But, referring to the rules:  That board and the Commission can advise you not to enforce certain rules, when the enforcement of them would lead you into difficulties, but just as long as the rules you make for yourselves are within the scope of authority and duties granted us and prescribed to you, you can take directions from the board or from the Commission if you choose to, but you do not need to do this unless you choose to.

In response to the request of Mrs. Manning that Senator Thurston say a few words, he responded: 

Perhaps everybody has been a little delinquent in getting this board organized and in position where it can take up some proper work that will be of benefit and be agreeable to the ladies.  I think, perhaps, without going into past history, that the board of lady managers perhaps has failed to do what it might have done in the way of formulating a plan for its own participation in the exposition and that was growing out of circumstances which no longer exist.  I believe now this board is organized with a president who is heart and soul for the success of the exposition.  Without being tied up to anything in the way of local interests, it will be better able to compete with the coming situation.  There is, and has been a great deal of hesitancy on the part of the National Commission about attempting to outline a plan of action for this board of lady managers.  We provided for your appointment according to law, and we fell into the belief, I hope it was not an error, that the ladies on this board would know a great deal better what they wanted to do, what they ought to do, and what would be best for them to do than this board of men, who had never had anything to do with these ladies’ departments except to participate in the enjoyment of them when so fortunate as to be present.

Now, you have prepared and outlined and accepted your rules and regulations which were approved by our Commission along in June, I think.  They were prepared in April—­those rules and regulations were more than regulations for the procedure of your board, as I recollect them, they very largely outlined the field of work for the board of lady managers.  They were adopted and modified a little by the National Commission and sent to the local company.  They were prepared in April, promptly sent to the local company because we thought without their action they could not go into effect and there they have been ever since.  To a limited extent it was never necessary to send them there, so far as the organization and management of the board of lady managers is concerned—­but, when you step over that or attempt to outline the scope of your work, and your participation in the affairs of the exposition, that part must go to the National Commission and be approved.

Suppose, for instance, these ladies decided they would like to participate in one of the National Congresses, that they would take