The record-union., 1899-09-25
THE CONDUCT OF FAIRS.

should be combatted whenever
they present. We are 10th to charge
either to the Solano Courier" yet it
makes charges against the States an
nual expositions. which are susceptible
of no other construction. Either the
Courier is ignorant of the facts, or it
willfully misrepresents. There is 10
escape, as it will confess when it in
quires and informs itself from that di-
lemma. For. instance it charges in its
latest issue after quoting from the
Record Union" that at the State Fair
1.-The matter of bettering agricultural
or horticultural interests is entirely ig-
nored." Which is a fiat contradiction
of the truth. Not only are they not
ignored at the Fair but all three have
always been largely represented and
intelligently considered, and at the
State Fair the exhibits were Of a SUI
perior order, while the reports ana
Agriculture on these subjects, are ev-
erywhere recognized as valuable and
important contributions to the literat-
ure of the subjects.
Just what more can be done at fair
than invite exposition of exhibits, stim-
ulate such exposition by broad liberal
ity of money and other premiums, and
the gathering and dissemination of in
formation upon those subjects, we fail
to perceive. Again, the Courier de-
mands that at the State Fair there
petition between exhibits of farm pro-
duce, orchard products, live stock. poul-
try, etc. Which is precisely what has
been done all these years, and at -he
late Fair was repeated. Competition
in all such exhibits was promoted by
premium list of strong attraction. That
exhibits did not come from every one
Of the counties in the State, from ey-
cry farm, orchard and range, Is certain
ly not the fault of the State Board. It
provided free transportation. exhibition
the facts far and wide, and the exhib-
its were numerous and good; in live
stock exceedingly attractive and full,
in poultry the most numerous and the
best ever shown upon the coast, and
in horses for all work, roadsters, speedy
horses. draught animals, brood mares.
colts, jacks, jennets, ETC., representa-
tive in highest degree as to fineness
and quality and number The Courier"
complains that the fair provides amuse-
ment for those attending. Would our
contemporary in this day and age at
tempt to promote a great exposition
with features of rational entertainment
eliminated? If so in the practice of
such policy it would speedily discover
that it had made a serious mistake and
that the public demanded entertain
ment as much as instruction.
Our contemporary is likewise greatly
troubled that racing is made a feature
at the fairs, and that those who buy
and sell pools are attracted So far
as that is concerned the racing features
are separate and distinct, in sense,
from all other features of the fair
There is no compulsion to attend upon
them. The fact remains that they are
powerful drawing features They
are attended by the ten thousands who
are not pool sellers or buyers They
do perform an Office in cultivating de-
mand for the supply of fine speedy ami
mails, and they do unquestionably ad-
vance the California interests in breed
ing, raising and selling for export high
class horses.
But so far as racing is concerned at
the Fair we take it that no person who
wishes to visit expositions of that char
acter and avail of their benefits need
even know that races are run between
fast horses, nor consort with those who
compose the bettors. The racing events
can be left out of consideration by
whoever is minded so to do since they
do not enter into the premium lists, or
consume a cent of the States money.
If racing is not prosecuted at fairs it
will remain that every week in the year,
and for large portion of the year. ev-
cry day in the twelve month, horse
racing is carried on in two or more
parts Of the State. Those inclined to
indulge in it therefore, do not need to
af "a
season.
Finally the Courier objects that the
Annual Exposition is meeting that
enriches the undesirable class that
ought to be eliminated before we talk
of conserving agricultural interests. It
would profit the Courier to learn that
its statement is inaccurate. While
bettors are largely an undesirable class,
stalking money on races is not confined
to the gaming element, nor to fair
meetings. No one will disagree with
the Courier in the expression CT de-
sire to have undesirable classes elimi-
mated from attendance at all gather
ings of the people 1t is certainly true
that sharDers do fleece the unwary
wherever on life's highway the oppor-
tunity presents; but they do not await
the fair season to ply their traffic. The
gates of temptation to i'll are ever open
and constitute the greater evil of all
cities and large communities.
The sharpers were in evidence at the
Warld,c Eai,. a Chioa 90. tbax cxxra rr,,ad