The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-07-10
CITIZENS MEETING.


| -
The meeting of citizens called for Mon.
day night TO take some definite action
regarding the September meeting of the
Southwestern Minnesota Live Stock and
Fair Association was meagerly attended
and especially noticeable was the alb
sence of our business men, who should
feel q deep interest in the success of this
enterprise. 1t is beyond the compre.
| hension of those who have spent SO
much time and money to get this associa-
ton upon a sound financial footing why
so much apathy exists among the bust
ness community of Mankato, and WHY
after urgent and repeated solicitation,
| they still persist in remaining indifferent
| to the importance of an agricultural eX-
hibit here this fall.
To the credit of those who were there,
| however, be it said, determination and
interest was manifested to go on with
the meeting, and make it grand sue
cess. The assemblage was called to or
der by president Piper, who stated that
the time had arrived when something
continue. He said that if the citizens of
Mankato would show their interest i'll
the fair by subscribing to fifty shares
more of stock, there would be no diff
Guilty in securing twenty-five additional
shares in the country. The President
then called upon Mr.. III. G. Howard for
| remarks.
Mr.. H. responded by referring to the
! fact that the association was an Organi-
zation entirely in the interest of the
agricultural community, and not of an
| individual. He also referred to the
petty jealousy existing against some of
| the officers and directors, which was
altogether wrong and without any good
foundation. Mr.. Howard spoke of the
accessibility of Mankato for great fair.
Here we are in the very heart of the
greatest agricultural section in the State,
and within easy reach of hundred
thousand people. A fair that is proper
" supported and aided by the business
men of Mankato. would draw from ten
to twenty thousand people from the
start and grow III magnitude as time
rolls on. The only way this can be done,
is to give the officers and directors that
support which they deserve. The speak
er dwelt briefly upon the Importance of
the business men of Mankato support
ing this association literally, and first of
all of placing it in a sound financial con-
dition. He also pointed out the mutual
benefits to be derived by the farmer,
merchant, manufacturer and profession
al man through the medium of these
annual exhibits, and showed conclusive
" that incalculable good results from
such meetings. Mr.. Howard closed his
remarks by urging immediate and sub
stantial aid upon the part of the people
of this city, giving assurance that the
farmers stood ready to do their share
when 1t was demonstrated that Mankato
would respond to the present emergency.
j. Diamond, Esq, being called, asked
the very pertinent question
"Why is this Fair Association in one
sense begging for life and maintenance,
and why don't the agriculturists asso-
ciate themselves with this association?
would ask the officers to ascertain the
cause of this Indifference on the part of
the farmers. A Fair must be run by
good officers, and In the interest of the
| farmers. What is best to be done to
have all do their share in starting this
Fair this fall? Gentlemen, one of two
things must happen, The citizens must
90 down in their pocket books or do
something to interest the farmers, me-
chanics. tradesmen and stockmen. All
interested parties should contribute
their share toward conducting Fair.
They should contribute at least half the
|
machinery and household utensils should
contribute something to advance the
interest of the Fair. There is quite a
distinction between exhibitions of stock
men and farm exhibits. Stockmen
should receive no premium for stock,
but hay and stabling free; diploma
should be his premium, for the Fair is
an advertisement for his stock. The
officers have done more to advance the
interests of stockmen than stockmen
have done to advance the interest of our
Fairs. Machine men, manufacturers
and railroads should contribute a fair
proportion of the expenses of all Fairs.
One of the most important steps is for
the officers to make a reduction of all
expenses for exhibitors, by giving them
the entrance fee, etc. This is done to
show the farmers that everything il
their benefit, No one who is interested
as u keeper of stock, or manufacturing
goods of any kind should be an officer
of the Far, because they are more in
terestcd IN their own behalf, than in
that of the Fair. Too many officers are
like drones. Judges should be good
men, not interested in any exhibits
whatever, SO that when they file their
reports they are liable to be fair and
right. The life and interest of this as
ISOLATION depends on this. Have COM
mittee with the secretary to examine all
the reports, and il objections are filed to
any, the exhibitors and judges should
review again. IfnO such complaint il
filed, accept the reports and make a full
settlement with the exhibitors. A re-
port of the success of the Fair is one OF
the best invitations for the exhibitors Ia
| 10. tI,.a, DC, LntS
; Hon, M. ID. j.. Collester being asked
TO address this meeting, did 30 in man
ner quite in keeping with agentleman o.
his public.spiritedness. He prefaced
his remarks proper by referring to the
time when the farmers OF New Hamp
shire started into stock raising as more
lucrative branch of agriculture, and
stated that ut that time it was held as o
common necessity that cattle shows bt
held ut frequent intervals. He believed
the same thing should be done here
, These stock shows and agricultural exhi
bits tend to inspire farmers to improve
ment, and educate them to the import
, ance of carefully looking after all of the
, details of diversified agriculture in order
!, TO keep pace with heir neighbors. II
make Fair u success, Mr.. Collestel
took the very reasonable and commonly
= accepted grounds that encouragement
to officers, and financial aid to the asso
citation were indispensable. Fairs slim
ulate honest rivalry among farmers
: they teach the husbandman 10 diyersif!
: his industry, and Undue him with /
| spirit of enterprise that would be lack
ing, were it not for them. He mention
ed the fact that to his personal knowl
edge several of the best stock-breeder
in Minnesota were anxiously waiting. 7
hear whether or not this proposed Fai
was to be held in Mankato, in order tina
they might make an exhibit. The speak
or said that the people of Mankato. ha'
the reputation of being enterprisinie
o liberal and progressive. Abroad sh
was looked upon as being the Queer
City of Southern Minnesota. He hope
u that this favorable public esteem wouii
: not be shaken by refusal of her peopl
81 to come up and sustain this importar
ENTERPRISE