Repoet of Boaed of Geneeal Managers. 17 



intended at all hazards to keep the faith then pledged. Who believes 

 now that Chicago would have been successful in that memorable yet 

 friendly struggle, if there had been a suspicion of her ability to perform 

 what she undertook ? 



Were I a resident of Chicago I would repel any propositions for aid 

 from the general government, except in the form of a loan, secured as I 

 have before outlined. Her fair name should not be compromised, nor 

 her wealth and greatness belitt'ed by the failure to keep her promise, 

 which won for her the prestige and honor of being the city chosen by the 

 authority of general government as the fittest and best equipped for 

 entertaining the nation's guests while attending the greatest exposition 

 of the achievements in the world's industries of the nineteenth century. 

 Whatever else may be done to secure financial aid and relief let not this 

 be done. 



Other speeches were made by Messrs. Palmer, Baker, Davis, Charles 

 S. Smith, president of the New York Chamber of Commerce, and 

 J. Seaver Page, to whose judicious management the success of the 

 banquet was largely due. The moral effect of this well-organized 

 movement was felt not only at Albany when the Legislature met, but 

 throughout the country. The East and the West, in spite of false 

 rumors, were united in the Unal preparations to make this great indus- 

 trial enterprise national in its character ; its failure, if such could be 

 admitted, to rest on all alike ; its glory to be shared by all Americans. 



