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February 29, 1904.
Col. Henry E. Do sell,
Portland, Oregon.
Ey dear Colonel:
A clipping which appeared in the Oregonian recently
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informed me that you had been appointed Director of Exhibitions. I have hesitated for sometime addressing a communication to you and wondering as to whether I had best congratulate the Exposition Company or you. I am of the opinion, however, that the Company
is to be congratulated and not you.     I am well pleased that you have associated yourself with the Company, as it will add strength to the work we are all engaged in and bring your friends into line to help and assist push the good work along.
I have had a very interesting journey since I left Portland in January.    Kentucky,  I am satisfied, will be represented with a $10,000. appropriation.   Mississippi, I am confident, will also be represented, as the Committee on Expositions assured me before I left there that a bill will be introduced appropriating $10,000 for the purpose of transferring the exhibit from St. Louis to Oregon.
South Carolina will not be represented.    The Governor of the State favored an appropriation for St. Louis and for Oregon but the Legislature refused to accede to his suggestion.    However, I was accorded the privilege of appearing "before a joint Committee
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from the Senate and House but they informed me that the financial condition of the State was such that they could not and would not make the appropriation for either of these expositions.
Virginia will be represented.    There is no doubt of this in my mind now,  although there was some doubt when I left Richmond,
While in Washington I recommended the appointment of W. E. Matthews, a Virginian by birth and a prominent attorney of Washington.   After fully going over the ground with Judge Matthews and Representative Williamson we concluded that it was possible, with the expenditure of some money and considerable energy, that Virginia could be worked into line.
Owing to the death of the wife of the Governor,  the Legislature of Hew Jersey adjourned the day I arrived there, for a week, in respect to the memory of the Governor's wife.     I return there from here.
Rhode Island will be represented without doubt.    I have positive assurances from Massachusetts, from the Governor and members of the various Committees that I have met in Boston and the officers of the St. Louis Commission, that the State wrll surely be represented.
I am here now for the purpose of inviting the State of Hexv York to participate and doubt not our success here.    On my way west I stop at Maryland and from there will visit Washington and then Columbus, 0,, probably dropping down to Kentucky, and from
there to Pes Moines, Iowa.    Expect to return to Portland between the 25th of March and April 1st.
I have met many warm friends of yours in the states I have visited, men who met you at Chicago, Buffalo, Omaha and Charleston,  and they all were desirous of being remembered to you and hoped that you would, be associated with the Exposition to be held in Portland next year.
Again congratulating the Company upon your acceptance of the trust, I am,
Yours very sincerely,