The Washington herald., 1911-01-14

Henry B. F. Macfarland, chairman Of
the joint committee of the Chamber of
Commerce and the Board of Trade, yes
terday presented to the House Commit
tee on Industrial Arts and Expositions
the fitness of selecting Washington as a
site for holding an official celebration Of
the opening of the Panama Canal in 1915.
James F. Oyster, E. c. Brandenburg.
William F. GUIDE, and Thomas F. Grant
accompanied Mr.. Macfarland as men,
bers of the committee.
1t was urged THAT as the building Of
the canal is conducted by the national
government. the completion of the work
should be celebrated officially at the off,
cial home of the government The canal
will be used by the nations Of the world;
consequently it is of International i'm
portance, and the place to receive repre-
sentative guests of the nation officially
is beyond any question the seat of the
government that acts as host.
Mr.. Macfarand said that when other
nations celebrate national events the
ceremonies are conducted at the official
capital of the nation. The French gov
ernment celebrates at Paris, the English
government at London, and when repre-
SentativeS are TO be invited to participate
in a national ceremony conducted by the
government of the United States they
will most naturally expect to come to
Washington.
Advantages Incompatible.
These ceremonies, the chairman said,
should cover reasonable length OF
time. should not be hurried, and should
in every way be made as impressive as
possible. The great facilities which the
-. f1~ -
this ceremony by using the government
buildings which are already erected and
those which it is expected will be ready
in 1915. cannot be duplicated at any ex-
pense in any other city in the country.
The White House, Library of Congress.
National Museum. and other similar build
ings are of intense interest to visitors.
The convenient location of Washington
makes it possible to utilize to the great
est and most impressive advantage the
army and navy on far grander scale
than would be possible elsewhere. 1t was
suggested that such accessories as the
greatest demonstration of the possibili-
ties of aviation up TO that time might
be easily added to make the occasion one
of varied interest
In reply to interrogations as to the ex-
pense and the appropriations, the chair
man said that in the case Of Washington
this would be reduced to a minimum.
The accommodations that are at hand
are much more extensive and suitable
than any that can be obtained elsewhere
and the setting which the National Cap
ital of itself affords, is of such peculiar
interest that a very small sum. in COM
parison to that which celebrations else
where have cost. would be sufficient to
make the occasion both imposing and
beftting a great nation.
When asked if it would not be possible
to combine the industrial or exposition
features with the national celebration to
good advantage, Mr.. Mcfarland said that
Museum and kindred institutions here
could not possibly be transported to any
point in their entirety, and that any dis
play of them that might be attempted
would be both imperfect in extent and
accompanied by very great expense of
transportation.
Would Not Interfere.
One member of the committee asked if
it could reasonably be expected of a citi-
zen of the middle area of the country
to come to Washington to see the official
celebration and then go to San Francisco
to see the exposiuonal celebration. While
Mr.. Macfarland answered that such a
point was only twenty-four hours distant
from Washington, he haStened to make
it quite clear that there is no attempt on
the part of the people Of Washington
to interfere with any form of celebration
that San Francisco, New Orleans, or any
other city may undertake.
He pointed out that the ceremony that
is being sought by Washington is purely |
official on the part of the government. |
and may very fitungly be celebrated
quite apart from any that may be con- |
Quoted elsewhere on expositional. COM |
merciai, or historical lines. So long as |
the government cannot go to the very |
site of the stupendous work that it shall
have completed as a national work. the |
only alternative is to celebrate the occa- !
sion at the Capital Of the nation that is |