Co tyt ^resttient atiti jftemkets of tije Cjtcuttoe Commissioners' gssociation, iletois anfc Clark exposition, ^ortlanti, Oregon
Gentlemen:
Your committee on memorial appointed to draft a set of resolutions expressive of the appreciation of this organization and its members, for courtesies received at the hands of the Exposition authorities, beg leave to report as follows:
It is gratifying to record our conclusions that the Lewis and Clark Exposition has been in all respects a greater success than even its most enthusiastic supporters had a right to expect.
Its scenic location, its architectural beauty, as well as the splendid and diversified character of its exhibits, have contributed their share in making the Exposition attractive; the transportation companies have afforded liberal rates and been generous in their efforts to make the Exposition known; but added to all these, there is a spirit of cordiality, and a policy of liberality in the management, which has brought exhibitors close together and inspired that unanimity of purpose and enthusiasm of conduct so essential to the highest degree of accomplishment.
The rules of guidance, essential to all great enterprises, have been in the main formulated with the view of allowing the greatest degree of individual liberty and action, resulting in giving to each exhibitor the opportunity of working out his best individual effort; a condition which in turn, has tended to a higher degree of excellence in the character of most of the displays.
The friendly relations which have been maintained between the executive officers and the executive commissioners representing the States and Foreign Countries, have resulted in a greater degree of social intercourse and a greater number of popular receptions, banquets, parties and other entertainments than usually characterize Expositions, and given to the Lewis and Clark Exposition the distinction of being the most noted in history for its functions of good cheer.
Compared to the term, this Exposition has been characterized by more special days and by the honored visits of more special delegations than any previous World's Fair, and on all these special days, and to all the special delegations the authorities have placed themselves in evidence and manifested a desire to do their part to add to the pleasure and comfort of the visitors.
We acknowledge the courtesies extended to us by the heads of the different departments.
We have found President H. W. Goode and his assistants ever ready and willing to meet us half way in the adjustment of differences or in the concession of reasonable requests.
We commend the Director of Works, Mr. Oskar Huber, and his able corps of assistants for keeping the grounds in excellent condition, and for extending to us at all times any reasonable assistance calculated to add to our convenience or advance the purpose of our work.
To Colonel Henry E. Dosch, Chief of the Department of Exhibits, with whom we have necessarily come in close contact during and before the season of the Exposition, we express the highest degree of appreciation for his uniform courtesy and ever-manifest disposition to lend his efforts toward advancing the purpose for which we are here.
To John A. Wakefield, Director of Concessions and Admissions, and Frank B. Davison, Chief of the Department of Admissions, we are under obligations for the uniform courtesy extended to us and the manifest desire to so conduct their offices as to cause the least possible inconvenience to commissioners and exhibitors, consistent with the trying nature of their positions.
We recognize, as far as observation extends, that all departments of the Exposition Management have been conducted with signal ability and by men ever disposed to use their official influence for the good of the Exposition and the convenience and success of the exhibitors.
In this list, omitting such departments as are already mentioned, we include the efficient Secretary, Henry E. Reed, the able auditor, W. R. Mackenzie, and especially Major C. E. McDonell, the head of the Centennial Guard. Major McDonell, besides maintaining an efficient force of accommodating and gentlemanly guards, has ever been ready to lend his assistance to States and other when called on for extra service.
Throughout the respective departments, we have found the secretaries and clerks, and indeed all the force, uniformly courteous and always accommodating, and realizing that much of the success of the respective chiefs is due to the efficient characters of the men, and in this case we may say the girls, behind the guns, we wish to make special acknowledgement of our obligation to the subordinate departments of the Administration force.
Indeed, complaints have been fewer at this Exposition than are usual at such Fairs, while the disposition to hear and adjust them has been manifest in all departments. The instances in which grievances have been unadjusted are so few, that, standing as we do in the shadow of the closing days, we feel that they may be, in the main, forgiven and forgotten; and that in parting, we should be and are buoyed with exuberant spirits over our successes, and in a frame of mind to carry away only the recollections of triumphs won and friendships made and cemented, and words of praise for the greatest of Western enterprises and for the men who conceived it and conducted it to a proud and triumphant conclusion.
J. A. FILCHER, California,
Chairman Committee on Memorial
Portland, Oregon,
October 14, 1905.