The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1907-10-10
BARR's REPLY is FINAL.
He Declines To Withdraw His Reslg.
nation From Fair.

Norfolk Especially. James NJ.
Barr, director general Of the James
town Exposition, who, following his
recent resignation, was requested by
the board of directors to continue
as the executive head of the tercen-
tennial, sent his final reply to the
directors, declining to withdraw his
resignation and asking TO be reliev-
ed at once.
Mr.. Barr's letter was seT-t immedi-
ately following n confer lce with
Judge L. S. Garnett, chai ian, and
Rear Admiral Harrison, N, re-
tired, of the committee ma I by the
directors to take up the d tion of
the ceremonial work. with expen-
dltures in this department be ap-
proved by the director general.
Mr.. Barr's letter is as follows:
To the Board of Directors, James
town Exposition Company.
Gentlemen.-I have received your
request, adopted at your meeting
held on the oath inst. with, l am
informed, but one dissenting vote)
tnat L withdraw my resignation as
director general, rendered on the
16th inst, and I beg to say in reply,
after full consideration, that while
greatly value and fully appreciate
this expression of confidence in me.
L cannot do so under the conditions
existing, and therefore beg to ask
that L be relieved at once
In accepting the director general
ship of the exposition, at time when
the resources of your company we're
exhausted, and when the exposition,
In consequence, faced disaster, l was
morally bound to serve it in this
capacity until it had been conducted
TO conclusion, il the conditions i'm
posed by me, accepted by you, and
incorporated in your bylaws, were
recognized and enforced. This, for
reasons satisfactory to you, has not
been done, and being, in consequence.
powerless to do the things for the
exposition which its reputation and
success, in my opinion. demanded,
l requested TO be relieved Of the
duties OF director general as soon as
the exposition was completed in a
thorough manner as a creditable ex-
position, believing my full obliga-
ton thereto had been performed, un-
der the circumstances existing.
DlNCOTu 1dt1c vi r. arr
AS the exposition has been COM
pleted, 1t can now be easily conduct
ed TO conclusion if discord be
eliminated from its management. and
If l can be of any further service,
IN an unofficial capacity, l would be
glad to have you call upon me.
beg to express through you my
thorough appreciation of and thanks
for the urgent requests made upon
you by the members Of the State
commissioners Association, the bust
ness men of Norfolk, and the conces-
sionaries that ! be induced to con-
tinue to serve as director general.
and to say that / would have pleas
ure in complying with their wishes
If it were possible for me to do so.
Yours very truly,
u. NJ. BARR"
The refusal to withdraw his resig-
nation as director general has left
the management of the jamestown
Exposition in a chaotic condition.
No director or other exposition Off
Ger can be found who will venture a
prediction as to the final outcome
of the unsettled affair.
Following the issuance of Barr's
letter the resignation of John A.
Wakefield, as director of concessions
and admissions, and also that of II
K. Sherwood, chief of that depart
ment, were handed in. 1t is also
said that the designations of stephen
w. Bolles. director of advertising,
and w. NJ. Dixon, assistant to the
director general. are also ready.
Wakefield and Bolles came into the
exposition management about the
time that Barr was made director
general. They are from Missouri,
and were connected with the St
Louis Exposition. Dixon was pro
NOTED to his present position by
Barr, and his resignation comes as
a matter of course