Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-04-13
MEMBER or rye ASSOCIATED PRESS
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THE STATE FAIR CONTROVERSY.

XII. s aSSzSeS - IL
THE STATE FAIR CONTROVERSY.
Without pretending to know very
much about the state fair controver-
sy, or the real cause of the dispute
the Bismarck Tribune desires to
make some observations on this as it
always has and always hopes to, on
all questions of statewide interest.
1t was a mistake to provide for a
dual or biennial fair proposition in
this state and the manner of the
taking of the state fair location from
Mandan was neither beneficial to the
state or creditable to the two COM
muities that purchased the prize for
a money consideration and divided
the plumber as well as the expense.
Other states have been holding ex-
positions for half a century without
success except in a very few in
stances. The Minnesota state fair
is one of the successes. but for many
years the exposition in that state was
financial failure. North Dakota
could hardly expect to make dual
fair a success alternating between.
two cities with double expense for
buildings and grounds when other
states have failed, with no lack of en-.
ergy, no lack of funds and united
support of the people.
The removal of the state fair To-
cation from Mandan was piece of
iniquitous legislation. Neither Fargo
nor Grand Forks, when they were
engineering the compromise measure
through the legislature ever expected
to keep faith with each other-in
fact it is doubtful if they ever ex-
pected to fulfill their agreement with
Mandan. Just such an outcome as
is now threatened was anticipated by
many, If not all of the active conspir-
ators in the removal proposition.
The first consideration was to get the
fair away from Mandan and then
traps would be laid for each other.
If there was merit in the removal
from Mandan the legislature should
have exhibited just a fair degree of
craftsmanship and located the fair
permanently at one point, to which
the whole state could and would con-
tribute of pride, of purse and of en-
ergy to make the exposition a sue
cess.
Failing to do this the expected has
occurred. Fargo has made the first
move. Last year splendid exposi-
ton was held in that city. The
buildings, the grounds, the nature
3 and the extent of the exhibits and the
. attendance far exceeded all expecta.
tions The year previous Grand
Forks did not do, so we'll The ele,
ments were against her. Under The
conditions existing at that time nc
city anywhere could have made a sue
cess of it. And it is admitted thai
Fargo has exhibited more interest
more enterprise, more earnestness il
the state fair proposition than Grand
i Forks, and that Fargo is the mos
favorably located for a state fair il
! quite generally admitted; nor are th,
Fargo people to be blamed for de
4 string the permanent location al
annual instead of a biennial exposi
ton. But is that city going at th
matter in the right way2
The laches charged to Grand Fork
existed prior to the session of tn
legislature that has just adjourned
IT would have been better to hay
fought this question out in the Iegis
lative halls through an amendment i
the present law than to fight ii out a
the expense Of ennity and strife an,
& permanent bad feeling between Nortl
& Dakota's two most populous cities
# with the certain result OF weakenfn
\ the interest Of the people OF TIL
I whole state in the enterprise, n
{ matter what may be the final deter
4 mination In the courts
The death of that veteran news
paper man, Il. p Hall. removes
great and good friend of the countr.
4 press. Although Identified with th
city press ali his life. he was d fas
friend Of the country printer AL
ways praising his efforts, ever read.
to assist him In extending his loca
3 influence and control the patronag.
4 of his home field. Mr. Hall cooperat
ed with the country newspaper pub
fishers. He mingled with them AM
assisted them in every way, He at
tended the meetings Of their organi