The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-29
THOROUGH ORGANIZATION
IN EVERY COUNTY WOULD MAKE
A GRAND SHOWING.
PLENTY OF INNOCENT AMUSEMENT
Let the Matter Be Agtated and A Monumen-
tai Exposition Held That Would
Bring Honor TO tie
Commonwealth.
Commonwealth.

To the Editor: Let us celebrate the
close of the nineteenth century 10y hold
ing at our State Capital a big two week S
Fair. Call it an exposition, if you wish,
but let it be something ON grand scale,
and occupy days in two different weeks.
1t will be impossible to crowd a big fair,
such as we wish to see, in three days
You may belong to that class cf people
who hold that this is the last year Of the
century. Than let us celebrate the first
year of the twentieth century with one
Of the biggest fairs the Old North State
has ever seen.
The work and expense will be great,
for every line Of industry should be rep
resented Every county should be or
ganized, the men, women and children
should be interested, and all sections
should vie with each other in presenting
the best exhibits. The State is full Of
resources that have never been publish
ed to the world, and wonders that have
never been exposed to the public eye.
BY thoroughly organizing tn State.
there can be Cbtaiucd exhibits that W..
thrill not only the citizens cf our Com
monwealth but the whole South. 1t
will take time and money to get it up.
1t will take time and money to carry
it through. If we have a monumental
fair, the crowds will increase day by day,
and many more win visit the fair the sec
ond week than the first.
We have for president of the fair a
man who has the mind and the spirit
to make the next fair the biggest occa-
sion in the history Of the State Hls
election was a meFited recognition of
what he and Mr.. Vanderbilt have done
an a material way for the State. Our
people will stand by Mr. McNamee and
Ionow him as a leader in the great march
o. progress.
Let the executive committee select for
chief marshal wide-aBa1e, progressive
man like Mr.. J.. A. Carr, who proved
his fitness so admirably ait our last fair.
Let the secretary, Mr.. Pogue, run the
fair under the direction of the president,
and those appointed by him TO assist in
its management. and not be hampered by
committee. If we are to have a re-
form committee. 4et it be a standing one,
so that they may have time and oppor-
tunity to purge the exhibits without
waiting until the last moment when con-
tracts and promises have been made.
The writer was the first to rise in the ex-
exutive committee and object to swindling
games OH the grounds, such as the fish
pond and whip and picture frauds, but
he is firmly convinced, and so are all
men of sound judgment, that great
fair should have innocent amusements-
side shows, if You please. AnluSements
draw the crowd, and the crowd is Il
large element in tue success of the affair,
especially with those whose shoulders
are under the financial burden of the
fair. The shortage i'm the way of
amusements at our last fair was great
disappointment to thousands. If
thought desirable by the managers, the
secretary could go or send some one to
the fairs held in advance of ours nd
solicit the attendance of the most de-
sirable shows. People visit the fair
for recreation, pleasure and amusement.
They should not be disappointed. If
they are, our fair will lose its grip ON the
people and will finally die.
NOW, shall we have next year fair
that will live in history? If so, let us
begin now. Let shrewd business judg-
ment prevail, let business energy be dis
played, let full organization BE effected,
let the newspapers throw their full
strength into the undertaking, let the
people be interested, let the affair be
advertised far and wide, and thronging
thousands will next October thank the
good old State for having done herself
and them so proud in the way of hav-
ing a fair that justly wears the name.
j. $. WINNIE.