The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-07
THE DUBLIN EXPOSITION.
Facts About Its Inception n the Share
OF Irishmen in It.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: The letter
under the head Of Unique Plot Against Irish
IndustrialisIn." printed in The sun of No
vember S. will surprise those who are familiar
with the actual facts in regard to the Irish
international Exhibition. Your correspondent
says that the project il unique because
OF the unanimity with which all public bodies
In Ireland have condemned it," The other
surprising statement OF fact Is that most or
the guarantors are English. l will not deal
with your correspondents opinions as to the
merits of the undertaking. but l believe you
will be Interested In the facts in regard to its
inception and progress.
The international exhibition at Dublin in
1907 was decided upon at a great public meet
ing held in the Royal University buildings in
Dublin early in 1903. Lord Pirrie. head OF
the great firm OF Harland a Wolf, presided.
and the meeting was attended by leading
representatives OF all creeds and classes of
Ireland. Mr.. Harrington. then Lord Mayor
of Dublin: the Lord Mayor of Cork: Mr.. Hut
Crimson. High Sheriff OF Dublin and afterward
Lord Mayor for two years; the High Sheriff
of Belfast, the chairman OF the Dublin County
Council and many other representative men
were present at this meeting and warmly
favored the International Exhibition. Suisse
quently. tho Corporation Of Dublin and a
large number OF public bodies throughout tho
country, including the principal trade and
h1S b.1ES WV "a ~
favor. The executive committee appointed
at the meeting referred to became the execu-
tive council of the INCORPORATED association
subsequently formed to hold the exhibition.
which will open next May.
The exhibition Is supported by manufact-
urers. merchants and traders all over the coun-
try, 1t has a guaranty Of a fund OF more than
El60. 900 signed by nearly one thousand sub
scribers, and on this security the Bank of Ire
land has agreed to advance money amply
sufficient for the purposes of the exhibition.
Seventy-five per cent. of this guaranty fund
was subscribed in Ireland byIrishmen and more
than sixty per cent. of the entire exhibit space
has been applied for by Irish manufacturer
and merchants.
When 1 left Dublin on October 10 the great
central building of the exhibition was almost
entirely. completed. Machinery Hall. a build
ing 900 feet long by 100 feet wide, was finished
except for the foundations for the heavy ma
chinery that will be shown there. An army OF
worktngmen was engaged in various parts OF
site. There can. in other words, be no doubt
"a, to the entire success OF the international
exhibition project.
That the presence OF foreign exhibitors at
the Dublin exposition will kill Irish indus
trialism is an idea that has no foundation in
reason or fact. On the contrary, the exhibi-
ton will be the celebration and elimination
OF the wonderful ind 1strial movement which
has been going on in Ireland for the last
ten years. 1t will enable Irishmen TO show
what they have accomplished, and there is no
need TO, ofer comparison between these ac-
oomplishments and those that foreign exhib-
itors will produce at Dublin next year.
d. 7. PIERCE.