Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-10-14
FARMERS ON THU FAIRS
Sense and Nonsense Happily Bien-
ded Together.
Horse RACING RECEIVES 4 SCORING
hut the klusbanamen Finally Agree That
IL n . Necessary fstI-Ar- Jshnsen's
ksmaTk-Ihe Sewspspsrs Apprs-
esatsd-snbjeet OF Next nestisg.

The October meeting OF the West
Michigan Farmers CLUB was held yes-
terday afternoon in the City Hall.
President Linderman and Secretary
Clayton were in their respective places
and the members proceeded 10 give
their observations of the recent fairs.
Horse racing was the principal feature
discussed and the wheels of fortune
received some attention.
". ". johnson was first TO express
his opinion concerning the matter. He
sand that he had talked with Mr.. WHIT
ney and ne mad told him that they had
more trouble with horsemen than any
other class. The cattle exhibit was
good especially the Jersey stock. The
Turner horses were very good, they
consisted of the Clydesdale stock. A
boy nowadays thinks that If he gets a
pretty lively horse that he is fast. This
is a curse 10 the country.
s. S. Bailey: The people of this city
and county are anxious 10 have far
that will draw the best exhibits from ali
parts of the state and re have that
kind of fair in tho West Michigan
organization. Others want county
fair where they can meet and have q
quiet time. The two societies i think
viii have the wisdom hereafter
to arrange their fairs so there will lie
no clash. In regafd TO the West Mich
igan fair | think it was benefit 10
stock raisers for n great number OF
blooded animals were left III the
county. Now the horse business; tue
Kent County Society paid good price
TO get Alcryon to make an exhibition
ana the West Michigan people paid a
big sum to procure Nelson for the same
purpose. / see no difference between
the two societies in this respect. | saw
ministers in attendance and they
seemed to enjoy the exhibition with
Others. If there is change in the
horse exhibition craze the people must
be educated to discountenance such
proceedings.
Uncharitable Remarks.
w. w. Johnson--lt Is said that the
late horse race at the West Michigan
grounds was not under the control of
the fair directors, but know that they
have done everything to advertise the
West Michigan grounds and TO run
down the Kent county grounds
s. S. Bailey-It is unCharitable for G
man TO make such charges. The race
was planned by Don Leathers and the
directors knew nothing about it. They
even went SO far as TO complete ar
rangements before the board was con-
suited. The board received no profits
from the race.
w. w. Johnson-I tell you the whole
thing is demoralizing. 1t robs famile:
of the means of support. How many
attended that horse race that can not
pay their grocery bill on Saturday
night. 1t is no place for ministers. /
| think a man ought to love q good
horse but that does not include horse
racing.
S. S. Bailey-The horse interest
is second TO no other interest in
this country. / was director OF the
state society for six years. A good
Presbyteri told me that l ought 70
put q stop 10 this speeding of horses.
watched him and wnen the race was
announced this man placed himself in
the best position he could IN order to
get good view of the race.
Mr. Johnson's Absurd Charge.
j. NJ. Pearsall-Fairs are a grea,
benefit to farmers and stock ralsers
| The first fair held here wss a good
| lesson to 4 certain man. He brought
some stock and it Was so inferior that II
would not be admitted. He learned q
| lesson for he paid 4 9re attention to the
care of his stock. am opposed to al
gambling schemes. There is great
| good resulting from fairs. They edu-
| cate producers IN the line of their work
by allowing comparisons. If we have
| ANYTHING that NE think is pretty nice il
Is our duty TO exhibit 1t at the fair. II
we could do away with horse racing al
| fairs il would be good thing
| but il can not be done so long as
there are race courses on Tie grounds.
There is great deal OF good IN fairs
| and some evil.
:. 5. Balley-The directors are gov.
erned by the demands OF the people,
The West Michigan directors excluded
all gambling institutions and no drunk
enness or disorderly conduct was yisi
tle. When fairs are conducted os .hi'
| principle they ought 10 be sustained.
W. W. Johnson-Mr. Bailey, did
| understand you TO say that the mcr
who attended the horse race and those
who engineered II were the best repre-
sentatiyos of our people,
| ;. :. Bailey-Yes, | do. Ex-Mayol
| Dikeman, Don Leathers and those nier
represent the best class of men.
W. W. Johnson have no fault Il
find with those men, but the majorit,
of the people who attended the rac'
were from the most immoral society.
One for the Newspapers
| s. NJ. pearsall-The men who fre
| quent horse races are from the wors
| classes. The excitement produced b,
| speeding of horses IL detrimental ans
demoraiiziag. II fairs could he hels
without horse racing and wheels O
| fortune they would be much better
| To be sure tnese things draw a crowd
:. =. Bailey--ff there was anyhcd,
that helped To make the last race . sue
cess besides Messrs. Dlkeman aDs
lesthers. ID was the newspaper men O
the city, and II anybody 10 eensured 70
bringing large crowd here 1T tha
time it should be the newspapers
! Without them that large crowd wonll
not have been here. They did Il TO
the benefit OF the city.
President Iindermsn-l think tina
there is great improvement N fairs o