The San Francisco call., 1910-05-17
PUzzLER: HOW TO
open EXPOSITION
Panama-Pacific Directors Seek
Departure From Hoary Idea
of Pressing Button

in San Francisco in 1915?
The directorate is open to sugees-
tions hoping that this exposition will
be the first to depart from the hoary
old custom of somebody or the other
pushing an electric button and opening
the gates of the fair. This has been
done ever since electricity played any
part in fairs of note, and there is a
sincere desire to have something new
for the formal opening of the Panama
Pacific exposition.
NAVAL SALUTE SUGGESTED
So accustomed have exposition men
been to the button idea that it is diff
cult for them to get away from it, and
suggestions are few. Among those
offered is that the fair ought to be
opened by a salute of guns fired from
the first war vessel sailing through che
Panama canal and on it's arrival in San
Francisco Another is that there ought
to be a simultaneous salute from the
war vessels of all nations which will
be gathered in the harbor at that time.
The predominating sentiment is that
the event should be heralded with noise
of some kind-the bigger the noise the
better the opening.
Though no definite action will be
taken until congress has dealt with the
exposition question officially, it has been
decided practically that leading the
spectacular features of the exposition
will be an immense aviation meet,
Olympic games and an assembly of war
vessels.
OLYMPIC GAMES ASSURED
John H. Hammersmith, who has been
working on the arrangements for the
Olympic games. declared that there was
little doubt of holding them in San
Francisco during the year of the ex-
position
THE games will be held in Sweden
next year." he said. "and the prob
abilities are that the meeting after that
will be in San Francisco. The only
thing restraining us now is the action
by congress. Once it is off1cially de-
clared that San Francisco is to be the
site for the Panama-Pacif1c exposition
then the machinery will be set in mo-
tion.
81 might say here there won't be
much time to waste. The famous ath-
Ietes will have to be gathered from all
parts of the world, and this will be a,
task which will require time and a
great deal of work. The plans, as
understand them, are that the games
here are to excel any held previously.
They will be on a gigantic scale. and
unless we get to work in plenty of
time there is likelihood of general
muddle'
PROMPT ACTION URGED
Particular stress was laid on the need
of immediate action by congress by the
members of the California delegation to
Washington. The Japanese agents are
securing Europe already for the ex-
position to be held in their country in
1917. and unless the United States
enters the field soon it will find itself
seriously handicapped The Joint resolu-
tion authorizing the president to invite
foreign countries to participate In the
exposition here is now In the hands or
the committee on foreign affairs Every
effort is being made to bring 1t up be-
fore both houses so that the suspense
might be ended.
Plan Subscription Canvas
The special committee of the Knights
OF the Royal Arch, consisting OF u. L.
Wagner, /. II. Spiro, Frank @. Roney
Oscar Hooks, John l.. Herget ana j.
Harry Daley, appointed at the recent
session of the grand body of that or
der to obtain subscriptions from among
the affiliated members for the Panama
Pacific exposition, will hold meeting
this afternoon to arrange the delalts
of the work.
I'VE are" said Chairman Wagner of
the committee yesterday, ito prepare
a form of letter to send to each mem
ber in the jurisdiction asking him to
subscribe, and that quickly, and with
each letter we will send subscription
blank with a request that it be filled
in with the amount each is willing to
subscribe We shall send out not less
than 1000 of these"
Since the adjournment of the grand
body the following voluntary sub
scriptions have been received:
Herbert Choynski. ...$1 00o
Henry Miller Observation-Disclosures. 1000
R. Mershi .................... 500
Kener & Qnarg Observation-Disclosures. 800