Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-11-20

horse raising than some sections right
| here in Maine. and yet Western horses
are being continually sold here at fat
figure. Why this is so he could not
say.
| He believed that every fair should
be an educational one. Every farmer,
| he thought, should be made to feel that
| the fair is his friend, working to help
| him. and that there is chance for him.
The horse department he considered
one of the most difficult to manage. He
[ thought that there should be premiums
| for all classes and that speed should
| not be made paramount. Breeders of
| all styles should be given an equal
| chance. Even if there is but one horse
| of his class in the State, he would offer
a premium that would bring him out
| so the people can see what he is like.
In regard to judges he believed that
| a competent man should be obtained
| for every class and one who can show
exhibitors where they are strong and
| where they are weak and who will be
| willing to do SO. 4.,-
He believed it possible to stock the
] farms OF the State with horses SO that
F., all the, money that is now going to
outside breeders can be kept at home.
| At this point the meeting was ad-
journed until $50 in the evening.
| An executive committee consisting Of
| the president, secretary and treasurer,
ex-ofticio and the following gentlemen
| has been selected: A. Il. Gerald, c.
W. Davis, Waterville; George F. Bow
man, Sidney; E. T. Bailey, Oakland; H.
d. 3. Aver, Vassalboro; Warren S.
Malcom, Augusta; and w. H. Stinson.
Clinton.
| The members began to pour in right
after dinner and as fast as the names
and dollars could be taken 65 were in
rolled This number was. considerably
( increased later so that the association
will start with membership of about
| 100
There was a much smaller attend
ance at the evening session than had
from any distance We're driven home
before dark by the cold and the bad
condition of the roads.
In opening, Commissioner Gilman
commended, in highest terms the meet
ings that had been held during the
day.
Halls Orchestra was present and
again rendered fine music.
Professor Sanborn of New Hamp-
shire. was the first speaker. In opening
he mentioned the proposed closing of
the MiddleseX fair and stated that
this might seem to be the drift in the
history of fairs in New England, but
he did not believe that the days of the
usefulness of the fair had passed. He
then spoke of the history of fairs and
the way in which festivities have al
ways been connected with them. He
had no quarrel, he said, with the men
who wished to add the old-time festivi-
, ties to the modern fair.
He condemned most severely some
of the modern questionable features
that have characterized modern fairs.
p, He had no sympathy whatever for the
men who SO debase a fair. He spoke
! favorab1y of the New York state fair
where the horse racing and other SINH
lar events We're distinctly separated
| from the purely agricultural features.
He considered that the educational
! feature is the primary purpose of the
| fair and the only thing that will justify
I it, The value of the object lessons of
! a good fair he considered very yalu-
able. He considered the primary pur-
pose of fairs to- bo the exhibiting of
| things and the lessons they teach. He
earnestly advocated strong exhibitions
| of farm me- hinery at fairs. As this is
| the age of invention andsof labor saving
4 machines, these should have promi-
nent place
| He believed that a mistake was be.
ing made in the cattle department in
not giving more attention to beef ami
mails. He considered Maine very back
ward in this respect when the West
is considered. He believed that q good
demonstration of the possibilities in
this line would be of inestimable value
at the fairs.
In the fruit department he thought
more attention should be paid to types
rather than to individual specimens.
In regard to judging animals he
/ thought they should be gone over care
! fully and slowly, each good point and
/ each defect being accurately noted.
When this had been done the winners
should be exhibited and the judges
explain why they had won and why
y others had lost