are
60 oi,.e
have been successes and such an expo
sition here would be a success without
doubt. Why not? And the results
would be largely to the benefit of Los
Angeles in many respects"
Mr.. ZeehandeIaar's Opinion
Eyes, it would be a big thing for
Los Angeles if we can arrange for it,"
said Secretary Zeehandelaar Of the
Merchants and Manufacturers asso-
citation, but the action of the council
in passing a resolution does not settle
the question. We could manage a
worlds fair all right"
'It is a subject too big to talk about
off-hand," said H. w. Frank of the
Where would we hold the fair-at Ag-
ricultural park? Such an enterprise
would take a lot of money. 1 am not
prepared to say now what 1 think
about the proposition"
Arthur Let's of the Broadway De-
partment store has not given the sub
ject any special attention. II will think
it over" said Mr.. Let's, land talk
later"
j. G. Platter. vice president of the
Security Savings bank, said: "It is too
soon to hold another worlds fair, and,
besides, we are not prepared to take
care of a great crowd of people. Twen-
ty to fifty thousand people coming here
at once would swamp us. Our hotels
are not big enough and we are not old
enough as a city to provide for a null
titude of people. The after-effects, in
my judgment, would be hurtful to the
substantial growth of the CITY,"
mo, no." said ]. w. Newberry. "I
am opposed to the fair proposition. We
don't want it and don't need 1t. We
would be sure to be in the hole finan-
cially at the close. Chicago lost $12,-
100000 and it took the town four years
to recover. st. Louis lost $1,000 900, and
In my judgment Portland will lose at
least 100000. If we gave the fair we
would have to go out and beg for
money, and there would be nothing but
work and lots of it. 1 suppose all of
the real estate men are heartily in
favor of the proposition. If we decide
to give the fair, however we could do
1t and do 1t WELL"