DAILY PROGRAMMES.
Besides the formal exercises on special days, the programs of which have been
given in the preceding pages, each day had its special attractions. Bulletins
were posted at conspicuous places on the grounds each morning announcing these
special features and the daily papers also published them. These attractions
were usually given in the afternoon and evening and consisted of Band Concerts
in the Plaza, Life-Saving Service Practice, on the Lagoon, Indian Sham Battles
and Dances, Ascensions of the War Balloons and Grand Fireworks in the evening.
All of these special features of the Exposition were much enjoyed and
appreciated. The excellent bands of national reputation employed by the
musical department were a source of continual delight and did much to hold the
interest of the people of Omaha in the Exposition after they had thoroughly
seen the exhibits and become tired of the Midway.
There were many celebrations which have not been mentioned but which were given
the dignity of Special days. In all one hundred and forty-three Special Days
were designated and that there is no doubt that these and other special
features added many thousands to the attendance and were a source of much
pleasure and interest to the visitors.
BUREAU OF EDUCATION.
The Educational Features of the Exposition were entrusted to a bureau of
education organized by the Exhibits Department among the women of the state of
Nebraska. In all sixty-four meetings of congresses and other educational
gatherings were held in the churches of Omaha and on the Exposition Grounds.
Some of these meetings were of almost national interest and many noted men and
women of the country were brought to Omaha and the Exposition on account of the
work of this bureau of education.
GENERAL MANAGER.
Major Thaddeau S. Clarkson was first appointed assistant to the president and
afterwards was elected General Manager. His principal duties consisted of
arranging the details of the daily programs and in assisting in the
entertainment of distinguished guests. These duties were performed with single
ability and tact.
BUREAU OF ENTERTAINMENT.
By Mrs. Clement Chase.
The plans for the entertainment of guests of honor at the Transmississippi
Exposition, were most carefully considered. To assist in this work it was
decided to organize a Bureau of Entertainment, consisting entirely of ladies.
In this the president of the exposition was influenced somewhat by the success
achieved by the management of the Columbian Exposition along these lines, and
was guided also, by what had been observed more recently at the Nashville
Exposition, where the idea had been carried still further by the appointment of
a lady president with a large committee to assist, made up of ladies chosen
from the most influential families of Tennessee. it had been found that by
means of sub-committees, chosen as occasion might require, arrangements could
be speedily made at any moment for the entertainment of small parties of
visitors to whom hospitality should be shown; and when larger groups or very
distinguished guests were expected the entire committee could be summoned to do
the honors.
At Omaha the Bureau of Entertainment was composed of fifty ladies, headed by an
Executive Committee of ten, as follows:
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
Mrs. Clement Chase, Mrs. Henry T. Clark,
President Vice-President
Mrs. F.P. Kirkendall Mrs. William A. Redick,
Treasurer Secretary.
Mrs. Gurdon W. Wattles Mrs. J.E. Summers, Jr.
Mrs. Gilbert M. Hitchcock Mrs. John L. Webster
Mrs. George A. Joslyn Mrs. C.W. Lyman
The other members of this bureau were as follows:
Mrs. W.F. Allen Mrs. W.N. Babcock
Mrs. John N. Baldwin Mrs. J.E. Baum
Mrs. G.F. Bidwell Mrs. E.L. Bierbower
Mrs. John S. Brady Mrs. Arthur D. Brandeis
Mrs. Addison S. Carter Mrs. Paul Charlton
Mrs. Frank Colpetzer Mrs. W.J. Connell
Mrs. John C. Cowin Mrs. Edward Cudahy
Mrs. George B. Dandy Mrs. C.N. Dietz
Mrs. Edward Dickinson Mrs. THomas Kilpatrick
Mrs. Thomas R. Kimball Mrs. Charles T. Kountze
Mrs. George W. Lininger Mrs. W.H. McCord
Mrs. T.J. Mackay Mrs. Charles F. Manderson
Mrs. W.B. Meikle Mrs. George W. Mercer
Mrs. J.M. Metcalf Mrs. E.W. Nash
Mrs. Charles Offutt Mrs. Thomas M. Orr
Mrs. J.N.H. Patrick Mrs. Edward P. Peck
Mrs. W.S. Poppleton Mrs. Abraham L. Reed
Mrs. Arthur Remington Mrs. Andrew Rosewater
Mrs. Alvin Saunders Mrs. Charles Shiverick
Mrs. Arthur C. Smith Mrs. Charles E. Squires
Mrs. Danile H. Wheeler, Jr. Mrs. Charles M. Wilhelm
Mrs. Henry Yates.
Rooms were arranged for the use of the Bureau of Entertainment in the gallery
of the Mines & Mining Building. Draperies of cool green, mattings and wicker
furniture gave a delightful air of comfort to these apartments, which were much
sought by those who wished to pass a restful quarter of an hour. The rooms
were found to be convenient for all but the largest receptions. As a rule the
luncheons were given at the official cafe, though on several occasions light
refreshments were served here.
The ladies of the Bureau of Entertainment organized and carried out the flower
parade, which was noted as one of the most beautiful features of the Exposition
summer; and they also arranged the masked carnival that was held on the
pavement of the Grand Court surrounding the Lagoon. The series of
entertainments so energetically forwarded by this committee, culminated upon
the arrival of President McKinley accompanied by several of his cabinet and
distinguished members of the Diplomatic Corps. Mrs. McKinley was expected and
a luncheon had been arranged in her honor at the Omaha Club. She was prevented
at the last moment, from coming, much to the regret of all. The luncheon was
therefore given to the ladies of the Diplomatic Corps and the wives of the
Cabinet Officers. Mme. Wu Ting Fang, wife of the Chinese Minister and Mme.
Wing Pom Ye, wife of the Corean Minister, occupied the seats of honor. it was
the most elaborate and one of the most brilliant entertainments of the summer.
This department made a most favorable impression upon the guests of the
Exposition, particularly upon those from the East, who were very appreciative
of the steps taken to make their visits pleasant. The governors of nearly all
the western states and their staffs, together with their ladies, were shown
attention upon their visits; and in many ways the Bureau of Entertainment was
found to fit in admirably with the executive machinery of the Exposition.
LEGAL AFFAIRS OF THE EXPOSITION.
Carroll S. Montgomery, General Counsel.
The work of the General Counsel in this connection began with the preparation
of the Articles of Incorporation before the Exposition was organized in
December 1895, and continued through the whole period from that time until and
including the last meeting of the Board of Directors held June 30, 1902, at
which, by appropriate resolutions prepared and presented by the General
Counsel, copies hereinbefore, the affairs and business of the corporation were
declared fully consummated and performed and further business by or in the name
of the corporation was discontinued.
After the completion of the organization and during the EXPLOITATION period of
the Exposition, aside from regular attendance upon the meetings of the Board of
Directors of which the General Counsel was a member, the services performed
consisted chiefly in oral counsel to the Board and to the officers. In
addition to this were the preparation or approval of various documents such as
resolutions, official communications, records of meetings, subscription
contracts and the like.
Similar services were performed in the matters of the REORGANIZATION and of
locating the Exposition.
Beginning with December 16, 1896, when the general operations under the Board
of Directors commenced, the legal affairs became more extensive and
complicated, occupying a very large portion of the attention and time of the
General Counsel and also of others whose assistance from time to time was
procured. No step was taken, involving legal questions, either by the Board of
Directors, the Executive Committee or the officers, without advice either oral
or written. The form and general substance of all contracts which were used in
every department were determined upon under the advice of the General Counsel.
Such contracts in writing during the period of the Exposition aggregated in
number 406, of which 159 were general contracts and 247 were concession
contracts. The majority of these contracts were actually read and approved in
writing by the General Counsel. Aside form daily oral counsel, a large number
of written opinions were given by letter or otherwise. During the actual
progress of the Exposition, such written counsel was of almost daily
occurrence.
All of this time and service from the beginning to the end was rendered by the
general Counsel without compensation and in complete accord with his associate
officers and Directors who in like manner so freely contributed their time and
services to the enterprise, for the success of which they pledged themselves.
Among the transactions involving legal attention was the matter of the bonds
voted by Douglas County in aid of the Exhibit of the County at the Exposition.
After these bonds had been voted, their validity was questioned. Proceedings
were instituted and conducted to a successful conclusion in the Supreme Court
of Nebraska whereby these bonds were adjudged legal and the proceeds thereof
devoted to the purpose intended. In February and April 1898, when it appeared
doubtful about the Exposition realizing sufficient funds for the payment of its
obligations, the Board of Directors ordered the prosecution of actions against
delinquent subscribers for the collection of their unpaid subscriptions. A
large number of these actions were commenced, but, before that period was
reached in their prosecution when the collection of judgments might be
enforced, the financial success of the Exposition had become assured and it
became certain that not only all expenses would be paid but also that a portion
of the subscriptions of the stockholders would be returned. Thereupon by order
of the Board of Directors, these proceedings were ordered discontinued and
accordingly the cases were dismissed, the costs and expenses paid and the
business terminated.
Aside from these actions against the delinquent subscribers, there were
commenced and prosecuted either to settlement or to final judgment 34 cases in
which the Exposition was involved. These cases were distributed among, and
arose out of the business of, the various departments in the following
proportion: Publicity and Promotion, 1; Buildings and Grounds, 12; Exhibits,
3; Concessions and Privileges 16; Transportation, 2.
In six of the 34 cases the Exposition was plaintiff. In the others the
Exposition was a defendant. In 22 of the cases against the Exposition, money
demands were asserted aggregating $234,150.79. Of these cases, five were for
alleged personal injuries in which the aggregate sum claimed was $106,304.60.
All of these cases were finally disposed of, the last one terminating in May,
1902. The total expense to the Exposition on account of the litigation
represented in these cases, was $32,157.16 of which $24,815.02 was paid in
settlement of the various claims, $3,960.44 was paid for costs and expenses and
$3,381.70 for legal fees.
Considering the character, scope and magnitude of the Exposition enterprise,
the length of time occupied from the organization of the corporation to its
end, it is apparent without controversy that its litigation was remarkably
limited and that the results thereof were especially favorable. It is
submitted that in this, as in all other respects, no parallel can be found in
the history of other Expositions.
All the work and proceedings touching the legal affairs of the Exposition were
conducted and had with full knowledge, and approval in all respects, of the
officers particularly interested, and of the Executive Committee. The General
Counsel was at all times at hand responding cheerfully and promptly to all
demands upon his time and attention and for his services. From the beginning
he was sanguine and insisted that the ultimate result would be a great success
and to that end in harmony with the other officers and Directors, he worked
enthusiastically, courageously, energetically, and to his efforts and labor
should be credited no small share of the successful results attained.
THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT EXHIBIT.
The exhibits from the various Departments of National Government, housed in the
beautiful building at the west end of the Grand Court, were objects of more
than usual interest and concern, and from the educational and instructive
points of view, were of greatest value in securing permanent results in the
broadening and uplifting of the minds of exposition patrons. This building was
constantly thronged with the studious, old and young, and the scholars from the
schools, showing the greatest interest in the exhibits, curious to learn all
about the functions of government in War and Peace, were generously and
intelligently assisted by the officials in charge of the various exhibits.
Nothing more clearly shows the value, to all of our people, of such exhibits of
Governmental operations and methods, than the general interest shown by the
young people of our schools in all the various exhibits, placed and shown in
this great building. The effects of such careful study and instruction are
broad and far reaching, and many such exhibitions could not fail to be of
greatest benefit to us as a nation.
The building was the largest possible under amounts appropriated by Congress
for such purpose; the interior space was finely arranged, the exhibits were
splendidly grouped and classified with the result that all articles were
conspicuously placed. The officials and parties in charge were at all times
courteous and kind to visitors and nothing but words of praise and commendation
came from those who visited and attentively examined and studied the exhibits.
There was no one feature of the Government exhibits more generally interesting
to exposition patrons than the Indian Congress. The spectacular sham battles
aroused attention and enthusiasm, and led to the more careful study as to
habits, modes of life and customs of our red brothers. The Indian Congress was
certainly one of the great features of the Exposition.
Following is an abridged copy of the report submitted to the Government by the
Board of Management concerning their trust and the manner in which said trust
was administered by them. This abridged report and the chapter on the Indian
Congress has been kindly supplied by Hon. W. V. Cox, Secretary to the Board of
Management of the U.S. Government exhibits.