Do you remember that time when the Vice President of the United States was refused admission to the World’s Columbian Exposition? Because Adlai Stevenson had forgotten to bring his pass that day, he was held up by a gateman just trying to follow the rules.
The Boston Globe reported on a similar “comedy of errors” enacted at the 63rd Street entrance gate just three days later, on the morning of May 26, 1893:
As usual, the principals were Columbian Guard and national commissioners. First, Director Schwab, also a member of the Council of Administration, was refused admission on his official pass and arrested. Next Commissioner Massey, who is also a member of the Council of Administration, was likewise denied entrance. A few minutes later Commissioner Richard Mansfield White* was placed under arrest because he insisted upon entering the grounds on his pass. Next, Commissioner Stearns from Idaho was also stopped and subjected to indignant treatment.
World’s Columbian Exposition Director Charles H. Schwab [Images from Bancroft, Hubert Howe The Book of the Fair. The Bancroft Company, 1893.]
National Commissioner George V. Massey of Delaware [Images from Bancroft, Hubert Howe The Book of the Fair. The Bancroft Company, 1893.]
National Commissioner Col. John E. Stearns of Idaho. [Images from The Illustrated World’s Fair Vol. 1, No. 1, 1890.]
A moment later Vice-President Michael de Young came up to the gate, and the guards likewise refused to admit him on his pass. A half dozen other commissioners were subjected to the same treatment and compelled to pay an admission fee. When Commissioner de Young was stopped he displayed his regular commissioner’s badge, then he showed his official vice-presidential badge, then produced his card, but even all of that did not suffice. Thereupon he seized the officious guard, pushed him out of the way, and forced his entrance into the grounds.
Michael de Young of California, Second Vice-President of the World’s Columbian Commission. [Image from The Illustrated World’s Fair Oct. 1891.]
The guard endeavored to stop him, but a well landed blow laid that officious gentleman low. Mr. de Young then walked to Superintendent Tucker‘s office of the Bureau of Admissions and launched a formal complaint. Mr. de Young and the other commissioners are emphatic in their denunciation of the maladministration of the Bureau of Admissions.
* Richard Mansfield White, brother of architect Stanford White, was removed from his position on the National Commission by President Cleveland in July 1893.
SOURCE
“Commissioners Arrested” Boston Globe May 27, 1893, p. 5.