The herald., 1896-12-13
OUR AGRICULTURAL FAIRS

Senator Rose has written The Herald
that the purses offered at our last races
were unusually large, and that the races
were good and that there was no more
cheating than is customary at Califor-
MIA races He also says that there was a
good horse show, and that the agricul-
tural directors are good men and doing
the best they can. From this we can as
sumo that the charge made that there
was an inside deal to obtain title to the
Agricultural park by others than Rose
was untrue.
Senator Rose himself is we'll known as
public spirited, efficient and honorable
man. Let us then admit that all he says
is true. The fact remains that our ag-
ricultural fairs are race meets and very
little of anything else. Horse men and
sporting men may we'll be considered
and encouraged, but surely this is not all
of agriculture.
The public endorsement, the public
taxes and the appointment of state OFF,
GERS to conduct agricultural fairs is not
for horse racing alone. Senator Rose
says that he and the other agricultural
directors should be encouraged. We
hope that they will all take The Heralds
criticism and suggestions to be not only
for the public good but for the popular
ity and honor of the directors of the ag-
ricultural fair. The board of directors
that first opens and conducts complete
first-class agricultural fair at Los An
geles will receive well-merited applause
and honor.
By all means let US have better races.
The Herald will encourage movements
to give more interesting and generally
attractive races. but our general agri-
culture must not be forgotten.
Los Angeles can obtain benefit and
profit by well-conducted entertainments
such as good horse races or horse shows.
But the life Of the city's commerce aud
the assurance Of the city's support and
growth is in its agriculture-not in its
horse races. A referendum of the taxes
Of the agricultural fair to the people of
Los Angeles city alone, to be paid out as
they have been, almost entirely to horse
men, would defeat the tax.
Besides Los Angeles city. this fair Is
intended to advance our agricultural in
terests all over Southern California and
especially in this political fair district
To carry out the peoples wish the horse
racing should be at separate meets, and
we should have one good, high-class
agricultural fair every year. Horse races
are supported all over the country on
their own merits and without public
taxes. A horse race appeals to the sport
ing feeling, which is quite general, and
in the purses for the horsemen and in
the pool rooms for the general public.
A high-class race meet, as honest as
Senator Rose would be sure to have it.
can be self supporting. 1t may also
merit state taxes. An agricultural fair
in a strict sense is far more difficult
business to make money out Of The fair
is intended to be an advertisement Of
produce and an educational meeting It is
possible that a board Of directors could
make an agricultural fair a success
financially. The state, however, recog-
nizes both the Importance of such fairs
and the difficulty Of making them self
supporting. Taxes for horse racing alone
We believe, do not exist.
A fine agricultural fair in addition to
our races would be decided advantage,
directly and indirectly, to Southern CAL
ifornia in general and to Los Angeles in
particular.
Senator Rose can rely on The Herald's
support. not only for true agricultural
fair, but for better and more frequent
race meets also. We must have an ag-
ricultural fair-that is what the state in
dorSe ment is fOr-vha taver a1ca VIC hoya