The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1905-10-06
The Daily Paper and the Fair.

enough to pay the freight on our stereo.
tipping outfit from the factory.
We are pleased that we did not lose
aaAy money on the undertaking, but are
just a little sorry over some of the con.
clasions we have reached since we began
working On this matter.
The farmers as a class do not take the
substantial interest in the fair and the
things which promote their interests.
that has been expected of them.
The business men of the town, the
nurserymen and a few notable excep
lions among farmers and stockbreeders
have carried the burdens of the big
show which is designed to promote the
agricultural interests and through that
means secure better products, induce
settlement promote trade and add to
the general welfare.
In reviewing this subject it is in order
to a~nalyze the matter to determine
where the obligations rightfully belong.
Most of the farmers here have large
farms and expect at some time to dis
pose of part of each. Until that time
they hold it as an investment knowing
that it is a good one and a safe one.
The development of the agricultural in
terests and the settlement of the country
by people who have money and a know
ledge of up-to-date methods of agricul-
ture, constitutes the basis on which all
business interests must build. There
fore the people who are the direct in
vestors and operators in agriculture,
should be the most faithful champions
of fairs, farmers Institutes, homeseekers'
excursions and whatever makes their
work more effective or gives publicity to
the country's
A review of the names of the workers
in the fair tells its own story. A review
of the advertising columns of the Daily
paper published to promote the fair and
to give publicity to our shows
who is shouldering these burdens. A
review of the subscription list of the
Daily and the names of those who paid
for copies to be sent out to people in
other states might be expected to reveal
the names of those most directly in
terested, but it shows the names of mer-
chants, lumber dealers, draymen, real
estate men, butchers, dry goods clerks,
teachers, preachers &c. who do not own
a foot of land nor any stock, and who
paid their admission at the gates when
they went to the fair. A review of the
country correspondence in today's paper
shows something of the interest and ap-
probation shown for the fair, and the
conspicuous absence of people from the
northern part of the valley raises a ques-
ton as to the reason for it.
Secretary S%tuf1ebeam went in person
and spread the premium lists over all
the country SO they might be seen and
studied. The Idaho Register in speak
ing Of the fair spoke Of it in an indif-
ferent manner and criticised the man
agement for not going into that part Of
the valley and gathering up products
for exhibit, instead Of leaving the people
to cart them to town and express them
down. This may have been a wise tip
but why did not the Register rise to the
occasion before the fair instead Of the
day it closed, The management asked
this prince Of knockers four months ago
to promote the fair in any way it could
and accept a sum Of money in payment.
Then they gave it the main batch Of
printing which they had at their dis
posal to make sure that it should have
no occasion Is suck its thumb, soto
speak, and to show the people of the
upper part Of the county that the man
agement was big enough and broad
enough to overlook neighborhood lines
and give the lions share to those at a
distance and let the printers in the i'm
mediate nejghborhood hustle in other
lines and look pleasant. If the Register
had agitated for a concerted movement
am ong it's readers, to gather in the pro-
ducts and bring them to the fair, dele
eating somebody to deliver and put
them in position, the pluck and energy
of cur neigllbors on the Forth might
have counted .Cr considerable at the
fair. The statement of that organ one
wear ago that the fair which had just
closed, was of little consequence and
that better products could be seen on
the open market in Idaho Falls, deserves
attention at this time.
If this statement was true. why did not
the Register try to get people there to
make up a collection of products from
the open market and fire them down to
the fair. If it was not true, why does
the Register stand up, blow smoke over
the fence and lie about it?
That part of the Snake River Valley
lying above the reservation is not much
known, and if we are to come in contact