The third, or “State Day,” the visiting governors were specially entertained, and the closing exercises held, after which the governors and representatives of different States proceeded to the sites that had been allotted their respective State pavilions and broke ground and laid corner stones with appropriate ceremonies.

In all of the exercises of the three opening days the members of the board of lady managers, by their participation in the ceremonies, represented the women of the country.

On Saturday, May 2, 1903, the following resolution was offered by Mrs. Edward L. Buchwalter, the first vice-president: 

    Whereas the board of lady managers of the Louisiana Purchase
    Exposition find it necessary to have funds at their disposal for
    the proper conduct of the business of the board; therefore be it

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to take the necessary steps to secure such an appropriation from Congress at the earliest possible date; that said committee be, and is hereby, directed to take immediate action in such matter, and that said sum shall not be less than $100,000.

Upon the adoption of this resolution Mrs. Daniel Manning was made chairman, and in accepting the appointment she asked the members of the board to use their influence with the Senators and Congressmen of their States for the passage of the bill.

At this meeting (May 2, 1903) the president announced the appointment of the following standing committees:  Executive, entertainment, foreign relations, women’s congresses, and press, and the committee on women’s work was enlarged.

An invitation was received from the Wednesday Club of St. Louis, in which a reception was tendered by that organization to the board.  The courtesy was greatly appreciated and promptly accepted, and the occasion brought together the intellectual women of that city.

No further meeting was held until December 15, 1903, which was called by the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission and held in St. Louis, at the Southern Hotel, Mrs. E.L.  Buchwalter, first vice-president, presiding.  The following communication was then read by the secretary: 

    St. Louis, U.S.A., October 21, 1903.

LADIES:  I herewith tender to you my resignation from the office of president, to which you did me the honor to elect me.  Begging you to accept the same, with my best wishes for the welfare and success of the board in the future, I remain,

    Always faithfully, yours,
    APOLLINE M. BLAIR. 
    BOARD OF LADY MANAGERS, LOUISIANA PURCHASE.

The resignation was accepted by the board, and a committee appointed to prepare suitable resolutions.  At the afternoon session Miss Dawes, chairman of this committee, presented the following: