CHAPTER I.

FIRST MEETING OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION.

Appointment of Commissioners by President Harrison— First Meeting Convened by Secretary Blame—
Hon. A. T. Ewing of Illinois Calls the Commission to Order in the Parlor of the Grand Pacific
Hotel in Chicago— Rev. John Barrows Makes a Prayer— John T. Harris ot Virginia, Temporary
Chairman— Thomas W. Palmer of Michigan Unanimously Selected as Permanent President— John
T. Dickinson of Texas Made Permanent Secretary in the Same Way— Sketches of the Lives of
These Two Gentlemen— Selection of Vice- Presidents— Adjournment.

N a reasonably short time after the World's Fair bill received
the Executive signature President Harrison appointed
members of the National Commission, two each from the
several States and Territories — one Republican and one
Democrat — on nominations made by the Governors of said
States and Territories, and also eight commissioners-at-
large, which had also been provided for by the act of Con-
gress creating the Commission; and on the 5th of June, 1890.
Secretary of State Elaine, issued an official letter conven-
ing the first session of the National Commission at the Grand
Pacific Hotel in Chicago on the 25th of the same month;
and on the 26th the Commission met and Hon. A. T.
Ewing, of Illinois, took the chair reserved for the Presiding
Officer, called the assemblage to order and said:

GENTLEMEN OF THE COMMISSION: — I am directed by the Department of State to call this
meeting to order, which I now do in the name of the United States. I bid you welcome to Chicago,
and am sure that wisdom and unity of purpose will mark your deliberations.

This was followed by prayer by the Rev. John Barrows, and then Hon. John T.
Harris, of Virginia, was elected Temporary Chairman.

On motion of Commissioner McKenzie, of Kentucky, amended by Mr. Waller, of
Connecticut, a committee of twelve was ordered to be appointed by the chairman,
to report the offices necessary to be filled to constitute a permanent organization.
During a lull in the proceedings, but while the subject of an election of officers was
under informal discussion, Mr. Thatcher, of New York, read a telegram from the
Hon. C. M. Depew, in which that gentleman requested that "his name should not

39

COMMISSIONERS WORLD'S COLUMBIAN COMMISSION.

1. PATRICK H. LANNAX,

Utah.
6. CHARLES H. DEERE,

Illinois.
1. ADLAI T. EWING,

Chicago.
12. LYMAN B. GOFF,

Rhode Island,
18. GARDINER C. SIMS,

Rhode Island.

2. J. T. W. TILLER,

ArkansfiR.
5. ALBERT A. WILSOX.

District Columbia.
8. THOS. E. GARVIN,

Indiana.
11. CHAS. D. McDi-FFEE,

A'e»' Hiimi'filiire.
14. PHILLIP ALLEN, JR.,
Wisconsin.

3. J. H. CLENDENINO,

Arkansas.

4. A. T. BRITTON,

District Columbia.
9. ELIJAH B. MARTINDALE,

Indiana.
10. WALTER AIKEN,

New Hampshire.
15. JOHN N. COBURN,

Wisconsin.

HISTORY OF THE WORLD'S FAIR. 41

be used in connection with the presidency of the Commission, as he was about to
undertake an extended trip to Europe, etc." Pending a report from the Committee
on Permanent Organization, the meeting adjourned until the following day.

When the commissioners re-assembled, pursuant to adjournment, on June 27th,
Mr. McKenzie from the Committee on Permanent Organization, submitted a par-
tial report, which was unanimously adopted, and which provided for the election of
a president, five vice-presidents, and a secretary; the first vice-president to be of
opposite politics to the president, and the other four to be equally divided in poli-
tics. Nominations being called for, the office of president was filled by the unanim-
ous election of Hon. Thos.W. Palmer, of Michigan, who was escorted to the chair and
accepted his high duties in the following language:

GENTLEMEN OP THE COMMISSION: — I am profoundly grateful for the compliment that you
have paid me; and yet, in accepting the compliment, I am infused with a feeling of trepidation as
to what it involves. Men, as a rule, shrink from the trials of the unknown, and that general
clause in the definition of the duties of the president, seems to me to involve much more than we
would suppose at a first glance. It places a great deal, upon the president; and it may take a
great deal away from him. In either case, he proposes not to complain. I have heard it said that
when the throes of birth were not severe in the delivery of a child, the child was liable to be of
little worth thereafter. On that account I regard my election by acclamation as a poor augury
for my future. If there had been a little more of a struggle, it might have given me a greater
experience of the peril, of the hardship of my next few years. In regard to that distinguished
man whose name has been proposed in connection with the "president — that admirable Crichton of
America, that man who is always first in finance, at the social board, on the rostrum, or in busi-
ness life — I would say that if he could have been induced to accept the position, I believe it would
have given us greater prestige abroad and at home. I telegraphed to him that it had been sug-
gested to me that if he were willing to become a candidate, I would decline to have my name
presented; but the circumstances were such that Mr. Depew felt that he could not give it the
time, and, therefore, I became a willing sacrifice. The Chair now awaits the pleasure of the
Commission.

Mr. Massey, of Delaware, offered the following resolution, which was unani-
mously adopted:

Resolved, That the Committee on Permanent Organization be instructed and directed to
consider the matter of the several vice-presidents and other officers designated by their report just
presented, and make recommendation to the Commission of suitable nominees for the same; and
before determining upon their recommendation, that they shall sit for two hours to hear the indi-
vidual views and preferences of such members of the Commission as may desire to address them
in that behalf.

On motion of Mr. Kerens, of Missouri, the Commission proceeded to the elec-
tion of a permanent Secretary.

Mr. Skiff, of Colorado, presented tne nameof Dr.John T.Dickinson, of Texas,
which was seconded by Mr. Rucker2 of North Dakota.

Mr. Dickinson was unanimously elected secretary; and on taking his place
at the secretary's desk, made the following remarks:

GENTLEMEN OF THE WORLD'S COLUMBIAN COMMISSION: — Permit me to express to you
my sincere gratitude for the high compliment you have paid me, and through me the State of

42 HISTORY OF THE WORLD'S FAIR.

Texas, which I have the honor, in part, to represent in this Commission, by electing me as youi
secretary. I fully realize the magnitude of the enterprise which we are about to inaugurate, and
if I did not conscientiously believe that I could successfully perform the duties of secretary of
the World's Columbian Commission, with credit to myself and to my State, and ultimately, I
trust, to the satisfaction of this Commission, I would not have been a candidate for the honor.
Having had considerable practical experience as secretary and general manager ot fairs and
expositions, I shall enter upon the discharge of the duties of this important office, feeling always
the responsibility of the position, and with the assurance of your confidence and support, I will
endeavor to bring all the fidelity, intelligence, zeal and industry I may possess toward the satis-
factory performance of the varied and exacting duties that belong, both directly and indirectly,
to the office of the secretary of the World's Columbian Commission. Again thanking you for the
honor conferred upon me, I will now proceed to enter upon the discharge of the duties of
the office.

On motion of Mr. Widener the following resolution was adopted:
Resolved, That a committee of seven be appointed to communicate with the local directors
of the World's Columbian Exposition of Chicago, and notify them that this Commission is now
permanently organized and prepared to receive any communications they may have to submit.

The next day, June 28th, the organization was further perfected by election of
the following vice-presidents, from first to fifth, in the order in which they are
named: Thomas M. Waller, Connecticut; M. H. De Young, California; Davidson
B. Penn, Louisiana; G. W. Allen, New York; Alex. B. Andrews, North Carolina.
The next step taken was to appoint a committee, consisting of Commissioners
Smalley, Kerens, Bromberg, Thacher, Widener and Sewell, instructed by resolu-
tion to investigate and report upon the following lines of inquiry: Whether the
World's Columbian Exposition had secured the legally prescribed amount of sub-
scriptions to the capital stock; whether, in fact the tenth part, or 10 per centum of
such subscription had been paid in by the shareholders; and whether the corpora-
tion had instituted proper measures to obtain subscriptions to an additional amount
of five -millions as contemplated by the Act of Congress.

After this the Commission met daily and was engaged in mapping out the
details of a complete legislative and executive organization. During these sittings
the following resolution was adopted:

Resolved, That this Commission is satisfied that the World's Columbian Exposition of
Chicago has an actual, bona fide and valid subscription to its capital stock which will secure th«s
payment of at least five million dollars, of which not less than five hundred thousand dollars has
been paid in, and that the further sum of five million dollars, making in all ten million dollars
will be provided by said corporation in ample time for its needful use during the prosecution of
the work for the complete preparation of said Exposition.

On the 3rd of July an adjournment was had to October 8, 1890, unless sooner
called together by the president.

Thomas Wetherill Palmer, President of the Commission, comes of a sturdy
stock, his ancestors on both sides having been among the early settlers of the con-
tinent which Columbus opened up to civilization. His mother's people were Rhode
Islanders, in direct d iscent from Roger Williams; and her father, a native of Mas-
sachusetts, and one of those who fought with Warren at Bunker Hill, was after the

WILLIAM T. BAKER,

SECOND PEES1DENT OF THE WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION.

44

HISTORY OF THE WORLD'S FAIR.

Revolution appointed by President Jefferson to a Federal judgeship in the Terri-
tory of Michigan, and held court in the wilderness while yetTecumseh was a living
terror to the land. Thomas, the father of President Palmer, had birth in the State
of Connecticut, but was a pioneer in the settlement of the Northwest, and the year
1809 found him already on the frontier line, conducting a lucrative trade with the
Indians at the post of Detroit, where, twenty-one years later, June 25, 1830, the
subject of our sketch was born. The younger Palmer literally grew with the coun-
try, and by the time that his manhood approached, Territories had become States,
forests had given way to cities, society had taken root in the land of the savage,
and the spire of the church and belfry of the school were rising from the bosom of
the prairies. He enjoyed the benefit of an excellent scholastic education, was
assiduous in his studies, passed through the course at St. Clair College, and took his
degree of graduation at the University of Michigan. Some months were then
passed in foreign travel, and while abroad he made a pedestrian tour of Spain and
acquired such familiarity with the language and the people of the country as was
afterward to serve a valuable purpose to his own government. Returning to this
country, Mr. Palmer entered upon mercantile pursuits, was for some time engaged
in business in Wisconsin, and subsequently conducted large enterprises in Detroit,
where he now resides. His success as a merchant was the result of diligence and
probity, which also secured the esteem of his fellow citizens. Later on in life Mr.
Palmer became an active participant in politics, acquiring large influence, and filling
many positions of trust with honor to himself, and to the satisfaction of his constit-
uents. He was a member of the Board of Estimates of the State of Michigan, and
later served in the Legislature for several terms' as a member of the Upper House.
Bringing to each and every station an enlightened intelligence and strong sense of
duty, he was now chosen as one of Michigan's representatives in the Senate of the
United States, occupying this high position for the full term of six years. In 1887
Senator Palmer was chosen President of the Water-ways Convention, held in Sault
Saint Marie under the auspices of the Duluth Chamber of Commerce, and in that
relation rendered valuable assistance to the cause of inter-lake navigation. In 1889
he was appointed by President Harrison minister plenipotentiary and envoy extra-
ordinary to the court of Spain.

Mr. Palmer has fulfilled all that was expected of him. He early made known
that he would accept no salary, and in many noble and elegant ways he has given
proofs of his high honor, superior administrative ability and excellent parliament-
ary tactics, graciousness of personality and exceeding liberality. His entertain-
ments of Eulalia, the Duke of Veragua and other distinguished personages as well
as his unostentatious dinner to officers of the Commission will live long in many
memories.

John Thilman Dickinson, Secretary of the Commission, was born in Hous-
ton, Texas, June 18, 1858, descended from a sturdy line of ancestors, who, on many
a hard fought field poured out their lives amid the fires of martyrdom. Scotch his-
tory is permeated with the name of Dickinson, and always in connection with deeds
of valor and honor. Early an orphan, Col. Dickinson was educated liberally at

HISTORY OF THE WORLD'S FAIR. 45

home and abroad, and graduating in several of the Academic schools ot the Uni-
versity of Virginia, in June, 1879, received the diploma of Bachelor-of-Law from
that venerable institution. Returning to Texas he became one of the owners and
the editor of the Houston Telegraph, and entered at once and actively upon public
life. In January, 1881, while on a visit to Austin, the capital of the State, he was
elected secretary of the House of Representatives of the Texas Legislature, and
in May, 1882, was elected secretary of the Texas State Capital Board for supervis-
ing the construction of the largest State House in the Union and probably the
largest red granite building in the world. During this time he was also elected
secretary of the State Penitentiary Board, and several other State boards, and filled
these positions under three governors, Hon. O. M. Roberts, Hon. John Ireland and
Hon. L. S. Ross, and also served on the staff of Governor Ireland with the rank of
colonel. In 1888 Col. Dickinson was elected general manager of the International
Fair Association of San Antonio, and conducted the organization and preparation
of the Texas-Mexican Exposition, which was successfully held in that city in No-
vember of the same year. This was regarded by the people as the best arranged
and most attractive exposition of the products and resources of Texas and Mexico
that had ever been held in the State. He remained at San Antonio as secretary
and general manager of this Exposition Association until he visited Chicago at the
time that city entered the contest for the location of the World's Fair. His services
were immediately engaged and he was sent to interview members of Congress in
several States in behalf of Chicago; he met the Chicago committee in Washington
in December, 1889, and remained with them until Chicago was victorious in the
contest. When the bill had passed, creating the World's Columbian Exposition,
and providing for two commissioners from each State, Colonel Dickinson was ap-
pointed by General L. S. Ross, Governor ot Texas, as the Democratic commissioner
to represent that State.

Mr. Dickinson has been with the Commission from beginning to end; and
for his painstaking methods and remarkable urbanity, he has earned for himself a
degree of admiration and popularity that will encompass him so long as he lives.
"I have never met a man so agreeable and so prompt in an official way," has been
said of Secretary Dickinson not hundreds, but thousands of times.

COMMISSIONERS WORLD'S COLUMBIAN COMMISSION.

1. FREDERICK G. BROUBEBO,
Alabama.

6. RICHARD TORN-BULL,

Florida.

7. GEOBGE A. MANNING,

Idaho.

12. JAS. A. McKENZiE,

Kentucky.

13. DAVIDSON B. PENN,

Louisiana.

2. OSCAR R. HUNDLEY,
Alabama.

5. C. F. A. BlELBY,

Florida.

8. JOHN E. STEARNS,
Idaho.
11. JNO. BENNETT,

Kentucky,

14. THOS. J. WOODWARD,
Louisiana.

3. MICHAEL H. DE YOCNO,

California.

4. WM. FORSYTH.

California.
9. JOSEPH EIBOECK,
Iowa.
10. WM. F. KING,

Iowa.

15. ACGCSTDS R. BIXBT,
Maine.

HISTORY OF THE WORLD'S FAIR. 47