Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-11-16


lowing in regard to our state agricultural
society's fair:
People have not been satisfied with the state
fair in recent years. When 1t was held in Bur
ington II grew and prospered; but as soon rs the
location was changed decline began. Burlng-
ton now proposes to have separate fair, and two
public meetings have been held, at which enthn-
siastic support promised, and society briefly
called "The Vermont and New York lake shore
the mechanic arts was formed. Western Ver-
mont and Northeastern New York fall In with the
scheme, and it Is decided to fix the society's cap
ital stock at S25, 600. A committee appointed to
solicit subscriptions is meeting with success and
Editor Benedict Colonel Cannon, Smith NJ.
Weed of Piattsburg and other men well known In
Burlington have taken hold, there Is good pros-
pect of success.
We have been found fault with many
times for speaking our mind, but were
never more severely blamed than when,
some eight years ago, we, as editor of the
Vermont Farmer, expressed the opinion
that our state agricultural society needed
some young blood infused into it. The
annual meetings Of the society were then, as
before and since, held in a corner without
notification, and were attended only by a
little knot or junto of old members aud
their friends, of whom it was said that
abraham bsgat Isaac, and Isaac begat
Jacob" and so on in a pre-arrauged success
sion, keeping out all outsiders and managing
things to suit themselves. Nevertheless, a
few years after, one of those old members
having himself been ousted by ring within
the ring, wrote us long letter urging us to
make fuller exposition Of the whole mat
ter in these columns, regarding which he
volunteered information as to the way
things were managed We noticed this
letter briefly, but declined another attempt
to effect change, needed indeed, but one in
which we were not specially interested, and
toward effecting which no active support
seemed to be at hand. The society never
was, notwithstanding its name, in any true
sense state institution, or representative
of Vermont agriculture. 1t consisted of a
little band Of old fogies, who did not want
and were afraid of large membership
which would be likely to take the manage
ment of things out of their hands. Being
afterwards driven by public opinion to make
the place and time of their meeting,
known, so that any who so wished might be
present, they devised, as we are informed, &
new plan to keep the control in their owl
hands. This was to require ballot upor
proposed members, thus putting up a new
and in such societies a very unusual, barrier
against an influx of fresh members who
might, indeed, give vitality and strength t.
the society, but might (and would be likely
to as a means to that end) put other mer
than the old set at the head of it.
Now we should like to see real and gen.
uine state agricultural society in Vermont
one which would not be content with ar
annual agricultural boss trot," having 6
fading fringe of cattle-show around the
edges, a center-piece Of farm products ant
implements, and full trimming of bee
shops and gambling holes. Is this new
Burlington movement likely to give u
such an improvement We suspect not
1t looks to us as though the result would b,
only duplication, in the interest of Bur
lngton, of the old concern. Now if our an
cient Abrahsms, Isaacs and Jacobs will JUS
throw down their fences, let in little FREE
air and some modern ideas, not be so scarce
for fear they may lose the places they hav
held for years uncounted by the presen
generation, drop their alliances with hors
gamblers and all Others abolish the drink
ing saloons, employ skilled committees from
outside the state to award premiums, ant
try generally to do the work that ought Il
be done by state agricultural society,-the.
may regain the confidence of exhibitors, o
the practical farmers Of the state, and tn
public generally. Such a body, properl,
managed, ought to make dairymen's associa
tions and state boards of agriculture as un
necessary a fifth wheel to coach, in 81
small state as Vermont. Societies, how
ever, no more than parties, are likely to b.
reformed from the inside; and the "ol,
bloods have 80 barricaded themselves, ant
locked themselves in, that they are in thei
senility, perhaps as unable as unwilling Il
unlock their doors to admit the men ant
methods that alone can save them. The
will probably die and dry up, and be foun'
sitting, like Indian mummies, around tina
old box which contains the $4,000 the
have been so terribly afraid somebod
wanted to steal.