Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1904-09-23
POLK GETS FIRST PRIZE
State Fair Board Over-Rules Protest
of Lane and Marion Counties.

The protest Of G. T. Bonney, OF
Marion county, against the award OF
the first prize to the Polk county
exhibit at the Oregon State Fair last
week was heard by the board Thurs
day evening, and the action of the
Judge was sustained. The task OF
judging the relative excellence Of the
county exhibits this year was diff
cult one, for the reason that all the
competing counties made fine displays.
Mr.. J. N. Grieve, Of Alberta, Canada,
was chosen to act as judge because he
was competent and because being a
Canadian, he held no local prejudice
In favor of any county and no person
al feeling toward any exhibitor. 1t
is highly gratifying to note that the
people of the competing counties have
accepted the findings Of the judge with
good grace, and that the matter has
been settled without bitterness or jeal-
ousy.
The Albany Herald, published in
the county winning the second prize,
says; "Linn county had a good
exhibit at the fair, evidenced by a
bright red ribbon, showing second
place. 1t would have been very salts
factory to the people of Linn had their
county exhibit been awarded first
place. But it is no discredit to be
second to any one Of several excellent
county exhibits. w. A. Eastburn,
who had charge Of the Linn exhibit is
entitled to credit for the good display
made and the place secured in the
awards"
The Corvallis Times, commenting
upon the result, says: "Critics say
that the specimens shown in the
Benton exhibits were often superior,
but that her failure to get better
grading than fifth was due to the
smaller number Of articles displayed.
The success Of Polk county, winner of
the first both this year and last, is
ascribed to the larger amount of its
articles, rather than to any superior
ity, either in the quality Of articles or
their arrangement The exhibit was
collected by Il lady, whose activity
seems to bring out cooperation from
the citizens and the result is a big and
win ninCy avhihit ~
The Salem Statesman, ever neigh.
borly and courteous in it's attitude
toward the people of Polk county, finds
no cause Of complaint, and takes d
practical and broad minded view oI
the result. That paper says:
''rhe protest made against awards
on the county exhibits at the Fail
illustrate the difficulties that alway,
arise in such matters. Few exhibitors
see any defects in their own display,
or any particular excellence in thost
of others.
"And the worst feature about thi,
sort of a situation is that it is prom
inent ingredient in the makeup o
human nature, One mans squasl
may be larger than that OF his com
petitor-it cannot be denied-but h,
will claim the award on quality anC
symmetry of outline. He can easily
and honestly see the superiority Of hi
specimen and the judge who canno
Is plainly biased.
ANY woman on earth can easil,
perceive that her own baby is the one
and the only one, that is entitled t,
the prize in the beauty show. II sh,
were SO deficient in that womanl,
virtue that she couldn't, she woulC
have remained a sour pessimistic anC
uninteresting old maid all her days -
though, come to think of it, there arr