The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-01-12
PREsIpENT's AppREss.
Gentlemen OF the State Board of Agriculture


lows:
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
Gentlemen of the State Board of Agriculture:
Let us give thanks 10 Him from whom all
blessings flow" for abundant crops, peace, good
health, general prosperity, and for the privilege
OF again assembling in the capacity OF IA state
Board of Agriculture, at the close of another
years laboFs. During this time many who have
labOred with us in the great work of promoting
industrial interests have been called hence.
Notably prominent among these we to-day
mourn the loss of one who but
recently gave wise counsel and diligent
best interests of this Board and the causes that il
labOrS TO promote.
Governor James D. Williams, long a member
and frequently President of this Board after life
of many years well spent in the promotion of all
that is noble in the human soul, was peacefully
taken from our midst and from his high duties
state, in this city on November 20. 1880. The
adoption OF proper resolutions of respect in
memory of his distinguished service, as a fellow
member and ex-President of this Board, Will be
your appropriate duty.
Long established custom demands of me, as your
presiding officer an account of my stewardship.
In special message at the beginning of my ad
mizisLration ventured TO make some suggestions
10 the policy TO be pursued. Now, at the close,
viii beg your indulgence in brief retrospect of
the past in the hope that the experiences of the
year may be of value in the future.
While IL Is not true that the Annual Fairs of this
Board constitute the acme of its labors in one
sense. they nevertheless do in another. The rev.
enue of the Board must be largely derived from
its
ANNUAL FAIRS.
This being true. it is clearly your duty to con-
slider well any propositions of reform progress
that will at the same time enhance the
interests in our Fairs and increase the revenue
therefrom, always provided that this is not ac-
complished through q compromise with imm0r
aliLy and vice. The normal status of our exhi-
IONS must be scruPulously preserved. If Fairs
can not be maintained without resorting to ques-
tionable devices and complications-in other
wOrds, II they can not be maintained on their
true merits the sooner they are permitted to die.
20 be known more. the better for all con-
cerped 1t is true, in the management of public
institutions like our Annual Fairs, in
which the interests OF all are to q
greater or less extent conferred, no individual
preference should have entire control as no one
idea or set of ideas can be broad enough on which
TO found temple in which can dwell in prosper
ity multitude of tastes and preferences, like
those permeating the minds and guiding the des-
TIMES of our people. Every industry should be
fostered, every source OF innocent amusement en-
couraged and every demOralizing influence what
ever strictly excluded from our Fairs. / know il
has been urged that the State Board of AsSicul-
ture in no sense the guardian OF the public NOR
ais. This may be true. and yet incline TO doubt.
Having briefly indicated my views in reference
to general management of Fairs, will now point
out in detail what present themselves as few of
the
VALUABLE LESSONS OF THE SEASON.
The late State Fair was in many respects emf
nently successful. Considering the excited con-
dition of the public mind on political questions
occurrence in every section Of the State. coupIed
with decidedly unfavOrable weather during the
early part OF the week, hatter myself with the
idea that receipts were indeed quite satisfac-
tory. AS verihcation of this statement
respectfully refer you to the reports OF
the Secretary and Treasurer. These satisfactory
results were doubtless due to the increasing pros
Perity OF our country. and to a growing confidence
in the business management OF the Board.
THE ExHIBITER
being prominent factor in connection with any
Fair, will venture few suggestions in regard &C
his treatment. Their treatment should be liberia
in all particulars. Premiums should be carefully
graded, and liberal in all the departments, bu
payment in full. Pro rata settlements with ex
hibiters never result satisfactorily. Prompt
and full payments can alone re
good feeling With a good exhibition, and
thoroughly established confidence between the
exhibitor and the management. other good re-
One Of the most perplexing questions in thi
connection. is how to treat the exhibitor in regard
to his admission to the grounds That they
are not competing for valuable prizes-ther,
can be do doubt, and il is equally matter o
justice that those who are competitors for premi
ums should be admitted ON special and cas-,
terms, aud I'm such way that they would no
be annoyed at the gates. or be the subject
Perienee of all exnibiters in the course of tn
arrangement and display of their articles, ii
which il becomes a matter OF necessity for then
TO pass out aud In at the gates frequently. and
when this privilege Is denied them bitterness ant
iu-feeling must result. Were Ii not for the un
fortunate fact that all men and all women arr
not strictly honest. and that few of this class orr
exhibiters at Fairs this whole matter would be @
easy solution; or, were 1t possible to escap
grievious abuse from an indiscriminate grant,
of season tickets to exhibitors, the desired
object would be easily reached. How to over
come these difficulties and To establish a fair anS
equitable rule through which the interests of thu
Board may be safely and well guarded. and at tn
same time deal literally with the men aud womel
who make our Fairs. are most pertinent question
and worthy of your careful consideration.
THE CITY OF INDIANAPOLIS
IL fortunately the geographical and business cen
ter OF our state be-ides being the Capital thereof
No adjoining State has commercial center &C
cessible from every point of the compass aud with
out q rival within her borders. well adaptet
as q permanent location for her Annual Fairs
and other public gatherings as ours. fact tina
recognized IN making the original in
vestment at this point. That investmen
has, in my judgment. been fortunate one tor tn
Board and the interests IL represe its. while th'
business interests of the Capital City certainl,
have been largely enhanced by the annual con
tributiOns that have been presented nj her fee
during the quarter of a century In which Stat
Fairs have been held In her midst. Unfortunate
1y, however, there is class of citizens in on
look with jealousy upon the location, while OF
city of Indianapolis who insist. though / coult
never believe them sincere. that the Fairs are o
no value TO them In a business sense.
These feelings do not naturally exist. Our in