The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-25
Frederick Haskin's Letter
ssus<x.1 81
America to Help Brazil Celebrate.

Washington, d. c., March "a
Plans for the United States gov
ernment's part in the Brazilian in
ternational centennial exposition
are going steadily forward. Eight
cen countries have agreed to help
Brazil celebrate her hundred years
of freedom from Portugal next
September, and Rio de Janeiro,
where the festivities and. the ex-
position are to be- held, is already
the scene of busy preparations.
The president and secretary OF
state some time ago accepted Bra
Ellis invitation for the United States
to take part in the exposition. Con-
gress appropriated 100000 for
the expenses of a United States ex-
hibit, and the day President Hard
ing left Washington for his Flor
ida trip, legislation was enacted t.
permit a commission of five to rep
resent the United States govern
ment at the centennial celebration
beginning Sept next. The pres;-
dent is expected to appoint this
commission at an early date.
The Brazilian affair is the first
tional exposition in South Amer
lea. At first, the Brazilian govern
ment expected to have only short
celebration of the hundredth ami
versary of independence. Later t
was decided to have exhibits show
ing the progress of Brazil in her
hundred years Of freedom, and
plans for this modest exhibit rap
idly assumed ambitious proportions
as the enthusiasm of the Brazil
ians grew, until now the exposi-
ton is expected to be a tremendous
spectacle.
1t was arranged originally to
hold the exhibition from Sept. to
Dec. Is. Then as the plans began
to take in foreign countries the
date was extended several times,
and now the Brazilian government
expects to keep the exposition open
until March 81.
One Commission Named.
President Harding has appointed
a commission of four men and a
woman to work under the depart
ment Of state in making arrange
ments for the exhibits from this
country. The head of this commits
sion, D. c. Collier, is in Rio de
Janeiro now The other four me IA
bers, headed by Frank A. Harrison,
deputy commissioner general in Mr.
Golfers absence, are working in
this country with headquarters at
Washington.
Construction on the building
which is to house the United States
exhibits is already started.
Brazil has taken part in eight
expositions held in the United
States, and she has been represent
ed by some fine buildings. at the
st. Louis exposition the Brazilian
building attracted so much atten-
ton that instead of scrapping it |
when the fair was over, Brazil had |
it taken down and shipped to Rio. |
Then it was put together again for |
use as the house Of deputies. AS a |
compliment to the United States it !
was called the Monroe Palace, aft
er the author of the Monroe Doc
trine.
The United States now has the
to return the compli- |
ment. The building which we erect |
to represent the United States is /
not to be one of the f1imsy, ornate
structures typical of expositions. |
Out of the million dolIa- fund, this !
country has bought the land on
which its exhibition building is to |
stand and is erecting a $500, 900 /
building of permanent construction
and in the style of architecture ia
vored by Rio de Janeiro. 1t is to i
be two stories high, built of stone
and stucco, with the usual patio
in the center.
After the exposition the exhibit |
building will become the American
embassy. This makes our part in
the Brazilian exposition a very
practical investment. In the past.