Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-07-08
THE FAIR IS STILL AN EMPTY
MYTH; MUST IT REMAIN so7
sunsIIns, Apathy and Proerastlnatlon
Have ereusht an Ambitious Project
to q Sorry Pass

to q Sorry Pass
THE Sesqui. Centennial Fair project is
becalmed. That idle painted ship upon
| a painted ocean" was motion incarnate
compared with the befogsed and benishted
craft typifying the World Fair undertaking.
The vessel is freighted with an excellent
| idea-the celebration Of a century and half
of national independence.
But that is about the extent Of its cargo.
Philadelphians have failed to provision
the ship and they have supplied no propul.
sive power. The doldrums in which this
now unpromising craft is imprisoned are
In the main man made. Phiiadelphians-and
this charge embraces both the general pub
lie and the selected responsible manage
ment of the exposition-have made a mess
Of the project to date.
1t is futile to gloss over the record Of
Indifference, incompetence, laundering and
procrastination with fair words. Such a
policy has taxed patience to the uttermost.
This newspaper and, indeed the entire press
Of the city, has been assuming that the
fresh breezes Of progress would eventually
blow. These hopes, while charitable, are
now shown to have been delusory.
Considering the demands of :he original
proposal, first broached about two years ago,
virtually nothing has been accomplished.
Even the date for the celebration is un-
certain.
Except for a counclmanic appropriation
Of n few thousand dollars, which is now ex-
hausted, and the inconsiderable sums de-
rived from memberships in the FAIR Asso-
citation, no money has been forthcoming for
the called enterprise.
Dissensions in the directorate and high
average of public Indifference have COM
bined to hold up even congressional sanction
OF the project. The site has not been Sc
lected. 1t is true that decision was made
not to present the fair in Roxborough, at
League Island or at Hog Island.
But the boundaries of the Fairmount.
Parkway situation have never been deter
mined. Nobody knows whether the alleged
promoters Of the fair contemplate redeeming
both banks of the Schuylkill below the dam,
, the use of the Lemon Hill. Strawberry Man
sion areas, the Belmont Plateau, the West
Park or exclusively the Parkway and its
surroundings.
The fair lacks a director general. The
was expected after the conclusion of Mayor
Moore's term as head of the association.
The presidency of John Frederick Lewis
proved to be merely a pinch hitting ex-
pedient. 1t led, apparently, to still deeper
confusion and an utter negation of cap.
tancy.
Since Mr.. Lewis resignation the fair has
been without an executive. Many members
Of the Board of Directors. including several
who had sought to combat the deadly in.
ertia of the situation, are distributed in
holiday resorts. Not even the rudiments of
organized publicity for the exposition are
discerniblc.
Philadelphia MS community is far from
excited over all this bungling. This un-
emotional attitude may be largely ascribed
to the deplorable fact that there was no
systematized exploitation of the fair pro.
poSal to stir interest or inspire Imagination.
Aside from few altruists nobody appar-
emily cares straw about the Sesqui. Cen
tennial save those individuals who detect in
the project the possibilities of personal
profit.
The conventional channel in which many
of such persons operate is the political ma
chine. This instrument can hustle when
the pickings are good. Through its ma
lignant efficiency an anniversary fair can
be produced. It's character may be readily
and dismally imagined.
Such an affront to taste and to the dig
nifty Of the community as the National Ex-
port Exposition of shabby memory could
be rapidly rigged up through the co opera
tive resources of Council, the contractor
ring and "'leading citizens with predilec-
tions for "harmony."
The arboreal ornamentation would be
plum trees.
Several courses are available in the pres
ent miserable muddle. First Of all, Phila-
delphians must decide whether or not they
really want world fair in the natal city
of the Nation to commemorate $50 years of
progress.
Do they desire thlrd-rate show or one
in keeping with the historical event to be
sIgnalized?
Do they prefer fair prepared, operated
and controlled by the Gang to none at all?
Do they still entertain the wish for a
truly fitting celebration?
In spite of all the stupidity and founder
ing, that latter ideal is still attainable, at
the expense of untring effort, civic sin
certy and the generous expenditure of Il
great deal of hard cash,
Would it be advisable to defer the whole
thing until 1876 and to hold a gorgeous BIZ
centennial?
Will there be fewer elements Of retro
gresSiOn and greed in this civ whom nromi