Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-17
THE DIRECTOR GENERAL Is
THE VITAL PART OF THE FAIR
Il 10 Not Premature to Enter Into Neso
tIatlons With the Best Man In
eIaht for the Job

ENEw people will agree with the Mayor
when he says that consideration Of the
selection Of a director general for the fair
is premature. The Mayor wishes to have
the site selected and the financial arrange.
ments completed before the director general
Is chosen
But II the right man can be found for the
position the city should have the benefit Of
his advice at the earliest possible moment.
His judgment on the site and on the amount
of money needed would be invaluable. He
should be actively connected with the enter
prise from the earliest possible moment
that he mny give to 1t his undivided atten-
tion and guide It safely through the shoals
and away from tho rocks that threaten
every such undertaking in tho beginning.
Herbert q. Hoover is the kind Of man
who should be put in charge Of the fair.
When he came to this city a few weeks
ago to hear what plans were making. he
made brief speech, in which he pointed
out the course to be pursued to make the
fair successful. He spoke with broad. con
structive imagination. and when he sat down
every one who heard him had a new vision
of what the fair might be.
Although he was not willing to take
charge of the enterprise at the time. there
now are reasons for believing that he might
be induced to consider It. Nothing that
could be done would advance the project
more rapidly in public confidence than Mr..
Hoover's acceptance OF the director gen.
eralship.
1t would lift the enterprise at once into
the consciousness of the whole world, for
he is more widely known than any other
American in public life today. The foreign
Governments asked to participate in a fair
under his direction would know at once that
It deserved their respectful consideration,
and they would be inclined to make the
necessary appropriations and to advise their
citizens to send the products Of their shops
and factories here for exhibition.
The general committee in charge Of ar.
rangements is properly assumed to be much
more interested in the success of the fair
than in the personal fortunes of any one.
And It is assumed that the committee is
persuaded that the director general should
be man not seeking the place, but whom
the place seeks. No man big enough for it
will 60 out looking for the burden Of It.
If he consulted his own comfort he would
refuse to have anything to do with It.
Mr.. Hoover is big enough in every way
for the task. But he will not undertake it
unless he is asked. 1t would be wise and
prudent for the Executive Committee to
make formal offer of the place to him
without any unnecessary delay. No formal
offer of 1t was ever made to him. so there
has been no formal refusal to come here.
The city is rich enough to guarantee him
an adequate salary. 1t will have no diff
Guilty in finding the money without waiting
until all financial arrangements have been
perfected. Although the committee is busily
engaged with the selection of the site, that
task will be completed in the near future
but even that is not so pressing as to lead
to delay in entering into negotiations with
Mr. Hoover