The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1895-11-07
THE STATE FAIR MANAGEMENT.

TIC NCluSSIllC ACCtCW VI last WIN
takes occasion to pay Col. Julian S.
Carr, the retiring president Of the
State Fair, a deserved compliment,
and incidentally does the handsome
thing in its reference to Col. John S.
Cunningham, whose name was first
mentioned as his successor, as we'll as
Col. Beneham Cameron, upon whom
the honor finally fell. After speak
ing of the run down condition of the
State Agricultural Society and the
lack of interest entertained by the
public for the annual fairs at the time
of Col. Cars election as president,
the ReviezU says:
At this important crisis there was,
looking the whole State over, but one
man whose record, capacity and equip
ments made him available to assume
the great undertaking with confidence
and set on foot the sweeping and rev.
dictionary changes necessary to pu
the Fair on a foundation of honor and
success. That man, of course, was
Col. Julian S. Carr. Thankless and
disagreeable task as it was, his response
to the request was the same it has been
to every other request or demand
made on him in which the local pride
and the native credit of North Caro-
lima was involved. Notwithstanding
his large, important and varied inter-
ests pressed hard upon him for atten-
ton and he was burdened with more
business than any other man in the
State this man of many and great: af-
fairs and activities, yet with all but un-
rivaled executive ability found time to
reorganize the Fair and to direct it in
every detail from start to finish. The
announcement that the project was to
be under the immediate personal su-
pervision OF Col. Carr was sufficient
prospectus to insure it as we'll worthy
of being consummated in the name of
and under the auspices of the great
State of North Carolina. From the
moment he consented to identify him
self with it in the capacity Of Presi-
dent there was not man from the
hills of Cherokee to the coast of Cur
rituck who doubted that under his
leadership the Fair would be any
thing else except what the people Of
the State wanted it to be. Confront
ed with difficulties which would have
driven many others to despair, this un-
daunted and audicious man, with that
splendid courage which is absolutely
fearless of failure, not only raised the
State Fair above suspicion, but placed
it in the honor roll of his many mag
ni6cent successes. Notwithstanding
there have been more expensive expo
sitions in other portions of the country
which have drawn heavily on our peo-
pie, their interest has been quickened
and enlightened in regard to our own
Fair since Col. Carr assumed its d..
rection, and this year and last the at.
tendance has been large and represent:
tative, the enthusiasm great and the.
display of North Cardinals wonderful
resources uniform and creditable.
1t was a happy thought which
prompted the proposal of Col. John S.
Cunningham, of Person, as Col. Cars
successor, and it is peculiarly unfortu-
nate that Col. Cunningham felt called
upon to decline the honor. Col. Carr
and Cunningham are two of the most
conspicuously popular, successful and
substantial men in North Carolina.
They belong to the young, active, pro-
gressive, growing, coming, leading,
master spirits of the State who are
needed now to advance our political and
industrial fortunes. They are twin
types of our best manhood and the
one is admirably qualified to carry
on the work of the other, inspired as
they are with a common patriotism
and general purpose. The premier
farmer of the State, business man OF
robust common sense, ight-forward
and successful in every public and
private relation, Col. Cunningham was
eminently equipped for the duties of
President of the State Agricultural
Association and a mistake was made
when he failed to accept. Strong
as the record of his immediate prede-
cessor would have been those who
know Col. Cunningham's reputation
for doing everything he undertakes
we'll, know that his management of the
State Fair would not have suffered
in comparison with that of anybody
else.
AT Col. Cunningham's suggestion
Col. Beneham Cameron was nomin-
ated by reclamation for the position.
He isa gentleman of fortune, position,
influence and ability and will doubt
less see to it that the next Fair will be
reputable and successful enterprise.
THE FAIR AS AN ADVERTISEMENT.
Aside from the educational feature
Of the Atlanta Exposition, it will be