Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-01-04
Awarding Premiums at Fairs.

noticed under the head Of agricultural,
in late issue Of the WAToHMAN AND
JOURNAL, an article copied from the Ncw
England Farmer, criticising the management
Of the New England agricultural society.
am glad to find that there are papers will
ing to expose such injustice as is evident in
the award of premiums, which is occasion
ally brought to light. have no doubt of
the truth of Mr.. Cheever's statements. Al
though life member of the New England
Agricultural Society, have attended but
two of the society's fairs. At one l saw
marshal come from place (where certain
tickets provided free lunch,) in such con-
dition as 10 require help to mount his horse.
| also saw committees closeted with exhib-
itors, and in one case bottles were conspicu-
Gus. At the other fair committees were ac-
cused by Rev. Mr.. Murray in an article in
the Congregationdlist, copied into the Ne,c
England Farmer at the time and not contra
dicted by any officer of the society, of pre-
arranging the award of premiums; and l
know of cases when the prearrangement of
awards was 80 evident as to need no confr-
nation.
What is said in regard to the management
of the New England agricultural society
may also be said to some extent in regard to
the management Of our state and in fact of
many smaller societies, limited only by the
magnitude of the society. Even at the late
fair of the state agricultural society, which
is supposed to be all virtue and fairness,
soon learned that the same principles pre-
dominated that were expressed few years
ago, when committee was instructed to
do something for" Mr. So-and-so because
he ,oas prominent man in our society,""
Now we common farmers suppose that
when premium is offered in the dairy class
for milking stock, the merit consists in the
animals capacity for milk or for the produc-
ton of butter in connection with other points
of excellence; but learned that COW, al
though small, acknowledged by the judges
to be "an extra milker and "a superior
butter cow" had no business in competition
with one in same class that was dry, with no
record for milk or butter, but belonged to a
director also learned that the judges, af-
ter making their award, delivered the rib
bons and passed TO other business, reconsid-
cred and changed the ribbons to pacify said
director. further learned that splendid
heifer with large capacity for milk and an
extra record for milk and butter was not as
good as one in same class that was no larger,
never had calf and did not show any
marked points for milk, or even that she
would ever have calf Except the state
ment of the owner), but was fat and belonged
to director-a judge and director instruct
ing that milk or butter qualifications "had
nothing 10 do Dih il and did not make any dE-
ference" / also learned that in another
class superior animal was given second,
wniio tn. Hrst awarded to director.
In another case the directors made ruling
to throw out decidedly superior exhibit,
and afterwards compromised themselves
by allowing the second award. also no
ticed that the important or stock committees
were 80 constructed as to place director
| (and in case director was interested, two
of them,) on the committee.
Such are few of the instances of ringisms
predominating at the so-called fair of the
Vermont state agricultural society. The
injustice in making awards is so apparent
that few of former exhibitors were present
this year. The management is more like
that of close corporation. The officers,
re-electing themselves, are responsible to no
one, and with no interest in common with
the farmer or with agriculture except to get
out crowd because it pays and they can
make good thing of it. A. d. ARMS.