The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1913-10-10
AFTERMATH OF
/: EXPOSITION (. ! IS / 0
Managers Breathe Sighs Of Re-
%, lief as Festival Ends.
WORK OF W ], ROBINSON.

GSWpss'0H Suo"'HS 0'oS'eso " SSsS
cd Americans Since the Civil Wsr
Proved Intelligence and Handiwork
Of Many individuals to Overeoms
Diffieulties-Editor Perry's Views. s
Philadelphia.-The emancipation proc
lamation exposition held here from
Sept. Is to Sept. 30 inclusive Is over.
For the past year the public has been
kept Informed on the purpose Of the
celebration and what it meant to those
who have made the struggle upward
through many difficulties for the past
fifty years. Taking all things into con-
sideration, the efforts Of the commits.
sion intrusted with the task were sue
cessful. ''l
The festival proved the contention
that under given circumstances we
have men and women among us who
are capable Of bringing things to pass
which count for equal worth and
achievement similar to the progress
made by those whose opportunities
have been more favorable. The pro-
gram rendered from day to day show
ed merit. The end of this great event
brings relief to the managers. who
have worked faithfully for many
months to present some of the marked
achievements which the race has made
since its freedom.
But Of those who toiled amid great
handicap to bring about the results
obtained no man had a more difiicult
task to perform than William J. Rob
inson, the contractor. under whose di!
rections the buildings in which the ex.
position was held were erected. OF
Mr.. RobiDson's struggles Chris j. Per-
ry, the venerable and long time editor
Of the Philadelphia Tribune, tells the
following story.
Mr.. Perry says: 1t so happened that
the emancipation commission appoint
ed by the legislature was composed of
white men, with one exception I'm the
person Of the Hon. Harry Bass. The
gentlemen of this commission. not be-
ing. familiar with the ability which
colored men possess. threw out the
hint that all the work. even down. to
the erection Of the proposed exposition
buildings. ought to he designed and
erected by colored mechanics. ..
As soon as this gauntlet was thrown
down Mr.. Bass Immediately sprang to
his feet and in an earnest manner as
sured the gentlemen Of the commission
that our people had men who are thor
oroughly qualified to do all the work
necessary to be done. All they asked
was to be furnished with the means
After this meeting Mr.. Bass sent for
Mr.. w. J. Robinson. the well known
contractor and informed him of the
views Of the commission. Mr.. Bass
then told Mr.. Robinson where the plot
Of ground was located upon which the
buildings were to be constructed.
The following day Mr.. Robinson sur.
veyed the ground. drew up his plans
and submitted his price for erection
all OF, which were speedily accepted
and word was given to the contractor
to go ahead. 1t did not take long fol-
him to have tons Of lumber and other
material on the ground, with large
force of cOlOred artisans ready tO
: work. But another hitch halted the
operation-viz. the lease had not been
signed.
This was followed by some log roll
ing between tile mayor and the city
solicitor, one declining to sign this
lease until the other had done so. Then
came cessation OF hostilities, caused
by the mayor. leaving the city for q
rest I'm the PocOno mountains. Day by
day the contractor visited the mayors
Office to get his signature, only to hear
In dulcet tones. The mayor Is out OF
town. But the director was In town
and he kept an officer on watch al
Broad and Oregon streets day and
night to see to 1T that not even the
skeleton Of building should be erect
ed until the much sought for permit
was signed. -
In this way the erection Of the build
ings was retarded. Thus weeks passed
by. Things were discOuraging. II Is
true. but persistent man was at the
helm I'm the person of William j. Rob
inson, and eventually success crowned
his efforts. he secured the long looked
for permit. but received 1t at a time
that left him only five weeks to com
mence and complete his work. Grave
doubts were expressed on all sides
concerning Mr.. Robinson's ability to
get the buildings ready In time for the
opening Of the exposition.
BUT with a snap OF the eye and the
curl Of u defiant lip he replied. Get
me some good lamps and win put a