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

fair. and YOU want to realize it right
here and now, and begin to make IN
vour plans to have a good one It is
for YOU each one to formulate plans
and set your officers to working them
ont. 1t lies within the present member
ship of this society to give a better
| agricultural exhibition in 1904 than was
ever given in Maine-if they WILL
| Will YOU assume the responsibility?
I assure YOU that your newly chosen
officers will do their share, but they
/ must not be expected to do it ALL for
the fair would prove a miserable failure
if they should attempt it, and that I
| know is the last thing that you want it
| to be. Knowing you as do 4 think
hazard nothing in predicting that you
will go to your homes and vie with each
other in compelling your officers to see
| to it that they are able to keep up with
| the procession.
| Commissioner Gilman then spoke
briefly before introducing the speakers
of the forenoon. He said mat demands
| for the organization of fairs had come
| to him from all sections or the State
and that he believed that not more fairs
were needed but better and fewer ones.
| But when the Central Maine movement
reached him he recognized at once the
push and enterprise behind it and the
| especially favorable facilities at hand.
1 The location he considered very fine
with all the steam and electric railroad
| facilities and was sure it would be
success.
| He then introduced Professor w. D.
! Hurd of the University of Maine, as the
| first speaker Of the forenoon. Profess
sor Hurd, read a most forcible paper
that bristled with sound common sense
and good ideas. He briefly sketched the
history Of the fair, mentioning some of
| the successful ones he had visited.
Those that failed he believed had
drifted away from the fundamental
idea-agriculture. The exploiting of the
| farm and its products he considered to
be the prime object of every fair. He
would get as many life members as
possible and give the people large in
terest in the management so that they
could consider it their own fair and not
merely that of the managers.
| He believed that the day is past when
horse racing can make fair a success.
Time was when this was one of the
best of sports, bur gambling had cor
rupted it until the people had lost faith
| in the contests and did not take the in
terest in them they formerly did.
| He condemned the midway, giving
the word it's usual signifcance-a col
lection of cheap and often dirty shows.
He considered the influence of this and
all questionable games as very bad for
/ tho nnOo1p SCr11a n
might get his start on life Of disgrace
| and shame in some game Of chance at
fair. The influence of such things
could not fail to be damaging and he
would have no sign of them.
| But he would have all the good
wholesome amusement that could be
crowded into the grounds. One of the
most successful fairs he knew Of had
all they could obtain but always of. g
good Wholesome character. Things
that would give the people a good time
and do them no harm he considered
good for fair. ftA
The buildings should he large and
roony and substantial enough to pro-
| tect the exhibits against all damage.
In the exhibits he thought quality rath-
er than quantity should be aimed at
and the products approaching nearest
the general ideal type should be shown
rather than monstrosities. "
He considered farm machinery in
actual operation to be one Of the most
| interesting exhibits at a fair and he
would have an abundance of power
provided so that as many machines as
| could be obtained might Be seen work.
ing.
| One Of the most important things was
| the just treatment Of all exhibitors.
! Every one who exhibited should be
made to feel like coming again next
year with something better. The judges
should be most carefully selected
and each one in each department be of
| recognized reputation so that the
awards might be made solely on merit
and be well earned. Some fixed stand
ard should be maintained so that all
might be sure of fair treatment and
know just what to expect.
Hon. J. A. Roberts of Norway, was
next introduced to discuss the subject,
| THE Relation of the Grange to the
| Fair" He believed that not sufficient
stress was being placed on the products
of the soil at the fairs. The dairy is
| one of the greatest industries of the
State yet it is never adequately repre-
scented at the fairs. Potatoes form one
| of the greatest resources OF the State
| and their production is steadily in
creasing and yet a stranger would
scarcely imagine this after looking at
the exhibits. So with the Baldwin
i apple and other staple varieties. Apple
| buyers after a visit to the fairs would
thing it well to go elsewhere to get
| their supplies. He believed that the
fair managers should offer sufficient in
| ducements to draw out exhibits that
would properly represent the industries
of the State. The dairy exhibit should
show what place this holds in the
State and there should be potatoes and
| apples enough and of sufficiently high
grade to demonstrate what is being
done with them.
The Grange, he said. is an educational
institution and interested in better
press, better schools, better institutes
and better products of the farm and is
therefore interesed in better fairs and
willing to assist so far as possible in
making them better.
| IL 4Lat in, h old