Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1892-04-28
THE FAIR ASSOCIATION.
A Correspondent Replies to the Untruthful
Assaults of the Montana DEM
ocrat.

taia Democrat upon the Fergus COUNTY
Agricultural. Mineral and Stock Associa-
ton. 1t is not my purpose to justify any
thing that has been done. Justification is
not needed from the attacks of a sheet that
has not the respect of any considerable
number of decent men ia the county. nor OF
any other class. | simply desire to ex-
plain to the public the situation OF the
association, lest some person might think
the attacks are founded upon ruth. In a
general way, | may say that everything
which that paper has published ms a fact
and rejecting upon the management OF the
association, is utterly and absolutely false:
but they have confined their attacks
mainly To the more contemplate method
OF insinustion, rejecting upon the capabil-
ity, the honor and the honesty of every
person eonnectel with the association, and
| venture to say that there is not a stock
holde in the association so absolutely de
void Of all those attributes as the persons
who issue the Montana Democrat. The
real facts at the bottom nj the attacks
are these: They have no interest in the
county and none in the town, except a per
soual interest so long as the people endure
their presence here. They are. and have
always been, opposed to everything and
everybody that does not yield them blood
money. They have never advocated a sin
gle industry or improvement of advantage
to the county or town, or even had n rood
word for any such, that did not give them
support.
The stock of the association is held by
nearly one hundred OF the representative
men of the county men engaged in all the
~varions pursuits in which our people are
interested, and it comts with very poor
grace from men of the well known charac-
terless standing of these who edit the Mon
tana Democrat to attack men 50 much
their superiors in every thing that enters
into the makeup Of "a true man.
In regard to the committee of ladies
whom they so chivalrously pitch into.
That committee is composed exclusively OF
those ladies whose husbands, fathers or
some relative or friend are stockholders in
the association. 1t was not deemed neces-
s;try to ask the assistance OF outsiders in
so thankless n task, as long as there were
enough to do the work without. The com
mittees on the outside were appointed eX-
clusively by the committee here, and | ven
ture the assertion that not one OF the
ladies on that committee knows the poll
| tics OF a single gentlemen whose wife or
| daughter was appointed on one OF those
| outside committees. But aside from that
it is the sheercst nonsense TO try TO make
political capital out OF the fact that there
happens to he more Republicans than
Democrats upon hosecommittees. Taken
in another light, not that politics has, or
has ever had, anything to do with the
management of the association, but it is IA
ract that not one-fourth ofthe ~stockholders
of the association are Democrats, and
that more than t~hree-fourths OF them are
Republicans. But politics, in connection
with the association. has never been men
toned, and never will, and no attempt on
the part OF the Democrat to create a split
on party lines will succeed in doing morc
than to increase. il possible, the contempt
felt for the men who make the attempt.
Ia regard to the programme for racing al
the fair. From present indications it is
altogether probable that all the races will
Gil. | tell this simply or the qualification
of these se-called editors, who would de-
light in nothing more than in the complete
failure, regardless Of its consequences to
the town and to the county, and who are
striving to bring about that result, but
their wish will not be gratitied. The fair
will take place. and will he "A success, in
spite Of the contemplate filings ofthese two
over-zedluus critics, and one OF the chief
mo ra Co.. .ccAn,r1.,Ii., iii -l..,t iii l..
the opposition of the Democrat. Aside
from that, however, the prosperity of the
county, and the character and standing OF
the men who own the original stock of the
association, and of those who are sub
scribing for the increase of stock, all war
rant the assertion. The opposition of all
such as the Montana Democrat only make
assurance doubly sure. Ii the association
were in shape TO offer added money in some
or all of it's races it would do SO, but it is
not, and there is no way of estimating
what the receipts and expenses will be.
But an examination of the programmes OF
races on all the great race courses Of the
country will reveal the fact that the en-
trance money more than pay the purse
and stakes, because of the large number of
entries, even at a small percentage Tor en-
trance fee. Here the conditions are differ
ent. Only a limited number can he ex-
pected to enter in any one race, and though
the entrance fec is larger than in some
| places, the chances ok. winning are cores
pondingIy increased because al the limited
number of entries.
In regard to rules, the editors Of that
paper have never taken the trouble to in
form themselves upon that question, or
they would nave learned that a committee
on rules was appointed long ago, and they
have agreed upon adopting the rules OF the
national association, so far as applicable
to the circumstances here. The rules are
in shape to be seen by any person inter
ested.
In conclusion. The poet says that some
great lies we're never penned." but if there
he any snch stray around here, ! have this
encouragement to offer; Be Of good cheer
for your time will soon come. There is no
lie too great for the Montana Democrat to
pen and publish.
Sic SEMPEB.