The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-11-01
Variety of Exhibits is
 Shown.
Second Year of Central Alabama .As- socintiOn Results In Complete Show, Good Races and Credit
 To state.
BY WILL T. SHEEHAN.

Selma, oct. 31.---tspecial Correspon- dence.)--If King Cotton was ever an absolute monarch in any place on the Alabama Black Belt. But the Central Alabama Fair Association now two years of age and strong In spite of its youth has spread out an drawing thousands of visitors from Middle and South Alabama. shows the Black Belt in state of transition as 1t were. shows cotton still King. but his dominion is neither absolute or
 This Selma fair. in its spread of in terests. keep close to the main cen tral truth that q fair can be neither pay due and just tribute to contempo- rary agriculture.
 This the Selma fair does and in do- ing it, 1t shows the gradual but defi. the Black Belt, away from planta- raising. It shows second drift to- ism N of cotton's reign. to diversified farming. It shows further the defi- of farm machinery of the growing popularity of the idea of riding and
 The best and truest, thing that may he said of the Selma fair is that 1t is truely and essentially an agricultural IdlE, one that NeTdCiOuSly represents the changing agricultural phase of the Black Belt and its tributary counties. Such is the leson 1t teaches and so ef- fectually does 1t teach 1t that even the more. He reads in every sign he sees Ia general and widespread prosperity. which six or eight years ago was a stranger to Agricultural Alabama. Prosperity of Agriculture.
 Two phases of the agricultural life of Middle and South Alabama sinks themselves deep in the impressions of the man who sees and thinks In the agriculture's diverses Interests in Selma's territory and second agricul- lures undeniable prosperity. It has not been maty years since agriculture verse nor prosperous. But the Central Alabama Fair Association two years old reflects the change that has come.
 sema ,nsp people get these ss fairs up and | ly. The iirst fair of the association the fair held las, year. was a success without any apologies or explanation Today sn the Sn day of dh the unqualified success is promised the fair. All the people of the association want is fair fair weather. They have the attractions that will draw the peo- they are coming. if they just get the sort of good weather that Montgom- cry had throughout its show week Ths fine crowd h on the second day in part of the fair officials was well founded. For the grand stand was filled and the grounds were thronged throughout this afternoon.
 James B. Ellis Is President of the association. MT. Ellis Is one of Dal- las, leading citizens. a large planter, and a prominent business man. Isaac Schwarz. well known throughout the state and one of the largest merchants In the Black Belt Is the association's Vice President. Robert H. Mangurn one of Selma's brightest lawyers ana l town Is lending his indefatigable ener- gy to the discharge of the duties of Secretary. They are the men who deniable success and who have this year. again launched the enterprise under skies most promising.
 Busy With Crooks.
 l dropped in the Secretary's office this afternoon to search out a few fair facts. At that particular time he was engaged in clearing the grounds of all crooks. near crooks and suspicious pe"- suspicious characters coming and go- ing. It seemed to me that there was a constant stream of policemen and constables passing through the of flee with heavy hand on the collar of some unwelcoma visitor to the fair There were light-colored crooks. white crooks. saddle-colored crooks and some soot-colored crooks. The secretary was waving them all away to tho city jail. I figured out that they must have hauled away couple of wagon loads My visit evidently occurred during the open season for crooks while the hunt ing was good
 The Secretary explained the energetic and successful hunt for suspicious characters by saying tha tthe only criticism aimed against the last Fair was the fact that some of the nimble- witted and nimble-fingered gentry came into Selma with the Fair attractions and fleeced quite number of visitors up town. This year there will be none of that. They who live bv their wits city to city on the circuit, have been spnted and removed from field in which they might have. an opportunity for the display of their criminal and dangerous gifts.
 The Selma Fair draws it's thousands