THE HISTORY OF THE CONGRESS 17 



INVITATIONS TO FOREIGN SPEAKERS 



The members of the Organizing Committee, armed with very strong 

 credentials from the State Department to the diplomatic service 

 abroad, sailed in the early summer of 1903 to present the invitation of 

 the Exposition to the selected scientists. Dr. Newcomb sailed May 6, 

 Professor Miinsterberg May 30, and Professor Small June 6. A general 

 interest in the project had at this time become aroused, and there 

 was assured a respectful hearing. Both the President of the United 

 States and the Emperor of Germany expressed their warm interest 

 in the plan, and the State Department at Washington gave to the 

 Congress both on this occasion and on succeeding occasions its effect- 

 ive aid. The Director of Congresses wishes to express his obligations 

 both to the late Secretary Hay and to Assistant-Secretary Loomis for 

 their valuable suggestions and courteous cooperation in all matters 

 relating to the foreign participation. Strong support was also given 

 the Committee and the plan of the Congress by Commissioner-General 

 Lewald of Germany, and Commissioner-General Lagrave of France. 

 Throughout the entire Congress period, both of these energetic Com- 

 missioners-General placed themselves actively at the disposition of 

 the Department in promoting the attendance of scientists from their 

 respective countries. 



Geographically the division between the three members of the 

 Organizing Committee gave to Dr. Newcomb, France; to Professor 

 Miinsterberg, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland; and to Professor 

 Small, England, Russia, Italy, and a part of Austria. It was also 

 agreed that Dr. Newcomb should have special oversight of the 

 departments of Mathematics, Physics, Astronomy, Biology, and 

 Technology; Professor Miinsterberg, special charge of Philosophy, 

 Philology, Art, Education, Psychology, and Medicine; and that 

 Professor Small should look after Politics, Law, Economics, Theology, 

 Sociology, and Religion. The Committee worked independently of 

 each other, but met once during the summer at Munich to compare 

 results and to determine their closing movements. 



The public and even the Exposition authorities have probably 

 never realized the delicacy and the extremely careful adjustment 

 exercised by the Organizing Committee in their summer's campaign. 

 Scientists are as a class sensitive, jealous of their reputations, and 

 loath to undertake long journeys to a distant country for congress 

 purposes. The amount of labor devolving upon the Committee to 

 find the scientists scattered over all Europe; the careful and pains- 

 taking presentation to each of the plan of the Congress; the appeal 

 to their scientific pride; the hearing of a thousand objections, and 

 the answering of each; the disappointments incurred; the substi- 

 tutions made necessary at the last moment; all sum up a task of 



