Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-10-14

From the Congregationalist.l
AGRICULTURAL FAIRS.
BY REV. W. II. H. MURRAY.

The number of Agricultural Fairs held
annually in New England is astonishing.
There are, suppose, tour or five hundred,
all told. Beginning with the New Esg-
land Fair. which meets the first of Sep
tember, they continue in swift succession
for nearly two months, until almost every
town has had its local exhibition. That
these annual gatherings Of the people are
conducive of good, no one at all convers-
ant with the workings OF the agricultural
mind can deny. They serve in manifold
ways to quicken thought, enlarge the field
OF the farmers observations, by which his
knowledge is enlarged. and stir with q
healthy emulation not only individuals but
neighboring sections. An honorable local
pride is engendered, and innocent rival
ries are established which potentlv effect
for good the local agriculture of the coun-
try. 3 hsa Hss
1t is desirable from every point of view,
therefore, that the management OF these
annual exhibitions. should be as nearly
perfect as human management may ever
become. 1t is necessary that it should be
wise and impartial in the matter of offer
ing and awarding premiums and prizes to
the exhibitors, so that merit may have its
just recognition and general satisfaction
given to the public. Rings are bad
enough in politics and finance, but rings
at our agricultural fairs are worse yet. Let
| a suspicion arise that the premiums on
horses, for instance, are virtually awarded
before ever the fair has been held; that
this or that horse is singled out for unde-
served elevation that the whole thing is
'cut and dried" as the saying is, and a
fatal blow has been struck at the enter
prise. The exhibition may indeed come
off as advertised, but it will be attended
! with i'll feeling among the exhibitors and
popular disaffection.
1t is upon this subject. how should q
fair-the New England Fair, for instance
be managed to give satisfaction to the
exhibitors and the public, that wish to
make few suggestions in this paper.
In the first place, then, let ns consider
the matter of the ccmmittees. sagas
The first point we observe in respect to
them is that they are now in point of num-
bers too large. The ordinary number I.
perhaps, is ten or twelve. Such a COM
mittee is unwieldly. Its members never
can be got together at the call of the
President. Sometimes only two or three
out Of the dozen appointed will put in
their appe arance. Then the hunt begins
for new men to make good the number.
But it is not easy to find such number Of
competent and impartial men at any time !;
much less can they be found amid the
hurry and tumult of fair ground. The
chairman of the committee must take
whomsoever he can find willing to serve.
Fit or unfit, he drafts them in. When the
exhibitors present their stock before the
committee they see at glance that the
real committee is not there. Men who
know nothing of what constitutes excel
lence in the class of animals they are to
sit in Judgment on are before them. This
change of the committee they resent.
Hence grumbling and dissatisfaction arise.
Again, it is just here that the 'ring"
fourishes. They have been looking for
just this opportunity to capture commit
tee. Let us suppose that stock horses are
called up. The original committee as ap-
pointed by the society consisted OF doz-
en- men, chosen from different sections of
New England, and known to the exhibit
ors of these horses to be competent and
impartial men. But when the committee
is called only four of'the twelve report for
duty. The chairman is in dilemma.
Where can he get the other eightp He
IusueS Out VI tnC 1IcSlucut . Lcut. 1 u6
"ring" are watching for him. They have
a favorite horse to "push." They offer
their services; are accepted, and the CON-
mittee is captured. 1t is now "ring"
committee. The award is announced, the
favorite, OF ring horse, gets the pre-
MUM, and the exhibitors and general
public are indignant and disguised.
1t is this ''ring' influence that threat
to a., To hraal- ~ ca.
Right or wrong. certain societies are be-
lieved to be run in the interests of certain
horses, and certain horses men. This
belief is roofing itself into the minds of
the agricultural public. And nothing but
an entire change of management in refer
ence to the committees will ever satisfy
them. 1t is safe to say that the New Eng
land Society itself, with all its prestige,
will never again command the support of
New England breeders and agricultural
exhibitors unless it takes such action in
the premises as shall undo the impression
which has become current, that It's prizes,
especially for live stock, are for the most
part wholly at the disposal Of certain
''rings;' so much so, that the prizes are
really awarded before the exhibition has
occurred. s9
1uc clOELuatiOn uuSL utSln, tutIciOIcs
in the reconstruction of the committees.
In our opinion, some such method as this
would meet the emergency OF the case;
The committees are now altogether too
large in point of numbers. Instead Of
twelve, have only three on each committee.
Have one committee sit in judgment, not
on one class. but as many classes as they
could examine. On this plan two com-
mittees would be sufficient to examine all
the horse stock offered on exhibition. Let
these two committees be composed of men
living outside of the New England States;
OF high standing and character, absolutely
above the suspicion ofpartiAlity. Let them
be paid, if need be, for their services at
the iair. Above all, let them be men who
will actually examine the horses exhibited,
not merely look at them. have vet to
see a person who saw single committee
man at the recent New England Fair ex-
anime single horse or colt exhibited.
was personally present at the exhibition
Of most of the several classes, and never
saw committee man put his hand to u
limb. examine hoof, feel joint, or look
into mouth of horse or colt being exhib-
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