Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-13

the number of prospective visitors is great
and If the weather continues favorable it
is certain, humanity speaking, that a good
sum will be realized.
Viewing the opening day Of the Corn ex-
position from the standpoint of the show
man, the most noteworthy feature was the
complete state to which the exposition had
attained. Absolute perfection in this is i'm
possible. Plan you ever so carefully, ar
range for every thinkable detail down to
the most minute point, contingencies will
arise which the greatest human forethought
could not conceive and delays of one sort
or another will occur.
The man does not live, never has and
never will, who could foresee all that will
happen where the chances Of accident and
delay are so multifold and variable. II is
possible. for instance, to allot every foot
of exhibition space, to assign each and
every exhibitor or concessionaire his par
ticular nook or corner, but much farther
than this an exposition management cam
not go. 1t can threaten, cajole and plead
with exhibitors to get their wares or dis
plays to the spot on time, but the manage
ment cannot see that each and every one
Of several thousand fulfills HIS promise.
All this defense is not really necessary
in the present case, for every official ex-
hibit was in place long before the doors
opened and nearly all the private exhib-
itors, too, had also toed the mark. The
judges had done their work, the decorators
theirs, the entertainment programs had
been made out, the heating apparatus had
been installed. fire protection seen to, the
ticket takers and guides had been lectured
on their duties, the janitor service had been
arranged, a thousand complaints, a million
suggestions had been listened to-in short,
an amount of work which seems almost
superhuman. viewed as whole, had been
consummated.
Needless to say such a task calls for
executive ability of the highest order, and
the fact that the corn exposition was
opened to the public in such a complete
and finished state argues beyond question
and cavil that such high executive ability
was manifested in the preliminary work.
The student of manners and character
can find rich material in the few hours
just before an exposition begins. These
are the hours which try mems souls-and
women's. When the pace becomes feverish
and hectic, when time presses and the in
exorable hands of the clock seem to whirl
round at ever accelerated speed, when a
hundred unexpected things happen, when
others break down under pressure. it is
then that the man or woman OF really
strong character stands like a tower while
the weaker are winnowed by the winds OF
hurry and adversely. 1t is then that a lit
tie patiencs goes a long way with some, a
little severity is effective with others,
while above all is the necessity for keeping
ones head.
1t may justly be said that while each and
: every head of department, every chairman
, of committee, every superintendent and
, Judge found himself confronted with what
l seemed TO him an amazing amount OF
I work to get the greatest burden Of all
3 rested upon the shoulders OF ]. Wilkes
3 Jones, general manager of the National
r Corn exposition. And to give honor where
5 honor is due, it must be added that he
Q did we'll. His has been the largest task
Q throughout and on him devolves the chief
: credit.
Opening day had, as was befitting. it:
n spectacular features. Nothing In this line
n more impressive could have been designed
d than che message from President Roose-
8 Welt telling his good will toward and hope
y for the exposition. II may be parenthetic
q ally added that the idea of this messagi
s from the president did not have an en-
tirely spontaneous origin in the brain o.
Y Theodore Roosevelt, but the exposition'i
o committee on publicity first thought o.