Evening star., 1950-05-08
Sesqui Group
ToDecideFate
0fFreedon Fair
Meeting This Week
To Consider Methods
Of Assuring Success

The fate Of the Freedom Fair
today was said to hinge on an ex-
ecutive committee meeting Of
the SeSouicentennial Commission
planned for later this week.
This was disclosed by Carter T.
Barron, the commissions eXecu-
tive vice chairman, who returned
to the city after business trip.
He declared If the fair is TO be
held, it must gain more support OF
Washington and of Government
agencies than it has had,
The major hurdle now is to find
a 200-acre site for the fair. which
originally was planned as an ex-
position of American ingenuity for
$50 years. 1t was enviSioned as
the major part Of Washington
l50th birthday celebration,
MaSsman. Barron Confer.
Paul NJ. MaSSman. the commits
sion's general manager. conferred
today with Mr.. Barron and gave
him laSt-minute information on
developments.
Mr.. Barron said labor and in
duStry have shown more interest
in wanting TO place exhibits in
the fair than have Washington
citizens or Government agencies.
All Sesqui committees are to
meet at 3 pm. today at the Dis
trict Building to map general
plans for 1850 and members Of
the Executive Committee are ex-
pected to attend. It's members will
be polled on mutually satisfac-
tory time at which to hold their
meeting on the fair.
Attorney General McGrath is
sued an opinion last week turning
down the commission plan to set
up a non-proflt corporation to
handle the Freedom Fair. Mr.. Nc
Grath suggested the commission
might want to go back to Con-
greSs for additional legislation to
cover this point. But, remember
ing the fight he joined to get the
So million appropriation for the
commission. Mr.. Barron made 1t
clear today that he personally is
not inclined to bother Congress
again.
Statement Issued.
Mr.. Barron's statement on the
fair outcome follows:
The Executive Committee of
the National Capital Sesquicen-
tennial Commission will meet this
week to consider future plans for
Freedom Fair in the light OF the
Attorney Generals opinion that
a non-proflt corporation may not
be organized to manage the fair.
While MANAGEMENT by a nom
profit corporation would have, in
the opinion of the commission,
provided the simplest and most
workable means of bringing Free
dom Fair into being. there are
alternative plans for the fair and
its management which will be con-
Sidered at the forthcoming Execu-
tive Committee meeting.
Whether any of these alterna-
tive plans will be adopted depends
in large measure on the support
OF the Washington community
and OF other agencies of the Gov
ernment.
Success Must Be Assured.
Freedom Fair as it has been
envlSioned will be a huge enter
prise involving the expenditure of
millions of dollars. The commits
sion will De willing to undertake
the fair only If the plans which
it will consider and the support 1t
receives offer a guarantee of its
success.
In the event that the commits
sion decides to abandon plans for
the fair. substantial portion of
the appropriation which Congress
has provided for the commission
work will be frozen and returned
to the Treasury. Work on other
phases Of the commissions activ-
tiles will. Of course, go forward
unabated."