The Oskaloosa herald., 1903-01-08
A CIRCUS COMBINE.
Several Aggregations Prepare to
Eat up Weaker Sisters,

Life among the circuses next s,,r.
mer is likely to be more strenuous
tnan that exhibited in Oskaloosa he.
the Wallace and Ringing ap-
gregations. The Barnum-BaiIev.SaI1S.
Forepaugh-Buffalo Bill circus svndi-
a is to have war with the Ringing
Brothers, whose circus has grown to
such proportions, popularity and
wealth as to threaten the curcus trust
although there will be hippodromes
on the side, this wal will be no binno.
drome. On the syndicate's side will
De ranged four or five circuses. each
OF which is the greatest on eartb-ac.
cording to its wi paper; and their
packing reaches easily $25. 900, 900.
Ine Rlngllngs, who have been is Os.
Kaloosa several times, have not SO
money, but they can scare up
unlimited backing and have several
mllllons OF their own Five Ringing
brothers, who know the circus bust
ness from the bottom and have made
their fortune in it, will be pitted
against the syndicate that has sue
ceeded to the shows of Barnum, Cole,
Forepaugh and the rest Of the big
ones.
Ever since the syndicate secured
control of the big circuses it has been
understood that the syndicate" would
go after" n or two pretentious cir
cuses which have dared to offer com-
petition to the shows offered by them.
The Ringlings especially have been
charged with undue familiarity with
the dates of the syndicate. Previous
to the departure of James A. Bailey,
and the greatest shows on earth" for
the European trip just ended it was
gossip in tented amusement circles
that the Ringing boys" would feel
the sting of Bailey's wrath.
Against the RingIings.
The departure of Mr.. Bailey for Eu-
rope, however left matters as they
were. Meanwhile Ringlings improv-
ed their circus, and during the season
just ended they "had opposition" with
the Buffalo Bill" show from Madison
Square Garden to the Pacific.
Now that Mr.. Bailey and the Bar
mum show are back in America the
Ringing boys" it is said, are to be
taught a lesson-at least an attempt
is to be made. Under the program for
1903 the Buffalo Bill show is to go to
Europe and duplicate, if possible, the
success of the Barnum show in Eng
land and on the continent. To this
end the train which transported the
Barnum show over Europe has been
left in France along with the work"
stock, canvas, pole, stake and chain
wagons etc., all of which will be used
by the Buffalo Bill show on its Eu-
ropean tour. While the Buffalo Bill
show is gathering in the pounds,
pence and francs in Europe, the Bar
mum G Bailey and Sells-Forepaugh
shows will look after things for the
Syndicate on this side of the water,
and incidentally the Ringing show,
which has grown to alarming proper
tons and popularity, is to be taught
the danger of opposing "the big
shows"
Opposition Car.
To that end the Sells-Forepaugh
show will Inaugurate next season an
Opposition car" in charge of an ex-
pert agent and trained corps of bill
posters and contracting agents, to
meet any opposition which may dare
present itself. The agent in charge
of this car will have money to burn
and paper to post without limit. He
will be kept advised of the routes of
all ~circuses which may enter the terri
tory coveted by the Sells-Forepaugh
show, with orders to "kill the opposi-
ton at any cost, even if it requires
billing the Sells-Forepaugh show nine
ty days ahead. In this way all avail
able bill boards, barns, fences, etc.,
will be secured and any other circus
will be prevented from entering the
disputed territory.