Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1876-06-01

0upSllOil Will Us III lCSdiu odl oIhhA"H "'
to what an agricultural, mineral and mechan-
zeal fair should be. Now we do not propose
to make war upon our good natured cotem.
about a mere difference Of opinion, but we
desire to say that 1t is not the racing feature
particularly that we object to. 1t may be
well enough to..develop the speedo OF that no.
BILE animal, the horse, but the vices to which
it generally leads more than counteract all
the good that results from this development.
The greatest evil associated with these con-
tests of speed is gambling. In our opinion,
fairs should have a higher, no5ler object in
view than that of educating the rising gen
Grafton to be professional gamblers; yet this
is sure to be the case so long as the chief
attraction is speed, and pool selling is per-
mitted. II pool selling was abolished, the
evil would be, in a great measure, overcome.
Then our farmers, who desire to raise their
sons to become honorable citizens, would
take them to our fairs to see the display of
stock, products, etc. o~thq4wise they will
not.
We believe the time has come when the
agricultural and industrial press throughout
the whole country should raise their voices
against this rapidly growing evil. Most of
our readers have long since discovered where
we stood in regard to this question. 1t is to
us a most pleasant duty to stand up for that
which is good-to lend helping hand to
carry forward that which is calculated to
benefit mankind, and to froWn down that
xuIsal fo n.s1 (pyaoC,,nx4Jry xo IL ,o+
hesitate to express our opinion upon such
questions as may come up for discussion,
even though we know such opinion is con-
trary to that of many warm friends. We
have a nobler mission to fulfill than to pan
der to the will Of every idle talker. We re-
gard it as our duty to uphold the interests
of our profession-to press onward and up
ward, laboring earnestly for all that is cal
culated to make the world wiser, pilrer and
better. We shall not pause for one moment,
but will push forth and attack wrong wler-
ever found, even though it be e|ntrenched
behind the strong bulwarks of wealth, or
under cover of the guns of universal prac-
tice. To-day, we grid ourself for the com
ing fight, fully aware that it must prove a
desperate struggle. But we feel that we are
not alone-We may be in the front, march-
ing against great odds, but a few, at least,
will cheer us on-a few will, for the sake of
the young and promising sons of Montana,
come to our assistance.
Gambling has already a fast hold upon
III people will we continue to foster and
cultivate it? VIII the wealth and wisdom
OF our country, our hardy western sons of
our land, whose influence should be extend
ed for good, shut their eyes and turn a deaf
ear to this widespread evil?
The horse is the noblest of all noble ami
ed steed? But because we admire a horse,
and love to see him brought up to the high
est possible standard, it does not necessarily
argue that we must forget all other branches
of industry and devote time, energy and
capital to this, neither does it argue that we
should turn our agricultural fairs into jocky
clubs and gambling associations. What are
our fairs to-day? Go, look at the crowd
that surges around the pool-box. Farmers,
miners, mechanics, will you learn your chill
dren these vicious practices while yet in the
tender age of childhood? We do not care
to censure any association. Most Of these
bodies are heartless. s~oulless. With them it
is a matter of dollars and cents, and they in
troduce whatever feature they think will
pay best. But what do the public at large
gain? Shall we profit nothing by our fairs,
save that which we may win ON a lucky