The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-04-21

EEinEs "A bout oar A Agricultural SO.
....-.- H5AtV.

EAamss a bout OsaE' Agricultural So
ciety.
Mr. EDIToR:-I noticed in the last weeks
Telegraph, the premium list for the County
Fair, that is to be held next fall. 1t remind
led me Of several things, pleasant and UNI
pleasant. OF the unpleasant remindings
wish to speak, to lessen, if possible, the
chances of our being again afflicted in a sim
liar manner. The design of these annual
fairs, is according to old authority, ''To
promote the interests of agriculture horti-
culture manufactures &c. To awaken the
the farming community to their best inter
ests, by introducing to their notice the best
and most profitable animals for the farm;
by acquainting them with the best mode of
tillage; the hardest fruit, the most econom-
ical farming implements" in short to make
our homes better and more beautiful. The
premiums offered are to induce competition,
not SO much for the sake of the money, as
for the sake of the name, Crhs of course
saves people the trouble of judging for them
'selves.) Therefore, premiums are supposed
to be awarded to best articles regardless of
possessors. But have they always been
awarded to the best articles? In the past,
has strict justice always been regarded at
our county Fairs? Sorrow fully, | answer
'no." | say 'sorroyfully;" / mean it.
The Agricultural societyis part and parcel
Of Kenosha Co., so are the exhibitions Of that
society. Therefore any wrong or injustice
committed by or in this Association, or in
any way connected with it, Injuries the peo-
pie Of Kenosha Co., collectively and indvid-
ualIy. l wish the farmers of the county
would realize that this is county institu
ton Most of them DO realize it, once a year
when they all rush together the last day of
the Fair expecting to find q Fair worth
looking at, when they have contributed lit
tie or nothing to the exhibition
We have known many instances of injus-
tice in the past-sone cases where we strong
y suspect that real merit was sighted to
gain the favor of some influential @ person.
believe the rules of the society state that
the articles on exhibition shall be entered on
the Secretarys book by number, together
with the owners name, and that only the
class and number shall appear on the article
exhibited. | believe they also state or i'm
ply, that the various judges shall not know
to whom the articles belong; also that no
persons shall speak with the committees
while they are performing the duties of
awarding premiums, that their decisions may
in no wise be influenced. This is well, but
has the constitution" or the bylaws
ever fingered around the tables in tie hall,
Or walked around the yard when worthy
committees were passing Judgment and
heard Whose is this Mrs. so & so, go to
the secretary's book, and see who owns No.
- Glass - or heard in the yard, ''Well
this is really a very fine animal, but l do not
know who owns it,. If the "Constitution''
or the "By-laws," ever have heard this, as
have, they will be aware that there is some
thing wrong somewhere. l accuse no one. /
| only say that these things have been, and
judgment rendered according to the inform
alton obtained. There is something wrong.
chow shall it be made right p is the all
important question Is the system wrong ?
or have, III some instances, incompetent and |
INSCRIPTIONS judges been appointed? It GER
tainly must be one or the other. Perhaps
both. How can it be righted? If it is the
system that is faulty, as l have no doubt it
is, in some respects, then the farmers and
members Of the society, ought to remodel it
as speedily as possible, III the meantime /
let us dc the best we can under the old rule /
A faulty system jealousy and conscien-
tiously carried out, often accomplishes more +
real good than a good system in the hands
Of careless or incompetent persons. The du-
ties of the Judges Cah how we wish all the
judges would get full knowledge of this
one word-duties-) are, as we know, tire
some and perplexing, and often performed
under serious advantages.
What, indeed, can you imagine more per-
picking than this case. You are a member
Of committee You are called upon to =
pass Judgment upon two articles One is
best, but the other belongs to a very dear
friend of one Of your fellow judges What
S a greater dilemma, the difference is
perhaps slight. You do not wish to offend
50 the easiest way Of overcoming the diff
'ulty, is to allow the most willful of the
.hree to record verdict as he or she pIeases.
Verify it requires great deal of moral cour-
lge to be one of the important three at our
title county Fair!
April 1864