The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-28
PRESIDENT CAN'T
VISIT STATE FAIR
Says He Will Not Attend Public
Functions First Year of
Administration.
uPsETs TRIP OF COUNCIL
Committee Had Planned to
Travel to Washington
With Invitation.
UPsETS TRIP OF COUNCIL

! fresiucnt Wilson cannot come IN tb,
Stnte Fur In October for the r.,.or
TINT he Inns determined NOT =, 49,.
""' p""ic functions during the frs,
year or his administration.
Inc Information is contained In ,
letter from Joseph p Tumulty secro
tary to the President. to w q s,,,,,,
or 9l1 Fifth Avenue. Highland p,r,,
VINO addressed n pertinent rcouest 20
me nations chief executive when no
e"t hcu iast week thta the city Council
Is on the point OF dispatching con-
mittee to Washington to invito d.,
aemt wilson and Secretary of Agri-
'uiture houston to tic fair
Letter to President.
no wrote as follows:
10 the Hon. Woodrow Wilson. Pros.
ldent OF the United States:
lear Sir,-An effort Will shortly bo
made by officers OF our State Fair ,nI
many influential citizens to secure vo',r
presence at the fair trust tbat q,
VIII be your pleasure to come hut , .
thousands OF our citizens would have
me SAFE or intoxtcants eliminated from
NE fair Grounds We trust that YOU
WILL IN what we consider the bcst in
'crest or the fair make its elimination
cohdltion of your coming: should Won
sEmpathize with our efforts TO bav.
our state Fair what 1t was contem
plated 10 be--mOral and educationa,
ana asfe place for refined women ma
innocent children as we'll as multitudee
oil men who regard the Fair Grounds
as an unsuitable place to sell into.-
icating liquors
Yours very truly,
wv. C. SMITH"
The Presidents Reply.
TO this communication MIR. Smith ro
ceired the following reply on tho
splendidly engraved stationery OF tho
White House:
My Dear Sir.-Thc President directs
me to acknowledge The receipt of your
letter of August % and to EXPRESS his
regret that IT is not possible for him Ia
acccp: your very kind invitation for
the reason that he has determined not
TO attend any public functions during
the first year OF his administration
With thanks TO YOU in the Prcsi-
dents behalf for your courtesy in writ
ing. 1 am.
sincerely yours.
(Signcd) u. p. TUMULTY.
Secretary to the President"
Mr. w. G. Smith. 917 Fifth Avenue.
Richmond, Va.
Upscts Council Trip.
Mr. Wilson'S apparent inability to
comply with Richmond's wish for his
presence during State Fair week, puts
a deep crimp into the plans OF the spe-
cial Council committee appointed to go
to Washington and extend the formal
invitation 10 the President and Score
tary of Agriculture. The committee.
which Is composed OF Mayor Ainslie.
Aldermen Adams and Powers, and
Councilman Peters, Radcliffe and Pol
lock, decided at n meeting held last
Friday night TO make the trip as soon
as the necessary interview could be
arranged.
resolution adopted by the commit
ice requested Congressman Montague to
arrange for an appointment with the
PRESIDENT for next Friday. 1t was the
purpose of the comi>nJtee to enlist the
rood Offices Of Senator'S Martin and
swanson, as we'll as n delegation from
the Fair Association. and to travel to !
the White House in body. In view
Of the Presidents views. as stated to |
Mr.. Smith. such an expedition would !
appear to be foredoomed to failure
Mr.. Smith said last night that in |
writing to the President he lid so OF |
his own initiative, and that the action !
was independent Of his amliation with !
he Anti-Saloon League of Virginia to I
which he is "A regular contributor.