The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-09-05
County Fairs.

1t is an excellent thing to have well
conducted aud successful County Fair,
where the exhibition of stock, farming |
products, agricultural implements, and
other things usual to such places are not
only numerous and Of first quality, but
where the fair is also pecuniarily decided
success The greatest cause of COM
plant 10 this section Of country is found in |
the constant tendency to overturn the
original design Of having them agricultu-
raj fairs and cattle shows and to make
them little else than trotting grounds
where the farmers become mostly spec.
tators instead Of being the principal mana
gers, and where horse men and jockeys
take the lead and secure the greater share
of interest, The primary design is to in
sttute fairs for the benefit of agriculture
and in the interests of farming occupations,
but the crowd who gather there are, as
rule, more interested and amused by the
sports of the turf aud the excitement of
the race course than by the less snowy
but more substantial information which
an exhibition of valuable stock and farm
products is intended to iWpart to farmers
and agriculturalists.
But there is another use to which Fairs
and expositloHs are sometimes subjected
which has no natural connection whatever
with the occasions except the convenience
and usefulness of finding large number
of voters assembled together at one place.
However slow the average voter in the
country districts may be to avail himself
OF County Fair to increase his knowledge
ofpolitical affairs. the willy politician who
is constantly on the alert for chances to
interview the people 10 behalf of his party
or its candidates fully appreciates the
quiet opportunities which these fairs af.
ford to circulate around among a large
number of constituents, and do q large
amount Ofhandshaking within compare
lively short time. This method of con-
Quoting a political canvass, commonly
termed still hunt, is convenient one
in the case of candidates Tor County offices
and OF all other offices where custom does
not require public discussion.
The subject of canvassing at County
Fairs, of having the candidates for office
present and presenting their claims in a
quiet but personal solicitation of votes,
suggests the inquiry whether that is not
the tactics of the republicans of this coun
ty in this fal Is canvass The public hear
comparatively little of any preparations or
any desire to make vigorous, open, and
sharp contest A short series of public
debates wilhtake place in the congressional
district, but SO far as regards state sen
ator, representative TO the legislature, and
county Offices, there is no public commo-
ton, no meetings called in their interests,
nor any manifestation of political zeal on
the part Of the republican party, The
labor party has made few efforts in the
line OF public meetings but the lack of
audiences has been the most striking char
acteristic of their performances, The
still hunt" and hand shaking style may
be presumed to be the policy adopted by
the republicans in this county at the pres
ent time, and it is their best and strongest
policy. AT variance with the policy of the
President, with party record of corrup-
ton and fraud indefensible at nearly every
step, and with serious detection from
their ranks to the labor party in the
hitherto strong republican townships, it is
greatly to their interest, as to county Off
GERS, to make the contest as much one of
personal influence and personal preference
asthe times. aud the action Of the other
political parties will permit. One agricul-
tural tafr in this county has already taken
place, aud a second will be held the last
few days Of this month.
The occasion is not likely to be
overlooked or neglected by the candidates
aud their special friends Like certain
class who refuse to patronize a circus but
have no compunctions in going to the me-
Dagerie attached, so there are goodlv
number of people who claim to keep aloof
from participation in political caucuses or
assemblages, but who can attend county
fair and electioneer with partizan zeal
equal to any. The question of who are
tavorite candidates may therefore become
as exciting as the preferences for favorite
horses, and the officers aud directors of the
cunning fair may be congratulated upon the
probability of having an exciting and per-
haps an attractive feature added to the
occasion which is Lot on the bills.
Speaking seriously, however, we advise
our democratic candidates and friends moi
to allow their opponents to take advantage
of such favorable opportunity for SEEING